MANCHESTER Metropolitan University will break new ground exploring the fascinating rock art of a Neolithic passage tomb near Bryn Celli Ddu, located on Anglesey.
Dr Ben Edwards, Archaeologist and Senior Lecturer in History, will be part of the two-week long public excavation led by the Welsh Government’s historic environment service, Cadw and University of Central Lancashire.
The project will focus on the landscape surrounding one of Wales’ famous Neolithic passage tombs, exploring hidden features that have been previously overlooked including rock art- a term used in archaeology to describe the human-made markings discovered in natural stone.
Members of the public, community volunteers and local school children will join the two-week excavation starting on 7 June, working side by side with experienced archaeologists to search for clues of the site’s 5,000 year-old history.
This year’s excavation team will get a chance to experience a real life dig and explore along a ridge where a host of new outcrops covered in rock art are found, with the possibility of discovering even more adding to the picture of the rich ritual landscape around Anglesey’s celebrated tomb.
Dr Ffion Reynolds from Cadw said: “This is a great chance for the public to gain a special look at Bryn Celli Ddu, and find out some of its secrets first hand from archaeologists. They’ll be lots of activities for the whole family to enjoy at our Open Day on the 18 June.”
Dr Seren Griffiths from UCLan added: Passage tombs are rare monuments along the Atlantic fringe with examples in Orkney, Anglesey, Ireland, France, Spain and Portugal. The nature of the monument and the rock art at Bryn Celli Ddu makes it internationally important.”
Bryn Celli Ddu plays host to a free open day on Saturday 18 June, between 11am and 4pm. For more details visit: http://cadw.gov.wales/events/allevents/bryn-celli-ddu-burial-chamber-18-june-2016/?lang=en
