Llangorse Crannog

The crannog on Llangorse Lake near Brecon in mid Wales was discovered in 1867 and first excavated in 1869 by two local antiquaries, Edgar and Henry Dumbleton, who published their findings over the next four years. In 1988 dendrochronological dates from submerged palisade planks established its construction in the ninth century, and a combined off- and on-shore investigation of the site was started as a joint project between Cardiff University and Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales. The subsequent surveys and excavation (1989-1994, 2004) resulted in the recovery of a remarkable time capsule of life in the late ninth and tenth century, on the only crannog yet identified in Wales.   This publication re-examines the early investigations, describes in detail the anatomy of the crannog mound and its construction, and the material culture found. The crannog’s treasures include early medieval secular and religious metalwork, evidence for manufacture, the largest depository of early medieval carpentry in Wales and a remarkable richly embroidered silk and linen textile which is fully analysed and placed in context. The crannog’s place in Welsh history is explored, as a royal llys (‘court’) within the kingdom of Brycheiniog, as well as its subsequent significance of the crannog in local traditions and its post-medieval occupation during a riotous dispute in the reign Elizabeth I. The cultural affinities of the crannog and its material culture is assessed, as are their relationship to origin myths for the kingdom, and to probable links with early medieval Ireland. The folk tales associated with the lake are explored, in a book that brings together archaeology, history, myths and legends, underwater and terrestrial archaeology.

Dr Alan Lane, FSA, is a Senior Lecturer in Early Medieval Archaeology at Cardiff University. He specialises in the archaeology of the Celtic West and North and has carried out excavations and research in Wales and Scotland on high status settlement sites. He has worked on the Iron Age, post-Roman and Viking ceramic sequences of the Hebrides and their use as site identification markers. Dr Mark Redknap, FSA, is Head of Collections & Research in the Department of History & Archaeology, Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales. His research covers aspects of terrestrial and maritime/underwater archaeology, with a recent focus on early medieval and medieval material culture, providing reports on possible post-Roman treasure to coroners in Wales. He served as a Commissioner for the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales 2008 - 2018