packing. It was not practicable to do this in all cases, owing to the ruined condition of the walls. This would have been increased if digging had been carried on near the ruined portions. Much of this wall ruin. was due to excavations which were made in the huts some fifty years ago, by people of the neighbourhood. An old woman of Llithfain dreamt that a copper cauldron full of gold was buried in Tre'r Ceiri. This unfortunate dream did more harm to the cytiau of Tre'r Ceiri than many centuries of natural causes of decay. The only water procurable within the walls of the fortress is that already alluded to. This would give but a meagre supply, quite inadequate for the needs of any considerable number of men and animals. There is a small supply a few hundred yards north of the outer north-west entrance, and two smaller trickles of water to the south-west and south; the latter almost at the foot of the mountain. If these meagre supplies were seized and held by a hostile force, the supply of surface water within the fortress would soon be exhausted, and the occupants reduced to submission. It is doubtful whether investments were practicable in early warfare, for the attacking force could hardly exist long in a country which had previously been swept of its food. Tre'r Ceiri was a strong refuge, into which the inhabitants of the surrounding neighbourhood could retire with their flocks and herds and household belongings, and there remain until the temporary danger had passed. In this respect it is similar to the other hill-forts and camps with which we are familiar. The actual digging commenced on June 30th. The details are as follows: 1. A long ruined hut, close to inner rampart north-west. Α little charcoal only was found. 2. Two-and-a-half feet below the surface came on clay subsoil. Water oozed into the excavation from all sides. No sign of human occupancy. Entrance faces east. 3. Entrance from No. 4 only, 2 ft. wide. No hearth seen, nor any charcoal, but about a dozen pieces of dark pottery were found. Also, some pebbles and a small fragment of pointed iron. Height of wall, 4 ft. 4. A long hut against inner south-west wall, with a hearth composed of two flat stones. This hut yielded much charcoal, two spindle-whorls, one broken, and pebbles both large and small. Both these communicating huts are in a hollow, and the present walls are flush with surface level. Entrance faces north-west and is curved; 2 ft. 2 ins. wide. Height of wall 6 ft. (See Fig. 1.) 5. Yielded a spindle-whorl, pieces of ox teeth, and some charcoal. Entrance faces west, and is 4 ft. wide; has two protecting horns of walling, 13 ft. long. (See Fig. 2.) 6. Here a combined adze and hammer, of much-corroded iron, was found a little above the true floor of the hut. (See Fig. 4.) Also on the floor a part of an iron blade; some small fragments of bone and ox teeth. Entrance faces west, 3 ft. wide. This has a shelter wall 10 ft. long, trending north. Walls very ruined. 7. Here another spindle-whorl was found; also two iron objects, one about 3 ins. long, the other a crescent-shaped piece, both much corroded. Some more small fragments of bone were observed. Entrance faces west, 4 ft. wide; height of wall 5 ft. A fine circular hut, with a sheet of rocks at east. о Fig. 4. Iron Adze and Hammer combined (half-size). Hut No. 6. Fig. 5.-Bronze Object of unknown use (half size). Hut No. 8. 8. In the north corner a bronze triskele (see Fig. 5), and a large ribbed melon-shaped broken bead of blue-glazed porcellanic paste were found. (See Coloured Plate). Entrance faces west; wall 5 ft. high. |