Welsh Journals

Excavations at Mathrafal. Welshmen have woven a romance around Mathrafal as the home of kings and princes of their own people,1 and to that sentiment has been added the idea that it must have previously been a Roman fort. Tiles, oyster shells, and mortar, were quoted in the early 19th century as the evidence of Roman occupation.2 Unfortunately for those who still repeat that story these remains, which do exist, lie outside the enclosure in a confused jumble in the rubbish tip on the river side. No small finds of earlier date than the 15th century have been found so far, either inside or out- side the rampart. In 1870, Mr. Morris Charles Jones of Gungrog visited the exca- vations then in progress at Mathrafal. This interesting fact has just came to light in a pocket book kept by Mr. M. C. Jones and recently presented to the Powysland Reference Library. He made a plan of the earthwork and noted: "Mathrafal 15 My. 1870. A wall explored by excavation 15ft. x 7ft. 6ins. deep, another wall behind it. The wall is 2ft. wide, behind it another wall 2ft. wide, 7 yds. further east an excavation has been made. There is a layer of charcoal and tiles indicating the effects of fire. On a platform further east there is a falling in of the earth which looks as if it was hollow underneath. At the south-east corner adjoining the river a natural mound upon which3 one Oak tree of3 growth." Apparently all this work was going on between the river and the rampart. Unfortunately no publicity appears to have been given (1) Prof. J. E. Lloyd, in his History of Wales, calls attention to the late date at which this romantic tale starts. (2) See F. N. Pryce The Tiles of Mathrafal. Mont. Coll., XLI., p. 161. (3) The MSS which is in pencil is not distinct. By A. STANLEY DAVIES. MATHRAFAL- The figures on the scale in feet are 0 50 100- 200. The lines A, B, C, and D. represent the trenches cut in 1930. Based upon the Ordnance Survey Map, with the sanction of the Controller of H.M. Stationery Office.