Re-creating life in early Wales
Below is a selection of artists impressions showing scenes of everyday life in Wales. Images range from the Palaeolithic, when humans first set foot in Wales, through to the Roman Conquest. Click on the images below for more detail.
Re-creating life in early Wales
Roman amphitheatre, Caerleon, Monmouthshire; by J. A. Wright, 1928. Excavated in 1926-27, Wright shows the amphitheatre in the late 1st century AD. At the time it was thought that the auditorium was supported by a bank of earth retained by masonry walls. The original height was determined from the remains of arches and vaulting in the main entrances.
Caerwent Roman town, Monmouthshire. Imaginative reconstruction of the supposed post-Roman church; by Alan Sorrell, 1938. More recent reappraisal of the evidence suggests that the building is not of sub-Roman date, but is a post-medieval cottage.
Caerwent Roman town, Monmouthshire. Imaginative reconstruction of a raid on the south-west corner of the town; by Alan Sorrell, 1938.
Roman forum-basilica at Caerwent, Monmouthshire; by Alan Sorrell, 1955.
Romano-Celtic temple, Caerwent Roman town, Monmouthshire; by Alan Sorrell, 1955. The temple had been excavated in 1908.
The Roman town of Venta Silurum (Caerwent), Monmouthshire, in the 4th century AD; by Alan Sorrell, 1937. Based on the plan of the town revealed by the large-scale excavations undertaken in the earlier 20th century.
Llantwit Major Roman villa, The Vale of Glamorgan, as it may have looked in the 4th century AD; by Paul Hughes, about 1980.
Llantwit Major Roman villa, The Vale of Glamorgan; By Alan Sorrell, 1949. The villa, as shown, dates to the early 4th century AD.
Barracks and other buildings in the west corner of the Roman legionary fortress, Caerleon, Monmouthshire, in the 2nd century AD; by Alan Sorrell, 1939. This reconstruction shows one corner of the barracks in Prysg Field, now laid out and on view to the public.
Roman amphitheatre, Caerleon, Monmouthshire, in the late 1st century AD; by Alan Sorrell, 1939. This view borrows from the reconstruction by J. A. Wright (1928), but shows more activity and detail in the vicinity of the amphitheatre.
The Roman legionary fortress, Caerleon, Monmouthshire, in the 2nd century AD; by Alan Sorrell, 1939.
Drainage wheel in the Roman gold mine at Dolaucothi, Carmarthenshire; by Paul Hughes, about 1980.
The south-west gate of Roman Caerleon, Monmouthshire; by Tony Daly, 1996.
The Fortress Baths, Caerleon, Monmouthshire, as they might have appeared about AD 80; by Paul Jenkins, about 1988.
Cefn Graeanog native settlement, Gwynedd, in the 4th century AD; by Paul Hughes, about 1980.
The main entrance to the Iron Age hillfort at Llanmelin, Monmouthshire; by Alan Sorrell, 1940.
The east gate of Twyn-y-Gaer hillfort, Cymyoy, Monmouthshire, 3rd century BC; by Paul Hughes, about 1980.
Making offerings at a sacred lake. The wheeled vehicle is based on continental finds and rock engravings. Llyn Fawr, Rhondda Cynon Taff, about 650 BC; by Paul Hughes, about 1980.
Moel-y-Gaer hillfort, Rhosesmor, Denbighshire, 4th century BC; by Paul Hughes, about 1980.
Bronze Age burial, about 2,000 BC: the last rites at Pond Cairn, Coity, The Vale of Glamorgan; by Alan Sorrell, 1940.
Burial at a stone circle about 1,750 BC based on the Druid's Circle, Penmaenmawr, Gwynedd; by Paul Jenkins, about 1980.
The preparation of a Bronze Age archer's grave, based on finds from the round barrow at Breach Down at Breach Farm, Llanblethian, The Vale of Glamorgan about 2,000-1,500 BC; by Paul Jenkins, about 1980.
A 'Beaker' Princess wearing a gold lunula from Llanllyfni, Gwynedd (about 2,000 BC); by Paul Jenkins, about 1980.
The Breiddin Bronze Age hillfort, near Welshpool, Powys, about 1,000 BC; by Paul Jenkins, about 1980.
Bronze Age 'Beaker' warriors about 2,500 BC; by Paul Jenkins, about 1980.
The First Sword-bearers, warriors of the Penard phase, about 1,100 BC; by Paul Jenkins, about 1980.
A Later Bronze Age Metal-worker about 800BC; by Paul Jenkins, about 1980.
Early Bronze Age ('Beaker') metal-worker about 2000 BC; by Paul Jenkins, about 1980.
Pottery-making in the Bronze Age (about 1, 750 BC); by Paul Jenkins, about 1980.
Farming settlement about 4,000 BC by Giovanni Caselli, 1979; Based on excavations at Clegyr Boia, St David's, Pembrokeshire, in 1902 and 1943.
Tinkinswood Neolithic chambered tomb, St Nicholas, The Vale of Glamorgan by Alan Sorrell, 1940; Reconstruction of a burial scene at the Neolithic chamber tomb (about 4,000—3,500 BC).
Barclodiad y Gawres
, Isle of Anglesey, by Paul Jenkins, about 1980; Ritual in a Neolithic passage grave, about 3,000 BC.
Hunting and fishing at The Nab Head, St Brides Bay, Pembrokeshire, about 8,400 BC; By Giovanni Caselli, 1979.
Cave Settlement of Neanderthal Man, about 70,000 BC; by Gino D'Achille, about 1980. Based on excavations at Pontnewydd Cave, Denbighshire.
Hunting scene, Penylan, Cardiff, about 250,000 BC; By Gino D'Achille, about 1980.
The ritual burial at Paviland Cave, Gower; by Gino D'Achille, about 1980. This painting was created when the burial was thought to be Aurignacian in date (35-28,000 years ago).
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