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A snapshot timeline of Archaeology in the Clwydian Range AONB
History & Hidden Treasures
Before 10,000 years ago
Palaeolithic/ Old Stone Age
People were hunters, travelling through the landscape following the seasonal movements of animals.
Tools and animal bones (Hyena, Rhinoceros, Lion, Bear, Horse, Fox and Deer) have been found at Cae Gwyn and Ffynnon Beuno limestone caves in Tremeirchion.
10,000 years ago
Mesolithic/ Middle Stone Age
The hunter gatherers probably stayed in small, seasonal camps. They used delicate tools of flint and chert, to make useful objects like spears and fishing hooks. They left little trace in the Clwydian Range except for a few tools at places like Mia Hall and possibly part of a burial in a cave near Llanarmon.
6000 years ago
Neolithic, New Stone Age
Farming began to take over from hunting and different stone tools like polished stone axes made at Penmaenmawr have been found. These were probably used for tree clearance, to make fields for crop and animal farming. Gop Hill is the UK’s second largest prehistoric mound. It may have been built at this time to act as a marker for burials in caves on the slope below.
4000 years ago
Bronze Age
People had perfected the art of farming, clearing land for fields, leaving the hilltops treeless. They had also learnt how to smelt metal, first copper and then bronze. We know very little of how people lived in the Range at this time, but we know quite a lot about what happened when they died. Small mounds, shown on maps as tumulus, cairns or barrows, conceal burials and cremations. These are found throughout the Range, particularly on hilltops such as Moel y Parc and Moel Eithinen.
2700 years ago
Iron Age
By 700BC, people had learnt how to make tools from iron as well as bronze and stone. Unlike the Bronze Age, nothing is known about people’s deaths, but there is a lot of evidence of where they lived. The remains of six major hillforts in the Clwydian Range show a need to build massive, well defended places to live - why? Possibly colder, wetter weather led to the desire for better shelter. Or maybe elements of power and hierarchy became part of life. There are still very visible hillfort features in the landscape today.
2000 years ago
Roman
The 20th legion, based in Chester, developed a small settlement in Prestatyn for lead mining, leaving evidence such as a Bath House. Lead may have been extracted further south in the Alyn Valley too, and there are hints that a Roman road crosses the Range at Bwlch pen Barras (Moel Famau) heading for the Roman settlement at Ruthin. What the hillfort inhabitants of nearby Moel Fenlli might have thought of the Romans is pure guesswork although Roman coins and pottery have been found there.
1500 years ago
Medieval
The medieval period followed the withdrawal of Rome. From the 11th century the Clwyds formed a natural boundary between areas of more English influence to the east and more Welsh influence to the west.
The pattern of churches and villages we see today, began to spread throughout the Range. Distinctive double naved churches like Llanarmon, Llandyrnog, Llangynhafal and Cilcain were some of the first established, although there are more simple churches like the small, ruined church of St Peter in Llanbedr.
From the end of the 13th century to the early 20th century much of the central area of the Clwydian Range was owned by Ruthin Castle. Many of the route-ways through the Range would have been used by farmers and merchants.
150 years ago
Industrial
The Industrial Revolution had a huge impact on the landscape. In the 18th and 19th centuries lead mining developed in the limestone areas of Prestatyn Hillside, Dyserth and the Alyn Valley. These areas would have been teeming with people, noise, pollution and production. For a short time gold was mined near Cilcain but there was never enough to make anyone’s fortune.
Quarrying has taken place as long as people have built stone houses and field boundaries and it continues today. Moel Hiraddug in the north, an iron age hillfort has been partially destroyed by both quarrying and mining for Cobalt. Iron reserves have also been mined in the Range at Bodfari and Marian Cwm. Although steam engines were used in these industries, water power was vital. The popular Leete Path from Loggerheads Country Park follows a 3 mile long leat which took water from the Alyn to power mines in Rhydymwyn.
1985
The Clwydian Range is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, joining Anglesey Coast, Llyn Peninsula, Gower, Wye Valley and the 3 National Parks; Snowdonia, Pembrokeshire Coast and Brecon Beacons, as Wales’ finest landscapes.