Din Lligwy (or Din Llugwy)
hut circle is an
ancient village site near the east coast of
Anglesey
Anglesey (; cy, (Ynys) Môn ) is an island off the north-west coast of Wales. It forms a principal area known as the Isle of Anglesey, that includes Holy Island across the narrow Cymyran Strait and some islets and skerries. Anglesey island ...
, close to the village of
Moelfre,
North Wales
, area_land_km2 = 6,172
, postal_code_type = Postcode
, postal_code = LL, CH, SY
, image_map1 = Wales North Wales locator map.svg
, map_caption1 = Six principal areas of Wales common ...
.
Excavations in 1905–1907 produced hundreds of
Roman-period pot
sherd
In archaeology, a sherd, or more precisely, potsherd, is commonly a historic or prehistoric fragment of pottery, although the term is occasionally used to refer to fragments of stone and glass vessels, as well.
Occasionally, a piece of broken p ...
s of the 3rd and 4th centuries CE, many repaired with iron clamps. Animal bones were found too, some made into tools and one into a musical instrument. The most important economic activity, however, appears to have been iron working, smithing and perhaps smelting.
Despite the mainly Roman finds, the origins of the settlement may well go back into the
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the final epoch of the three-age division of the prehistory and protohistory of humanity. It was preceded by the Stone Age (Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic) and the Bronze Age (Chalcolithic). The concept has been mostly appl ...
and it was probably a small farming community. From excavation, it seems that the round structures were probably houses and the rectangular ones barns or workshops.
For a Roman site, much remains visible above ground, including the enclosing wall and the foundations of many buildings, many of them with substantial and well made foundations constructed from the local
limestone
Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...
. The outer protective wall is almost intact although much reduced in height.
Din Lligwy is situated on a low hill with good views over Anglesey and a reliable source of fresh water nearby. The hill is now overgrown with
sycamore and
ash
Ash or ashes are the solid remnants of fires. Specifically, ''ash'' refers to all non-aqueous, non- gaseous residues that remain after something burns. In analytical chemistry, to analyse the mineral and metal content of chemical samples, ash ...
but it is probable that when it was occupied, the village would have had uninterrupted views all around.
See also
*
Capel Lligwy
Capel Lligwy (sometimes referred to as Hen Gapel Lligwy) is a ruined chapel near Rhos Lligwy in Anglesey, north Wales, dating back to the first half of the 12th century. The chapel's original purpose is unknown, but it might have been used as a me ...
, a nearby ruined 12th-century chapel
*
Lligwy Burial Chamber
Lligwy Burial Chamber is a Neolithic burial chamber in Lligwy, near the east coast of Anglesey, Wales, United Kingdom. It consists of a circle of upright stones, made into a low chamber by a very large roof slab estimated at 25 tonnes. Excavation ...
, a nearby Neolithic burial chamber
External links
Cadw's page*
Three ages of Lligwy - history of the burial chamber, village and church.
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Iron Age sites in Wales
Moelfre, Anglesey
Prehistoric sites in Anglesey
Scheduled monuments in Anglesey