 Maen y Bardd - The Poet Stone. |
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The Neolithic
chambered tomb of Maen y Bardd - 'The Poet Stone' is set into the southeast
facing slopes of Tal-y-Fan, a hill towards the far northeast of the
Snowdonia range. Close by are the chambered tomb of Rhiw
and several standing stones, hut circles and enclosures which point
to these slopes being the site of much prehistoric activity which extended
round towards the west past the stone circle of Cerrig
Pryfaid and along the valley of Bwlch
y Ddeufaen with its standing stones and cairns. The area maintained
its importance during the Roman period when the road from Caernarfon
to the fort of Canovium at Caerhun on the banks of the River Conwy was
built along the same route.
It is Maen y Bardd that is probably the most well known and visited site on the hillside however which is unsurprising as it is a very attractive portal tomb with an elegant capstone balanced about a metre above the small chamber on four uprights. There is little if any trace of cairn material around the stones so the shape of any mound that covered the chamber is almost impossible to figure out but it is probable the the slope of the hillside played an important role in its original form. Also of importance must have been the views from site, not only towards the hills to the south of the Afon Roe but also spectacularly southeast along the valley floor of the Conwy. |
 View looking towards the east. |
 Looking southeast over Maen y Bardd towards the Conwy valley. |
