<< Our Photo Pages >> Bryn-yr-Ellyllon - Round Barrow(s) in Wales in Flintshire
Submitted by Andy B on Tuesday, 01 October 2013 Page Views: 12565
Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Bryn-yr-Ellyllon Alternative Name: Findspot of Mold Gold Cape, Hill of ElvesCountry: Wales County: Flintshire Type: Round Barrow(s)
Nearest Town: Mold
Map Ref: SJ2434063930
Latitude: 53.167088N Longitude: 3.133213W
Condition:
5 | Perfect |
4 | Almost Perfect |
3 | Reasonable but with some damage |
2 | Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site |
1 | Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks |
0 | No data. |
-1 | Completely destroyed |
5 | Superb |
4 | Good |
3 | Ordinary |
2 | Not Good |
1 | Awful |
0 | No data. |
5 | Can be driven to, probably with disabled access |
4 | Short walk on a footpath |
3 | Requiring a bit more of a walk |
2 | A long walk |
1 | In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find |
0 | No data. |
5 | co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates |
4 | co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map |
3 | co-ordinates scaled from a bad map |
2 | co-ordinates of the nearest village |
1 | co-ordinates of the nearest town |
0 | no data |
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The Mold Gold Cape was discovered by labourers in pieces at Bryn yr Ellyllon ('Hill of Elves') just off Chester Road, Mold in 1833 along with the bones of a man and some amber beads. Only one amber bead survives out of the 'quantities' found with the cape, the rest are thought to have gone home in the labourers' pockets.
Missing fragments of the cape have turned up over the years, the last fragment was found only 10 years ago.
The entire cape was found crushed and broken and was repaired using reinvented technology to replace the missing 15% of the metal by Conservator Ian Macintrye. It is dated between 1900 and 1600BC.
It is made from the equivalent of 23-carat gold, weighs one kilogram and was created from one ingot of gold and decorates with ribs and bosses giving the impression of folded cloth.. It is believed to have been a garment worn for religious ceremonies, although this can only be guessed at. We know that it was not just used as a burial offering as it showed signs of repair. It would have fitted over the shoulders, upper arms and body of its wearer, who would have had to have had assistance in putting on the cape and once on would have had severely restricted arm movement.
While the original Cape resides in the British Museum, a replica can be seen in the heritage centre situated above Mold library (see nearby sites list below). A stone tablet in the wall of a nearby house on Chester Road marks the spot where the cape was found.
The priceless Bronze Age gold cape discovered in Mold forms the centrepiece of an exhibition that has recently opened at the British Museum in London. The cape is the focal point of a permanent display titled 'Prehistory: Objects of Power' .
The Cape is described by the British Museum as 'one of the finest examples of sheet metal gold work from the Bronze Age'.
More at the Mold Community Web site (archive link)
Note: New finds at the site of the Mold gold cape and listen to Steve Martin and Edie Brickell's new song about the discovery of the cape
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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
639m W 266° Mold Library and Museum* Museum (SJ237639)
755m WNW 291° Standing Stone St Mary's Church* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SJ2363864213)
951m WNW 300° Mold Gorsedd Circle Modern Stone Circle etc (SJ2352364421)
2.1km WNW 299° Rhual Isaf* Round Barrow(s) (SJ22546496)
2.2km WNW 289° Goblins Well Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SJ22256469)
4.3km WSW 251° Carreg Carn March Arthur Marker Stone (SJ202626)
5.6km S 174° Carreg-y-Llech* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SJ24875835)
5.7km SW 232° Big Covert Cave or Rock Shelter (SJ19796055)
5.8km S 178° Bryntirion Round Barrows* Round Barrow(s) (SJ2445058160)
6.0km NNW 327° Moel-y-Gaer (Flintshire)* Hillfort (SJ21116904)
6.1km NNW 327° Moel-y-Gaer Circle Timber Circle (SJ211691)
6.1km S 180° Pen Y Stryt Barrow* Round Barrow(s) (SJ2423057830)
6.5km SW 224° Lynx Cave Cave or Rock Shelter (SJ19765931)
6.5km S 182° Pentre Round Barrow* Round Barrow(s) (SJ2401057440)
6.6km NW 311° Hendre Farm Round Barrow(s) (SJ19426838)
6.8km WNW 302° Ffynnon Leinw Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SJ18636767)
7.6km NW 306° Pen-Y-Gelli* Round Barrow(s) (SJ18316851)
7.7km SE 131° Park in the Past* Museum (SJ301588)
8.2km WNW 298° Penbedw Park* Stone Circle (SJ17126793)
8.5km WNW 296° Penbedw Park Standing Stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SJ168678)
8.5km WNW 299° Penbedw Park Tumulus* Round Barrow(s) (SJ17006819)
8.6km SE 129° Hope Church Early Medieval Stones* Ancient Cross (SJ310584)
8.7km WSW 251° Coed Clwyd Cairns* Burial Chamber or Dolmen (SJ16026127)
8.8km WSW 253° Bwlch Penbarra Marker Stone (SJ1584661500)
8.9km WSW 243° Foel Fenlli* Hillfort (SJ1632060080)
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