Bryn Celli Ddu
Mound in the Dark Grove
Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age·Irish Sea Passage Tomb tradition·🇬🇧 Isle of Anglesey, Wales, United Kingdom
No machine-readable author provided. Rhion assumed (based on copyright claims). · Public domain
About
About Bryn Celli Ddu
Late Neolithic passage tomb on Anglesey converted from a henge c.3000 BCE into a passage grave c.2000 BCE with 8.4 m passage to polygonal chamber with decorated Pattern Stone. Outer kerb 26 m diameter penannular ditch. Mid-summer sunrise illuminates passage. Excavated and reconstructed by W.J. Hemp 1928-29.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Solar alignment intentional?
Theories
- 01Copy of Boyne Valley tradition via Irish Sea
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Henge c.3000 BCE; tomb c.2000 BCE
- Period
- Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age
- Culture
- Irish Sea Passage Tomb tradition
- Purpose
- Burial and solar alignment sanctuary
- Abandoned
- c.1500 BCE
- Rediscovered
- Excavated 1928-29
- Excavation
- Excavated
Henge c.3000 BCE; tomb c.2000 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1466 CE
Rediscovery
On the ground
Structures & features
53.2073° N · 4.2360° W · 35 m · 2 mapped features
Polygonal Chamber
chamberCentral chamber with Pattern Stone replica
53.2073° N · 4.2361° WPattern Stone
decorated stoneDecorated orthostat with spiral carvings
53.2073° N · 4.2360° W
Gallery