Bryn Celli Ddu - Neolithic Burial Chamber on the Isle of Anglesey in North Wales

NOTICE: Music had to been changed, information at end of video is wrong now.

Bryn Celli Ddu is a prehistoric site on the Welsh island of Anglesey located near Llanddaniel Fab. Its name is difficult to translate directly but means either 'the mound in the dark grove' or possibly 'the mound in the grove of the deity'. It was plundered in 1699 and archaeologically excavated between 1928 and 1929.

During the Neolithic period a stone circle and henge stood at the site. An area of burnt material containing a small human bone from the ear, covered with a flat stone, was recovered.

The stones were removed in the early Bronze Age when an archetypal passage grave was built over the top of the centre of the henge. A carved stone with a twisting, serpentine design stood in the burial chamber. It has since been moved to the National Museum of Wales and replaced with a replica standing outside. An earth barrow covering the grave is a twentieth century restoration; the original was probably much bigger.

Norman Lockyer, who in 1906 published the first systematic study of megalithic astronomy, had argued that Bryn Celli Ddu marked the summer solstice. This was ridiculed at the time, but recent research by Steve Burrow, curator of Neolithic archaeology at Amgueddfa Cymru (National Museum of Wales) has proven his theory to be true. This alignment links Bryn Celli Ddu to a handful of other sites, including Maes Howe and Newgrange, both of which point to the midwinter solstice. It has also been suggested that a feature similar to the 'lightbox' at Newgrange may be matched at Bryn Celli Ddu (Pitts, 2006).

A row of five postholes previously thought to have been contemporary with the tomb (c. 3000 BC) have recently been proven to be much earlier. Early results from a radiocarbon programme date pine charcoal from two of the pits to the Mesolithic (Pitts, 2006).

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Bryn
• Celli
• Ddu
• Kandzia
• Burial
• Chamber
• Hedge
• Stone
• Age
• Anglesey
• Wales
• History
• uk
• neolithic
• Llandaniel
• Fab
• prehistoric
• island
• archaeologic

[RonRicho]

Thanks for posting this nice video. We visited Bryn Celli Ddu from Boston, MA a couple of years ago and were not disappointed. It is a marvel in a country where marvels abound.

[starfiremale]

Its not a tomb,,,,,, its a Venus-birthing chamber,, the light from the sun on solstice and equinox shines directly on the lower and second notches on the pillar inside,, the tird top one remained a mystery for centiries,, onec every eight years the Light of Venus strikes the top notch,, a priestess would go there on that day and give or be induced to give birth,, talk about planned pregnancy ;-)

[lordaere]

How the HELL did they build that? the druids or whoever is responsible for this were extremely intelligent...no wonder the roman christians annihilated them and their culture.

[ianww8]

Hi Nice video! I live near here, & as a Welsh speaker, I can confirm that academia translates it as, 'The Mound of the Dark Grove' - but I would argue, that, 'The Mound of the Dark Tomb' is a simpler and more accurate translation & fits the Welsh place-naming method of being specifically descriptive! I've never heard of the version you gave relating to a deity, although the site has been used by more than one religion over the millennia - just wondering where you got that from pls? Thanks! :0)

[ianww8]

@johncolinmoore23 can people not comment without being critical?! My post is better than your post - grow up man!

[johncolinmoore23]

i thought that when the camera showed inside the tomb

their was going to be a small woodwind ensemble, what

with the music, anyway, if you want to see a neolithic

tomb far greater than this, enter maes howe in the you

tube search engine and you'll see what i'm on about,

Skara Brae isn't a tomb it;s the finest neolithic communal living area

almost anywhere, and they're both on Orkney, and a lot more.

visit, you will not be disappointed, magical place.

[Truth881]

fantastic monuments! they are a credit to humans. I have just read "Uriel's Machine (a MUST READ BOOK!!) and it has explained alot about these monuments. Also this book (and such events) arise questions such as, why did they make these huge and pain staking things not only in ireland but also iran and those districs, after 2 castrophic incidents (according to the book Uriel's Machine) ,and what made people all around the world who has this wonderful and very scientific knowladge, just stop?

[bsimons91]

Magnificent!! With a stunning soundtrack - just right for this subject. Forgotten is the race that no one knows.

[llandudnoboy]

Ive waited six years to witness the mid Summer sun shine through the tomb of Bryn Celli Ddu.

Only Newgrange in County Meath Ireland and Skara Bre in the Orkneys share this very special pre christian ceremony.

I will try again tomorrow morning and the weather looks perfect atlast with all this hot weather we have been having.

[Goetterhand]

Grüße aus der Oberlausitz!