Bronze-Age and Roman Treasures
Rhayader’s lovely Museum is currently holding an exhibition, entitled “Glimmer in the Earth”. It presents Bronze Age and Roman treasures, originally found in this area, on loan from the Welsh National Museum and the British Museum.
The Bronze Age items are four amulets, initially thought by the finders to be bed springs, which were found on the top of Carn Gaffallt the hill that rises through the oak woods immediately to the South of the cottage. The hill is featured in Welsh mythology, and is very rich in signs of Bronze Age activity. Following the period when there must have been quite a flourishing community living on the top of the hill and around, climate change encouraged the people to move further down into the valley. The amulets are of quite fine coiled gold, with two larger and two smaller ones.
The Roman finds are from further east, a Roman Road, ran from south to north
just near the present day hamlet of Nantmel and on to St Harmon and towards what is now Llanidloes. A spur went north-west to cross the Wye at a fording point north of Rhayader’s rapids. The find is breathtaking: a necklace, a bracelet and a ring, all made to a standard that could not be improved upon by contemporary goldsmiths, and looking as pristine and sumptuous as the day they were made.
There is some doubt about the actual position of the find, but they appear to have been hidden in a cleft of rock face.
The exhibition provides detailed information about our current understanding of Bronze Age and Roman occupation of the area, with special, exciting activities for young people encouraging dressing up and trying out archaeological techniques! The exhibition provides information and fun.
The Museum have to make a small charge for entry to the exhibition and the museum, as their funding has been cut latterly; but the price should not deter any family or individual from visiting what has become one of the treasures of Rhayader.
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