Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 6.djvu/381

 SEPULCHRAL DEPOSIT lx HoLVllEAI) ISLAND. 2:37 -y-Gwyddel, — and that of the scene of his defeat by Caswallon, about A.D. 440, — Llan-y-Gwyddel, or Cappel Gwyddel, — near Holyhead Church, may justly be regarded as corroborative of the notion that the name is appli- cable rather to the Irish i-over, than to the first settler in those islands.^ Some mention of this curious subject has previously been made in the Journal ; it may suffice now to remark that the smaller urn found at Forth Dafarch, wholly covered with zig-zag scorings, is both dissimilar in form to those found in England or Wales, and in its fabrication wholly different to the larger urn, by which it was covered. This last beai's a greater resem- blance to primitive cinerary vases of England and Wales, whilst the few examples described as found in the sister kingdom, are far more elaborately ornamented with chevrony scored lines over the greater part of the surface, and appear analogous to the smaller urn, aljove described. ]Iay not this httle cup have been brought from Ireland by the pirate chieftain, and the larger vessel have been the ordinai-y manufacture of the natives of Mona ?" It has been stated also, that, in Ireland small urns have been found, not unfrequently, deposited within those of larger size, containing bones and ashes.* Mr. John Bell, of Dungarvan, communicated to the Archaeo- logical Association in 1845, a very curious account of such a deposit: the large urn was inverted on the floor of a rudely formed chamber ; within it was the smaller vessel placed amongst the ashes, and, as in the interment at Forth Dafarch, in an erect position. The deficiency of circumstantial statements respecting cinerary urns, and the details of sepulchral usages in Wales, has already been stated. It may, therefore, be desirable to append to the foregoing memoir, the brief notice of a discovery of singular interest, in Anglesea, of which, it is believed, no account has hitherto been given, except in a valuable periodical of limited circulation, the " Cambro- Briton," from which the following particulars are extracted : — " It is said, in the Additions to Camden, edited by Gough (vol. iii., p. 200) that, according to tradition, the largest of the numerous cromlechs in Anglesea is the monument of Brouwen, daughter of Llyr Llediaith, and aunt of Caractacus. The precise site of this noted pile is not stated : a local antiquary of the last century, Mr. Griffith, in a letter to Mr. Vaughan of Hengwrt, speaking of Anglesea as the burial-place of many distinguished persons in ancient days, observes, ' as to Brownwen, the daughter of Leir, there is a crooked little cell of stone, not far west of Alaw, where, accord- ing to tradition, she was buried." " In 1813 an interment was found on the banks of the river Alaw, in Anglesea, of which the following account was connnunicated to the " Cam- bro-Bi-iton,'" by the Fate Sir Richard Colt Hoare, having been sent to liim by Pdchard Fenton, Esq., of Fishguard.' Its special interest was thus stated by Sir Richard : — " During the long and minute examination of our numerous barrows in •* Rowlands' Mona, pp. 27, 37, 147 ; Pen- Jomnal of Brit. Arrhaeol. Assoc, vol. i., nant's Wales, vol. i., p. '277. p. 244. ■* Compare tlii' claboi-atcly decorated urns * Journal Arrliacol, Assoc, ibid, found in the Co. Down. Dublin Penny .lour- *" Canibro-Briton, vol. ii., p. 71. Ortober, nal, vol. i., p. 1 OU ; ami in Co. Tyrone, 1820. VOL. VI. K K