The archaeological dig at Eliseg's Pillar is over for this year. It is hoped that, CADW willing, there will be another dig next year, which might probe more deeply into the mysteries of this ancient mound.
First, a couple of interesting websites:
Audio slideshow: Bronze Age explored at Llangollen landmark
Llangollen Museum facebook page, covering the dig (link broken)
Project Eliseg
The mound is probably a Bronze Age cairn although there's not much dating evidence at the moment apart from a bit of burnt bone and a couple of tiny pieces of flint. They didn't find the skeleton first dug up by the antiquarians, that'll have to wait for another day. There were Roman and post-mediaeval finds as well as more recent stuff.
I bumped into BSD member and forum regular shaunb at Valle Crucis abbey and dowsed a couple of his leys.
Sadly I didn't sell any books. There was quite a lot going on at the abbey; tales from the Mabinogion from a very loud story-teller, mediaeval re-enactment, a guy with a hawk, tents and stalls, there was quite a mediaeval buzz about the place. Good to see my book for sale in the tourist information place in Llangollen, as well as Courtyard books. I didn't see any in the museum although I believe they've had some copies in. CADW don't stock it alas.
The story-teller told the tale from the Mabinogion known as
The Dream of Macsen Wledig about the Roman ruler Maximus whose name appears in the Latin inscription on the Pillar of Eliseg. The inscription is no longer visible, it's almost completely worn away. According to a copy of the inscription, the rulers of Powys were descended from Gwrtheyrn, i.e. Vortigern who married Severa, the daughter of Maximus.
I actually got talking to someone who has been reading my book, a guy called Mark, who knows shaunb. It's a small world!
Ian
