Llan-Gors Crannóg
| Llan-Gors Crannóg | ||
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| Waters | Llangorse Lake | |
| Geographical location | 51 ° 56 ′ N , 3 ° 16 ′ W | |
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The Llan-Gors Crannóg is a crannóg in Llangorse Lake , the largest natural lake within the independent early medieval kingdom of Brycheiniog in south Wales . Brycheiniog was later called Brecknockshire (now Powys ).
history
In the 1980s, concerns that the organic materials could erode led to an excavation of the island by the museum and the University of Cardiff (1989-1993). In 2004 underwater archaeological work led to the secure preservation of the Crannóg. The excavation found that the artificial island was a D-shaped platform made of sandstone blocks that rested on brushwood , branches and wooden beams. The Crannóg could be identified as the place that the Saxons called Brecenanmere, built between 889 and 893 AD and destroyed by an army from the Kingdom of Mercia in 916 AD. The Saxon Chronicle reports from Ethelfleda , the Queen of Mercia and daughter of Alfred the Great , who attacked Wales, captured Brecenanmere and took the Queen and 34 people hostage. King Hwgan was killed.
The use of the Crannóg lasted only 25 years. The excavation result shows a time capsule of life on a so-called royal "lly" in the late 9th and early 10th centuries. The post-excavation research program produced a characterization of the site and its (well-preserved) material culture, which included organic material and textiles (some decorated with little lions and birds ), jewelry, and evidence of bronze casting. The paleo-economy is an important research focus. The anatomy of the slaughtered domestic animals, their age and sex determination, and the occurrence of game show that wild boars were also hunted in addition to hares , red deer and roe deer . The bones of cattle , sheep / goats and pigs provide evidence of livestock farming . Analyzes of metalworking through the residues of metallurgy and wood illuminate the royal patronage over the metal and forest industry.
literature
- H. Granger-Taylor & F. Pritchard: A fine quality insular embroidery from Llangors Crannog, near Brecon In: M. Redknap, S. Youngs, A. Lane and J. Knight (Eds.): Pattern and Purpose in Insular Art S. 91-99 Oxbow Book 2001.