Welsh Journals

EXCAVATION OF A CAIRN ON CEFN-COLEU, NEAR MOEL FAMMAU-SECOND REPORT By M. Bevan-Evans, M.A., AND P. HAYES, B.A. (with reports on the Roman Coins by Graham Webster, M.A., F.S.A. on the Pottery by Dr. H. N. Savory and on the Skeletal Remains by Dr. D. J. Fraser.) A Report on the partial excavation of this cairn appeared in the Plintshire Historical Society Publications, vol. 13, 1952-3. In 1953 the Eastern sector of the cairn was excavated by Mr. A. P. Wilson; Dr. D. J. Fraser, who is responsible for the photo- graphs and for the report on the bones identified in the various cremations Peter Hayes; and M. Bevan-Evans. Grateful thanks are due to the Forestry Commission; Mr. F. C. Best, the Conservator of the North Wales Conservancy; and Mr. Carr, the Chief Forester of Coed Clwyd, for permission to proceed with the work. Assistance at various times was rendered by Messrs. Paton Watson, A. Jeffrey, D. J. Williams, Jess Evans, and K. J. Barton. Mr. Charles Quant visited the site more than once and assisted the excavation with spade, pen and camera, for which we are very grateful. We are indebted to Mr. Graham Webster, M.A.,F.S.A., Curator of the Grosvenor Museum, for the Report on the coins and the drawings reproduced in this paper, and for advice at many times; to Mr. T. G. E. Powell, M.A., F.S.A., of Liverpool University, Professor V. G. Childe and Mr. R. J. C. Atkinson of Edinburgh University for helping us with answers to our queries; to Dr. H. N. Savory of the National Museum of Wales for his Report on the Pottery; to Mr. John Smith for the analysis of the metal fragments and to Mr. Frank W. Jane of the Royal Holloway College for a report on the charcoal specimens we were able to send him. The pottery and other finds are on loan to the Grosvenor Museum, Chester photographs and other data are deposited in the Flintshire Record Office. THE 1952-3 EXCAVATIONS The cairn, situated on a spur below Moel Fammau, was threatened by forestry work, and in rescue excavations during the 1952-3 season, the centre and S.W. segment were excavated, revealing a long cist, orientated N.N.W.-S.S.E. with a child's cremation just outside and a disturbed stone ring in the body of the cairn. The contents of the central cist-grave, the primary burial, had disappeared, but it may have contained a crouched or extended inhumation which may possibly be ascribed to beaker influence.