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A particularly early medieval radiocarbon date (865 – 1035 yrs cal AD) was obtained from charcoal associated with this, and it seems that the working
was for lead.
A much earlier phase of hushing consisting of a narrow leat following the top of the ridge with release channels either side of it was looked at in
2002. The buried peat infill representing the abandonment of this channel was dated to between 520 and 620 yrs AD, suggesting that the original use of this probably dates to the Roman period or before (Timberlake 2003b).
Given the proximity of the Roman gold mine at Dolaucothi and the extensive series of associated leats for hushing on the nearby Mallaen Mountain, it
seems possible that Roman interest in this promising quartz vein on the Pen Cerrig was part of a strategy to prospect for gold within the surrounding area.
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