sariel
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Mynydd y Betws
Jan 21, 2012, 18:09
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Minister's plea over archaeological find
South Wales Evening Post
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AN assembly member has written to the Welsh Heritage Minister about what archaeologists say is a neolithic find at the Mynydd y Betws wind-farm site.
Cambrian Renewable Energy Limited, the company building the 15-turbine site above Ammanford has held talks with experts who said they had uncovered a 5,000-year-old "stone row" near the site.
Now Neath AM Gwenda Thomas has written to Housing, Regeneration and Heritage Minister Huw Lewis.
"I was made aware of the archaeological find which has been discovered on the Mynydd y Betws wind farm site by my constituent, Geoff Moore," she said. "I wrote yesterday to the minister with responsibility for heritage, Huw Lewis AM, to clarify the process of accessing the significance of this find.
"I hope for a prompt response from Cadw (the Welsh historic monuments body) in visiting the site to start the verification of the find"
Swansea Valley campaigners worried about the delivery of the turbines causing traffic disruption called for work on the contentious project to stop.
But a Cambrian Renewable Energy Limited spokesman said it was not digging near the alleged ancient find.
He added: "Cambrian Renewable Energy Limited is consulting with its own archaeologists and Carmarthenshire Council on the potential significance of some findings discovered at the Mynydd y Betws wind farm site.
"Further statements will be issued when more information becomes available."
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sariel
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Re: Mynydd y Betws
Jan 21, 2012, 18:20
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Mynydd y Betws is very close to Mynydd Carn Llechart, mentioned in the Modern Antiquarian, between Ammanford and Pontardawe.
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sariel
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Re: Mynydd y Betws
Jan 22, 2012, 00:08
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nice picture. is that an actual photo of mynydd y betws?
what do wind turbine companies do with archaeological finds, can they just concrete over them?
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juamei
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Re: Mynydd y Betws
Jan 22, 2012, 00:20
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There is an image of it here:
https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=c9075b0219e43a78&Bsrc=SkyMail&Bpub=SDX.SkyDrive&id=C9075B0219E43A78%21592&action=Share
I've not seen enough Genuine rows to be sure, but it looks genuine to me.
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moss
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Re: Mynydd y Betws
Jan 22, 2012, 09:27
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Saw that piece of news yesterday in this article, which gives it a slightly different slant..........
http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/story-14994484-detail/story.html
A WIND FARM opposed by Swansea Valley campaigners is being built on an "ancient version of the M4", a deputy mayor has said.
Work started on the 15-turbine Mynydd y Betws wind-farm late last year.
Campaigners opposed the build because of what they claimed would be an unacceptable traffic increase in transporting the turbines up the Swansea Valley.
But this week archeologists said they had uncovered a 5,000-year-old neolithic "stone row", which could raise questions over the future of the project.
After the find, Pontardawe deputy mayor Huw Evans highlighted the importance of preserving the area's ancient heritage.
"Mynydd y Betws, the Baran and Mynydd Gellionnen are all littered with ancient monuments, stone circles and traces of pre-Christian worship," he said.
"Gellionnen Chapel itself is located where three lay-lines cross and is believed to be a site of pre-Christian meeting or worship. Our area appears to have been an ancient M4 of its day as both a route for trading and also of congregation."
The find was pointed out to archaeologists from the Dyfed Archeological Trust, as well as experienced freelancers Sandy and Helen Gerrard, who are convinced the discovery is genuine. Cambrian Renewable Energy Limited, the company building the turbines, said its own archaeologists had met at the site yesterday and were preparing a statement next week.
A spokesman from Cambrian Renewable Energy Limited said: "Cambrian Renewable Energy Limited is consulting with its own archaeologists and Carmarthenshire Council on the potential significance of some findings.
"Further statements will be issued when more information becomes available."
Gwenda Thomas AM has also written to the minister responsible for heritage, Huw Lewis AM, concerning the find.
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juamei
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Re: Mynydd y Betws
Jan 29, 2012, 18:34
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The Heritage Journal today ran a long piece written by one of the co-finders of the stone row:
http://heritageaction.wordpress.com/2012/01/29/mynydd-y-betws-windfarm-stone-row-the-discoverers-tale/
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