Llyn Fawr
| Llyn Fawr | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Llyn Fawr | |
| Location | Rhigos, South Wales Valleys, Wales |
| Coordinates | 51°43′11″N 3°34′6″W / 51.71972°N 3.56833°W |
| Lake type | natural lake, reservoir |
| Basin countries | United Kingdom |
| Surface area | 9.8 ha (24 acres) |
| Surface elevation | 368 m (1,207 ft) |
Llyn Fawr ('large lake' in Welsh) is a reservoir that occupies one of a series glacial cirques that form the northern escarpment of the South Wales Coalfield uplands, overlooking the heads of the Vale of Neath and the Cynon Valley, South Wales. It is known as the site of an important hoard of weapons and tools from the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age.
It lies on the northern flanks of
Craig-y-Llyn, a mountain that is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.[1] The western cirque contains Llyn Fach ('small lake'). While in government terms, it falls in the unitary authority of Rhondda Cynon Taf, in geographic terms it is actually in the Vale of Neath and its excess waters (all its water before conversion) flow into Nant Gwrelych, which flows into the River Neath at Pont Walby near Glynneath. Less than 1 km to the southeast and south lie the headwaters of the Rhondda Fawr and Rhondda Fach rivers, while 1.5 km to the southwest lie the headwaters of River Corrwg
.
Drinking water reservoir
Owing to its rapid and massive industrialisation during its coalfield boom (population increasing from 951 in 1851 to 113,735 in 1901), the
Welsh Water's infrastructure, supplying the majority of the water supply for the Rhondda valley.[6] Although it is subsiding due to collapsing coal working below, with water now pooling in the middle,[7] investigation is being made into either ways to stabilise it or replace it.[6]
Bronze age hoard
It was during the deepening of the lake that the Llyn Fawr Hoard was discovered between 1909 and 1912. It contains many objects from the late
votive offerings. The date of these items is uncertain because of the context of the finds, but the sword is thought to date from about 650 BC. It is the earliest iron object to have been discovered in Wales. The hoard gave its name to the Llyn Fawr Phase, which is the last phase of the Bronze Age in Britain. The hoard is now in the possession of Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales
.
References
- ^ "Craig-y-Llyn". ccw.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
- ^ Ordnance Survey County Series, Glamorganshire. 1899.
- ^ "Lyn Fawr Hoard – Hirwaun Historical Society". Retrieved 13 April 2021.
- ^ Ordnance Survey County Series, Glamorganshire. 1918–2019.
- ^ Ordnance Survey (1962–1972). OS Plan (map series).
- ^ a b Welsh Water (September 2018). "PR19: Raw Water Distribution Maintenance". Retrieved 13 April 2021.
- ^ "Llyn Fawr Tunnel". Derelict Places. 15 June 2008. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
- Leslie Alcock (1972) The Irish Sea Zone in the Pre-Roman Iron Age CBE Research Report 9 Archived 3 December 2006 at the Wayback Machine
Bibliography
- Frances Lynch, Stephen Aldhouse-Green & Jeffrey L. Davies (2000) Prehistoric Wales (Sutton Publishing) ISBN 0-7509-2165-X