 Prehistoric
The Cambrian Mountains provide a rare example of a surviving,
largely intact prehistoric landscape.
Broadleaved woodland became established over all except
the higher peaks of the Cambrian Mountains following the end of the
last glaciation about 12,000 years ago. Today's predominantly grassy
heathland was created by woodland clearance from the earlier prehistoric
period onwards, combined with climatic change which at high altitude
gave rise to blanket peat formation.
The large numbers of cairns, individual megaliths, stone
rows and stone circles may well be associated with the early exploitation
of upland pastures during the Bronze Age, 5500-3500 years ago. The fact
that many are sited high on horizons indicates that they were meant
to be seen from long distances, possibly for territorial marking, for
commemoration of special individuals or for use as foresights for astronomical
alignments.
Peat bogs are a most important archive documenting human
activity in the Cambrian Mountains. Despite their archaeological importance,
they are an undervalued and diminishing resource, with many hectares having
been lost only recently, during construction of Cefn Croes wind power
station.
The archaeology of the Cambrian Mountains is relatively
well preserved for the very reasons that make the area special -
its remoteness and lack of human disturbance. There are many aspects
which are not yet fully understood, and it is important that the
archaeological record is preserved in its landscape context for
future research.
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