Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 6.djvu/371

SEPULCHRAL DEPOSIT IX HOLYHEAD ISLAND. 227 alluvial mould afibrJed materials for the tumulus, quickly coated and protected by the s^ya^d. In some instances the ready supply of slabs, or large pieces of rock, caused the construction of the sepulchral cist ; and examples are not wanting in North Wales of receptacles of this description, in which the unl)urned remains have been found deposited. Such was the remarkable tomb, called Bedd Gwrthetryn, near Nevin, in Caernarvonshire, traditionally believed to have been the resting-place of A^ortigern.'^ There is, at present, no sufficient evidence on record to enable the archaeologist to assign vestiges of this class to distinct periods, or to classify these sepulchres in accordance with an}^ peculiarity of their construction, or their contents. The occurrence of cinerary urns does not appear to have been frequently noticed. The careful examination of the numerous grassy tumuli in the northern extremity of Flint- shire, between Newmarket and Caerwys, supposed, with much probability, to have been the scene of the slaughter of the Ordoviccs by Agricola, might be productive of much curious information ; being examples of which the age may be considered ascertained. In these barrows, according to Pennant, urns have repeatedly been found.* Many, doubt- less, are the ancient battle-fields in the Principality, -marked by the thickly ranged mounds of this description, such as are seen in the plain between Dolgelly and Tanybwlch, in Merionethshire, which would throw an important light on the obscure history and usages of our forefathers. In the month of October, 1848, an interment, which pre- sented some unusual circumstance in the mode of deposit, was found on the shores of the harbour, or hnj, called Porth Dafarch, about midway between the South Stack and Porth- y-Capel, on the estates of Lord Stanley of Alderley, in nol3diead Island.^ The tenant, Mr. Roberts, was occupied in collecting stones, suitable for the construction of some farm building. - On the right of the road leading down to the bay, there was a small mound, or barrow, originally, it is probable, of greater elevation than at present : its dimensions •' See Bishop Kennctt's " Parochial An- frar;ments of rude urns and sea pebbles. t>[. Hist, of Alehester," voL i., p. 437 ; Fenton's Pembrokeshire, p. .5.55 ; Hoare's Pennant's Wales, vol. i., p. 20.5. A re- Ancient Wilts, vol. ii., p. 115. niarkable group of kistvaens, surrounding ■• Pennant's Wales, vol. i.. p. ^. a cromlech, existed ne.ar the road leading ^ A lirief mention of tliis discovery was from Newport to Fishguard. They were made in the Ai'chaeologia Cambrensis, opened by the late Sir R. C. Hoare and vol. iv.. p. ti7. Mr. Fenton, and contained charcoal, bones,