Denbigh to Lacye.1 10 E. I. Bromffild) to John Erle warren & surrey. & Yale. Chirk to Roger Mortymer2 (f. 41 b.) (endorsed). 1609. Lips in Wales holden of the Crowne in Capite by iij maner of means. Scrib in frag. Wal.3 1 Henry de Lacy, Earl of Lincoln (see p. 281, above), created in 1282 Lord of " Denbigh Roos and Roweynok." 2 See note 6 on the last page. 3 Scribe in "Fragmentes of Wales." Scriptum est (in fos. 16 and 17). This valuable MS. book, written by George Owen, and not yet published, has come into the writer's possession from the Carew Library at Crowcombe. 285 DISCOVERY OF CINERARY URN AT STAYLITTLE, NEAR LLANBRYNMAIR, MONTGOMERYSHIRE. BY E. K. JONES, BRYMBO, AND E. R. VAUGHAN, B.Sc., STAYLITTLE. STAYLITTLE stands midway between Llanbrynmair and Llanidloes. The hills of the district form, roughly, a kind of amphitheatre that would measure about a mile across. The centre consists of a low mound-shaped hill, the surface of which is mostly grazing land. For some years our attention has been drawn to the tumuli, some of which are very conspicuous along the sides and on the crown of this hill. Consulting the last issue of the Ordnance Map we found five tumuli indicated; but, having visited each one, we searched for others, and feel confident that there are at least ten in the immediate neighbourhood. We were also informed that there is another on a mountain about two miles away. From inquiries of the oldest inhabitants of the district, nothing definite could be obtained as to the nature of these mounds. Some thought they were the remains of old defences, used in times of war; others that they were old watch-towers; while others thought they were the burial-places of those that had fallen in wars of long ago. One piece of tradition that both young and old were well aware of was, that if any attempt were made to open one of these mounds, thunder and lightning would be the immediate consequence. Close by is the site of "Helen's Castle," which was swallowed in a night, the place where it stood being covered by a small lake; a story quite in keeping with many others, such as those concerning Llynclys, Llyn Safaddan, and other lakes. " Llyn Helen" was drained dry some few years ago. up Helen must have been a vigorous and masterful 6TH SER., VOL. IV. 20 character. She had a road all the way from her castle, over Plynlimmon, to Aberystwyth. Her daughter, according to the testimony of an old couplet, was married at the age of thirteen. The couplet runs thus: "Dyna'r rhyfeddod fwya' fu 'rioed Oedd priodi merch Helen yn dair-ar-ddeg oed." Helen was beheaded "during the wars," and was supposed recently to visit the scene of her former activity at dusk. The children of the neighbourhood Plan of Tumulus near Staylittle, Llanbrynmair. Opened July 29th and 30th, 1903. (E. K. Jones, Brymbo.) A. Cutting made July 29th and 30th, 1903. B. Place where Cinerary Urn was found. c. Mark of digging done by someone in recent years. D. Oblong dent or unfilled space in mound. E. Bend into mound which seems to have been made by the river F. Spot where farmer buried a cow's carcass about five years ago. G to H. Line of section given below. were always careful not to cross her path on these occasions. Another tradition relates that a tavern stood on the site aforesaid, and that one night, when drinking and revelry were carried on to an unusual extent, the whole house and riotous company disappeared together. It is not easy to separate these stories distinctly, as they are so mixed up. There is, however, this much to go upon : the meadow that contains these interesting sites is known as "Doldafarn," and the gate leading into the field as "Llidiart llyn-Helen" (Helen's Lake Gate). Further, it is interesting to note that Mr. Owen, of Llwynygôg, who farms the land, came upon some ashes and a pavement while digging holes to fix fence-posts a few years ago. The tumuli had excited our curiosity for some years, but this year we decided to open one of them. The one selected stands on the edge of a declivity formed by the river Clywedog. The river is now some distance off, but its old bed is well marked. This mound was selected as being the easiest to work. The rubbish Section of Tumulus near Staylittle, Llanbrynmair, Mont. A. Northern and larger portion of mound. B. A layer of peaty soil. c. Soil of a kind different from that in ▲, and that had been thrown D. Soil similar to that in c. E E. Level of surrounding surface. FF. Bottom and length of cutting made July 29th and 30th, 1903. G. Steep place running down to old river-bed. H. Eastern portion of mound. 1. Mark of digging by someone in recent years. Place where urn was found. could be shovelled down the old river bed without more ado. It should have been stated also that this mound was the only one that showed any signs of having been tampered with. Apart from these signs, we were told that a former agent of Sir Watkin Wynn's had been excavating there some forty years ago. to his success or otherwise, we could learn nothing. We also received the comforting information that a cow's As carcass had been buried in the southern portion of this mound. Nevertheless, though expecting little or nothing by way of discovering any objects of interest, we decided upon making a cutting through the northern or larger portion of the tumulus, so as to obtain a section of same, and thus learn something as to its structure. A photograph had previously been Sketch of Cinerary Urn found at Staylittle, July 30th, 1903. (E. K. J.) (of original size.) taken, showing the whole as it stood before we commenced operations. In digging we selected the shortest cut into the heart of the mound, as shown on accompanying plan. The bottom of the cutting was 6 ins. or 8 ins. below the level of the land around the mound. We found no traces of a moat or trench around it. (Of the ten mounds mentioned only one has signs of a moat clearly marked.) The greatest possible care was taken in the use of pick and shovel, and all the earth removed was |