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This site is little more unusual than the majority of ‘primitive mines’ investigated so far within the Plynlimon area in that the ore body here
is dominated by iron pyrite, although copper and lead/zinc ores are also present; indeed the latter have been recorded from the vein.
Lewis Morris refers to stone hammers from this site in his description of Twll y mwyn in 1742, and it was this that led us to investigate what
otherwise appeared to be a rather unlikely choice of mine.
Fragments of these tools as well as charcoal were recovered from an ancient spoil mound exposed within the side of a track during the course of
investigations carried out in 1996. The ancient spoil here was associated with a large ‘pit’ which had been holed through and drained during 19thC mining operations (Timberlake 1996).
A C14 date of between 2135 – 1885 yrs cal BC was obtained from charcoal recovered from this section. This is a credible date, but surprisingly early
for mining within this part of Wales.
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