The northeast entrance to Bryn Celli Ddu burial chamber is retained by a kerb of stones, which with the dry-stone walling of the outer passage creates an elaborate forecourt. The narrow passage is 27 feet long and three feet wide with a low shelf along its north side. This leads to a higher, polygonal burial chamber, eight feet wide, covered by two capstones.In the chamber is a tall, rounded, free-standing pillar, whose purpose is unknown.
The whole passage was covered by a cairn, but the existing mound is a partial reconstruction, kept small so that three stones from the old stone circle and two other features behind the chamber, at the center of the henge, can be seen. A carved stone with a twisting, serpentine design stood in the burial chamber. The original is now at the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff, and a replica has been set up in its presumed original position.
Bryn Celli Ddu marks the summer solstice. 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.
Journey to Bryn Celli Ddu
Bryn Celli Ddu is located off the A55 on a minor road east of the village of Landdaniel Fab on Anglesey in North Wales.
Visited May 7, 2009
Streetmap UK (NGR SSH50757017)
Visitors Information
Visitors information for Bryn Celli Ddu may be found at the Megalithic Portal website. General tourist information may be found at the Visit Anglesey website.
Disclaimer
Please check local road conditions for possible changes prior to venturing forth on this journey. A helpful resource for changes and possible trip interruptions if you are travelling in England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland is the AA-UK Route Planner. Another map source that this website uses and that may be useful to you on your journeys is Streetmap UK.
|
