Preseli Hills

The Preseli Hills or Preseli Mountains (Welsh: Mynydd Y Preseli / Y Preselau - also spelt Presely) (and also recorded as Mynydd Prescelly^[1]) are a range of hills in north Pembrokeshire, West Wales. They form part of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

The hills rise to 536 metres above sea level at Foel Cwmcerwyn and are dotted with prehistoric remains including evidence of Neolithic settlement. In 1923, the petrologist Herbert Henry Thomas identified that bluestone from the hills corresponded to that used to build the inner circle of Stonehenge^[2] and more recent geologists have identified Carn Menyn, sometimes called Carn Meini, as one of the bluestone sources.^[3] Others theorise that bluestone from the area was deposited close to Stonehenge by glaciation.^[4]

Slate quarrying was once big business in the Preseli Hills and remnants of the quarries can still be seen in Rosebush, Pembrokeshire and there is a slate workshop today still at Llangolman where authentic Welsh slate is still used in a variety of craft items.

During the Second World War, the UK War Office used the Preseli Hills for training exercises. Its continued use for training exercises following the war was the subject of protest by Plaid Cymru.

References

^ OS One inch 7th series map sheet 138/151 Fishguard and Pembroke 1965
^ Thomas, H.H. 1923. The source of the stones of Stonehenge. Antiquaries Journal 3, 239-260.
^ Archaeologists Figure Out Mystery of Stonehenge Bluestones
^ Thorpe, R.S et al. 1991. The geological sources and transport of the bluestones of Stonehenge, Wiltshire. Proceedings of the Pregistoric Society, 57, 103-57.

Preseli Hills

Sacred and historic sites

References

External links