Megalithic Monuments of South Wales

Abstract

THE latest addition to the Megalithic Survey of England and Wales (“Map of South Wales showing the Distribution of Long Barrows and Megaliths”. Compiled by F. W. Grimes. Southampton: Ordnance Survey. Pp. 56 and Map: Scale 4 miles to 1 inch. 5s., 6s. 6d. and 6s. 6d. net) incorporates the results of a survey of the area covered by Sheet 7 of the Quarter-inch Ordnance Map. It is now possible for the first time, as the Director-General points out in an introductory note, to assess the distribution of the megalithic monuments of an area which has been recognized as an important centre of the culture. This region, predominantly upland, and, therefore, differing essentially from others already covered by the series, falls into two parts, a narrow coastal plain of undulating country, seldom more than 400 ft. above sea-level, in which the monuments are mainly found, and an upland, which attains its greatest heights in Brecknock Beacons, and of which a large part is above the 1,000 ft. contour line. Mr. Grimes discusses a number of questions arising out of the distribution of the monuments, not the least interesting being those relating to his omissions, a matter with which he proposes to deal at greater length elsewhere. He also raises a question of wide general interest in connexion with Stonehenge. One of the most noteworthy contributions to British archaeology of the post-War years was the conclusion, at which the late Mr. H. H. Thomas of the Geological Survey arrived in 1923, that the blue stones of the inner circle at Stonehenge were igneous rock derived from the Presely Mountains and the altar stone micaceous sandstone of either the Cosheston Beds around the estuary of Milford Haven, or the Senni Beds of Carmarthen and Brecknock; but up to the present no satisfactory hypothesis as to the method of transport and route has been offered. Mr. Grimes discusses the question, in the light of his survey and gives his reasons for suggesting a route by both land and water in which transport from the Presely Mountains to the sea was effected by one of three possible ancient roads which he shows.