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Barclodiad y Gawres (Welsh for 'The Giantess's Apronful'; Welsh pronunciation: [barkˌlɔdjad ə ˈgau̯rɛs]) is a Neolithic burial chamber between Rhosneigr and Aberffraw on the south-western coast of the island of Anglesey in North Wales. It is an example of a cruciform passage grave, a notable feature being its decorated stones. Similar graves and marks exist across the Irish Sea in the Boyne Valley.

Excavations

Full excavations were performed in 1952–53, after which the chamber was re-roofed with concrete and covered with turf to resemble the original structure. During the excavations two cremated young male burials were found within the south-western side-chamber. The central area of the main chamber contained the remains of a fire on which had been poured a stew which had been made with wrasse, eel, frog, toad, grass snake, mouse, shrew and hare, then covered with limpet shells and pebbles.

During the excavations five stones with carvings—spirals, zig-zags, lozenges and chevrons—were discovered. A sixth stone with carvings was discovered in 2001.

Location

More or less equidistant from Aberffraw and Rhosneigr, it is on the north side of Porth Trecastell, on the Anglesey Coastal Path, and a short walk from the A4080. It is cared for by the Welsh heritage organisation Cadw.

Gallery

• View from the entrance, surf in Cymyran Bay
• View eastwards over Porth Trecastell cove from the side of Barclodiad y Gawres
• The chamber; small adult for scale
• Chevron marks on stone in chamber
• Spiral mark on stone in chamber

See also

• Petrosomatoglyph Wavy lines, spirals, chevrons and lozenge petroglyphs.
• List of Cadw properties

References

1. "Barclodiad y Gawres Burial Chamber". cadw.gov.wales. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
2. ^ Frances Lynch. A guide to ancient and historic Wales. Gwynedd. ISBN 0-11-701574-1. HMSO. pp 11-12
3. Cadw sign at the site
4. "Barclodiad y Gawres". Wondermondo.

External links

• "Barloadiau Y Gawres" (PDF). cadw.gov.wales.
• Map sources for Barclodiad y Gawres

v t e Anglesey
Towns	Amlwch Beaumaris Benllech Holyhead Llangefni Menai Bridge
Villages	Aberffraw Bachau Bodedern Bodewryd Bodffordd Bodorgan Bryngwran Brynrefail Brynsiencyn Bull Bay Burwen Cemaes Cemaes Bay Cemlyn Church Bay Dwyran Four Mile Bridge Gaerwen Glan-yr-afon (Bodffordd) Gors Gwalchmai Pont-Hwfa Llaingoch Llanbadrig Llanddaniel Fab Llanddeusant Llanddona Llandegfan Llanfaelog Llanfaes Llanfairpwllgwyngyll Llanfair-yng-Nghornwy Llanfechell Llanfwrog Llangoed Llangristiolus Llangwyllog Llanidan Llannerch-y-medd Llanrhuddlad Llansadwrn Llantrisant Maenaddwyn Malltraeth Marian-glas Moelfre Newborough Penmon Penmynydd Pentraeth Pentre Berw Plas Llanfair Porth Dafarch Prys-Iorwerth Rhoscolyn Rhosgoch Rhosybol Rhosmeirch Rhosneigr Rhosydd Rhydwyn Tandinas Trearddur Tregele Tŷ Croes Valley
Hydrological features	Afon Alaw Afon Braint Afon Cadnant Afon Cefni Llyn Alaw Llyn Cefni Llyn Cerrig Bach Llyn Llywenan Menai Strait Nant y Perfedd Cymyran Strait
Ancient sites	Barclodiad y Gawres Beaumaris Castle Bodowyr Bryn Celli Ddu Bryn Gwyn stones Caer Gybi Caer Lêb Castell Bryn Gwyn Din Lligwy Lligwy Burial Chamber Llys Rhosyr Parciau hill fort Penmorwdd St Gwenfaen's Well Tŷ Newydd
Islands	Holy Island Church Island Cribinau East Mouse Middle Mouse Puffin Island Salt Island South Stack The Skerries North Stack West Mouse Ynys Benlas Ynys Castell Ynys Dulas Ynys Feurig Ynys Gaint Ynys Gored Goch Ynys Llanddwyn Ynys Moelfre Ynys y Bîg
Topics	Communities Parliamentary constituencies Places Schools Listed Buildings Grade I Grade II* Museums Scheduled Monuments Registered parks and gardens SSSIs Country houses Lord Lieutenants High Sheriffs Public art
Geography Wales

53°12′26″N 4°30′13″W / 53.2073°N 4.5036°W / 53.2073; -4.5036

• 1952 archaeological discoveries
• Prehistoric sites in Anglesey
• Cadw
• Stone Age sites in Wales
• Aberffraw
• Scheduled monuments in Anglesey
• Passage graves