The crannog on Llangorse Lake near Brecon in mid Wales was discovered in 1867 and first excavated in 1869 by two local antiquaries, Edgar and Henry Dumbleton, who published their findings over the next four years. In 1988 dendrochronological dates from submerged palisade planks established its construction in the ninth century, and a combined off- and on-shore investigation of the site was started as a joint project between Cardiff University and Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales. The subsequent surveys and excavation (1989-1994, 2004) resulted in the recovery of a remarkable time capsule of life in the late ninth and tenth century, on the only crannog yet identified in Wales.
This publication re-examines the early investigations, describes in detail the anatomy of the crannog mound and its construction, and the material culture found. The crannog’s treasures include early medieval secular and religious metalwork, evidence for manufacture, the largest depository of early medieval carpentry in Wales and a remarkable richly embroidered silk and linen textile which is fully analysed and placed in context. The crannog’s place in Welsh history is explored, as a royal llys (‘court’) within the kingdom of Brycheiniog, as well as its subsequent significance of the crannog in local traditions and its post-medieval occupation during a riotous dispute in the reign Elizabeth I. The cultural affinities of the crannog and its material culture is assessed, as are their relationship to origin myths for the kingdom, and to probable links with early medieval Ireland. The folk tales associated with the lake are explored, in a book that brings together archaeology, history, myths and legends, underwater and terrestrial archaeology.
Foreword by The Right Honourable The Lord Elis-Thomas PC, AM, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport in the Welsh Government
Acknowledgements
Summary
Foreign language summaries (Welsh, French, German)
SECTION 1. INTRODUCTION AND SETTING
Chapter 1 The Crannog, its Name and its Setting, by Alan Lane and Mark Redknap
Chapter 2 Discovery of the Crannog and Early Investigations, by Alan Lane and Mark Redknap
SECTION 2 THE EXCAVATIONS
Chapter 3 The Survey and the Excavation Strategy 1989-2004, by Alan Lane and Mark Redknap
Chapter 4 Excavation and Survey Results, by Alan Lane and Mark Redknap
Chapter 5 Dating of the Site
Chapter 6 Structural Timber
SECTION 3 ARCHAEOZOOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTS
Chapter 7 Palaeo-environmental Evidence
Chapter 8 The Animal and Human Bone
SECTION 4 PREHISTORIC AND EARLY MEDIEVAL ARTEFACTS
Chapter 9 Pre-Crannog Artefacts
Chapter 10 Early Medieval Metalwork
Chapter 11 Early Medieval Lithics
Chapter 12 Early Medieval Beads
Chapter 13 Early Medieval Organic Artefacts, by Mark Redknap
Chapter 14 The Early Medieval Textiles
SECTION 5 EVIDENCE FOR CRAFT ACTIVITIES
Chapter 15 Early Medieval Crafts
SECTION 6 WATER TRANSPORT
Chapter 16 The Logboats, by Mark Redknap and Damian Goodburn
SECTION 7 POST-CRANNOG FINDS (PERIOD 5-6)
Chapter 17 Medieval and Tudor Finds, by Mark Redknap
Chapter 18 Post-medieval Finds, by Mark Redknap
Chapter 19 Objects of Uncertain Date, by Mark Redknap
SECTION 7 SITE CONSERVATION
Chapter 20 Conservation of the Crannog, by Dr Sian E. Rees
SECTION 8 LLANGORSE CRANNOG IN CONTEXT
Chapter 21 Early Medieval Historical Sources
Chapter 22 Llangorse Lake in the Middle Ages, by Alan Lane and Mark Redknap
Chapter 23 Llangorse in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, by Mark Redknap and Alan Lane
Chapter 24 Recent Folklore, by Alan Lane and Mark Redknap
Chapter 25 A Destination to Delight, by Mark Redknap
Chapter 26 The Significance of the Llangorse Crannog, by Alan Lane and Mark Redknap
APPENDICES
Appendix 1 Context Summary (excludes structural timber)
Appendix 2 Glossary of terminology
Bibliography
"The authors have not only painstakingly assembled evidence for the construction, occupation, environment and material culture of a high-status Welsh royal residence, they have contextualised this material expertly. […] All told, this is a well-rounded, superbly illustrated, and high significant publication."
Patrick Gleeson
Archaeologia Cambrensis - Cambrian Archaeological Association
(18/09/2020)
"…this volume is arguably the most comprehensive excavation report ever to have appeared on an individual Welsh archaeological site."
Bob Silvester
Medieval Archaeology
"The book is polished and comprehensive [...] This book will no doubt be an important volume to consult for anyone interested in the late 1st millennium AD in Britain and Ireland, especially the material culture of the period."
Michael J. Stratigos
Current Archaeology
(16/12/2020)
