News & Views

Shinewater Lake Bronze Age Sacred Water Site

Shinewater Lake Bronze Age site

We talk about what is possibly the largest Sacred Water site in the UK - the Shinewater Lake Bronze Age site. It has been described by Chris Greatorex, the Director of the Excavation, as possibly one of the most important wetland sites in North-West Europe.

Find out more in our posts and the links they contain at:

South of England’s water site to rival Flag Fen site finally recognised

Bronze Age site discovered over a decade ago in Shinewater area to rival Flag-Fen!

Shinewater Park ‘Sacred Water’ site decaying without record

Shinewater Park Website

British Archaeology

 

Names Used in this Story

Listed in order of appearance

• Pwyll
• Arawn
• Dyfed
• Prince of Annwn
• Annwn
• Cantrefs
• (the) Pendaran
• Delwyn
• Arberth
• Gorsedd Arberth
• Sidhe
• Bryn Caerau
• Sea-Voice
• Celyn
• Cerys
• Rhiannon
• Hevaydd Hen
• {Heueyd Hen}
• Hefaidd the Ancient

 

Rhiannon by Alan Lee

Locations visited in this Episode

Some wonderful information from Nantle about the locations seen in the First Branch.

The Cantrefs of Dyfed. Pic

Arberth Castle today

One of Pwyll's chief courts, obviously not far from Gorsedd Arberth (see below). Perhaps the site of the Norman Castle. Photo

 

 

Location of the Gorsedd?

The Iron Age fort on Camp Hill to the south of the town of Narberth is the most commonly accepted location for the Gorsedd of Arberth. We have marked it in Green with our location on Bryn Caerau marked in Yellow to the North-East of Arberth. Pic: Google Earth

We suspect that these twin peaks are the site of the actual Gorsedd as they are higher than Camp Hill, match with the descriptions of the topography given in the text and have an earlier Bronze Age archaeological presence known as Caerau Gaer and Llandewi Gaer.

Arberth, the "Sea-Voice" & the Gorsedd

The River we have called the Sea-Voice is the river Marlais that flows from the River Taf. The Welsh name comes from 'marw glais' which means 'dead bruise' and therefore stagnant water, so we can only assume that it has long since become polluted.

Lady Charlotte Guest's Rhiannon

 

Listener Feedback

Helen

We play some lovely feedback from Oxana and give thanks to Birgir for his super Donation.

 

Promo - Between the Earth and Stars

Between the Earth and Stars is a monthly podcast for witches, magicians, and others of the occult persuasion. Explore the earth and sky from a physical and metaphysical perspective, and delve into the mysteries of magick and meditation with Oraia Helene. You can find the show on iTunes as well as the website, or Libsyn.

Huge Thanks to Special Guest Actors

 

Damh the Bard

Damh the Bard

Damh, taking on the role of Gwawl and other parts in the second half of our re-telling of the First Branch, is a musical storyteller who works within the world of myth that cannot be proved; where the Faerie really do dance on Midsummer's Eve, where the trees talk, and the Hollow Hills take you into the realms of Annwn. Where the Goddess rides her horse, guiding you to magic, and the Horned God of old calls us from the shadows of the Greenwood.

You can find out more about Damh and his work on his website at paganmusic.co.uk or on our Contributor page.

 

Cerri Lee

Cerri Lee

Cerri Lee, playing the role of Rhiannon, is a multi-talented visionary artist who can turn her hand to almost anything creative. She is inspired by nature, and the ancient Pagan myths and legends of many cultures, her beliefs as a modern day Druid as well as those around her. Cerri is equally in her element when she is up to her elbows in clay or painting one of her fabulous pictures. She is partner to Druid musician and long-time supporter of our show, Damh the Bard and can be found supporting him at many of his performances.

 

Extra Special Thanks to Show Friends

 

Keltoria

Keltoria

We are pleased to be able to bring you a superb piece by Keltoria, Call of the Wildwood - from their brand new album, Beyond the Wildwood! In this episode, you can also hear their beautiful track After the Storm from the album Shadows and Stone. You can find out more about Keltoria on their website or on their Contributor page.

 

Portcullis

Portcullis

A special thank you to Jason, Sue and Haydon for the wonderful courtly sounds of Portcullis playing Tradesh that can be heard as the Minstrels playing at the court of Arberth in this episode. You can find out more about Portcullis on their website or on their Contributor page.

 

Anne Roos

Anne Roos

We are pleased to be able to bring you a superb piece by Anne, My True Love's Hair from her beautiful album Haste to the Wedding. Thank you, Anne! You can find out more about Anne on her website or on her Contributor page.

 

 

Our Sources for the Episode

Places Mentioned in the First Branch, Fascinating website.

Bullfinch's Mythology, The Celts, section 8.

The Mabinogion, pp ix-xxxvi, 3-21, 227-232, Sioned Davies, Oxford, 2007, ISBN 978-0-19-283242

The Mabinogion, pp 9-41, 45-65, Jeffrey Gantz, Penguin, 1976, ISBN 0-14-044322-3

The Mabinogion, pp ix-xliv, 3-24, 275-278, Gwyn Jones & Thomas Jones, Dent & Dutton, 1977, ISBN 0-460-01097-2. Can also be found online at www.donaldcorrell.com

Pwyll Pendeuc Dyfed, Lady Charlotte Guest, Mary Jones

Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed, Lady Charlotte Guest, 1877, Sacred Texts

Notes to Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed, Lady Charlotte Guest, 1877, Sacred Texts

The Mabinogion, Lady Charlotte Guest, 1849, Project Gutenberg

The Mabinogi of Pwyll, W. M. Parker, mabiongi.net. Notes at mabinogion.info

'The Lord of Dyfed', from Legends of the Celts, p.134ff, Frank Delaney, HarperCollins, 1991, ISBN 0-586-21151-9

Tales from the Mabinogion, Gwyn Thomas & Kevin Crossley-Holland, Gollancz, 1984, ISBN 0-575-03531-5

Celtic Myths & Legends, p.147ff, Michael Foss, Selectabook Ltd., 1998, ISBN 0-75252-402-X

Prince of Annwn, Evangeline Walton, Del Rey, 1974, ISBN 0-345-27060-6

Encyclopaedia of Celtic Wisdom, p.117, 156, Caitlin & John Matthews, Element, 1994, ISBN 1-85230-560-6

The Celts, p.211, Frank Delaney, Grafton, 1989, ISBN 0-586-20349-4

Women in Celtic Myth, Moyra Caldecott, Arrow, ISBN 0-09-955920-X

Celtic Heritage, p.41 ff, Alwyn & Brinley Rees, Thames & Hudson, 1978, ISBN 978-0500110089

Pagan Celtic Britain, p.288, Anne Ross, Constable, 1967, ISBN 0-09-472330-3

'Myth in the Mabiogion', from A Celtic Reader, p.151, John Matthews, Aquarian, ISBN 0-85030-935-2

Celtic Myths and Legends, p.356 ff, T. W. Rolleston, 1995, ISBN 978-1859580066

Celtic Folklore: Welsh & Manx Vol.2, pp 499ff, John Rhys, Wildwood House, 1980, ISBN 0-7045-0406-5

The White Goddess, p.215ff, Robert Graves, Faber, 1952

http://www.maryjones.us/jce/eufyd.html, Hyfaidd Hen as one of the Children of Don.

Mabinogi Study: Enlivening Y Mabinogi, Welsh Pronounciation for the Mabinogi

And, of course, the Awen - inspiration and imagination!

Special Thanks

 

For Incidental Music

Miguel Herrero for Timeless from his Soundtrack EP 3. See his Contributor Page for more details.

Cyril Pereira, Indecision from the album The Revenge of Glory. See the Contributor page for more details.

eNoz for ElectroPlin from the album Fest-noz is dead. See his Contributor Page for more details.

Mairéid Sullivan for Never Drift Apart from the album of the same name. See her Contributor Page for more details.

Matti Paalanen for Clouds Fly As I Smile, Here Comes the Rain from Hollow. See his Contributor Page for more details.

Celestial Aeon Project, for Hidden Cove from Fable. See our Contributor Page for more details.

Diane Arkenstone The Secret Garden. See her Contributor page for details.

Kim Robertson The Hangman's Noose. See her Contributor page for details.

Jigger Time Ticks Away. See her Contributor page for details.

For our Theme Music

The Skylark and Haghole, the brilliant Culann's Hounds. See their Contributor page for details.

Extra Special Thanks for Unrestricted Access to Wonderful Music

(in Alphabetic order)

Anne Roos Extra Special thanks go for permission to use any of her masterful music to Anne Roos. You can find out more about Anne on her website or on her Contributor page.

Caera Extra Special thanks go for permission to any of her evocative harping and Gaelic singing to Caera. You can find out more about Caera on her website or on her Contributor Page.

Celia Extra Special Thanks go for permission to use any of her wonderful music to Celia Farran. You can find out more about Celia on her website or on her Contributor Page.

Damh the Bard Extra Special thanks go to Damh the Bard for his permission to use any of his music on the Show. You can find out more about Damh (Dave) on his website or on his Contributor page.

The Dolmen Extra Special thanks also go to The Dolmen, for their permission to use any of their fantastic Celtic Folk/Rock music on the Show. You can find out more about The Dolmen on their website or on our Contributor page.

Keltoria Extra Special thanks go for permission to use any of their inspired music to Keltoria. You can find out more about Keltoria on their website or on their Contributor page.

Kevin Skinner Extra Special thanks go for permission to use any of his superb music to Kevin Skinner. You can find out more about Kevin on his website or on his Contributor page.

Phil Thornton Extra Special Thanks go for permisssion to use any of his astounding ambient music to the Sonic Sorcerer himself, Phil Thornton. You can find out more about Phil on his website or on his Contributor Page.

S.J. Tucker Extra Special thanks go to Sooj for her permission to use any of her superb music. You can find out more about Sooj on her website or on her Contributor page.

Spiral Dance Extra Special thanks go for permission to use Adrienne and the band to use any of their music in the show. You can find out more about Spiral Dance on their website or on their Contributor page.

We'd like to wish you 'Hwyl fawr!', which is Welsh for Goodbye and have fun, or more literally Wishing a Good Mood on you!