Hi Everyone, love the show. If you don't mind I'd like to tell you about an interesting place in Wales.

Local legend has it that it was King Arthur's burial place (which I don't believe for a minute) but, it made it intriguing enough to make us go looking for it. So we did, after a few hours trekking we arrived at the site. It was the ruins of an ancient church or chapel, miles from anywhere, fenced off (but the gates were broke).

This was about 15 years ago, but the place had such an air to it, I've always wondered about it. Got Google earth this week and the first thing I did was search for the spot, it's there plain to see. Thought you guys would be the best people to ask about it.

I've got a screenshot of the site, is it possible to attach an image to a post in this forum?

You can't post photos here I'm afraid
rhonddaboy, as these forums are rather back in the Dark Ages, technologywise, but you can post a link to the photo if you have one.

Is it St. Peter's-super-Montem?

It's near Coed-ely, by the Rhondda valleys.

here's a link to the pic...

http://s65.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2XRQ13K171PT41Z3ZM79ZKPJBM

Mynydd-y-gaer?

EBK

St Peter's super Montem is owned by Blackett and Wilson. Excavations were undertaken by them around 15 years ago (supervised by Eric Talbot and another archaeologist). They claim it to be the burial site of King Arthur.

Not sure if it's either of these places, do you have an area postcode for St Peter's super Montem, so I can check it out?

No need for a post code. The site associated with King Arthur IS St Peter's. It is a scheduled ancient monument.

Take a look on the OS map

SS99338531

The RCAHMW describe it as:

A ruined church consisting of a nave, chancel and S porch, c.22m overall E-W, the nave being c.8.5m wide. The church is rubble-built, dressings from about the openings having been removed, and is set within an enclosure, c.56m E-W by 30m.
Recorded in use in the 18th c., with the yard being used for markets.

And refer to it as being at Llanbad.

We are on the brink of a Wilson & Blackett moment - I can feel it in my bones!!!!

Please excuse my ignorance, but what does a "Wilson & Blackett moment" mean?

Can't work out how to use the OS map I'm afraid, never used one before! I think the co-ordinates from Google earth are, N51 33'27.63 W3 27'12.78 (not sure if I've even typed that correct!)
Could someone please confirm that it's St. Peter's super montem?

Sorry, Rhonddaboy. Now and then, the names of two Arthur fanatics pop up on this forum and they are not exactly admired here. Maybe you have heard of them Alan Wilson and Baram Blackett. They have (self) published several books on their theories about a real King Arthur in South Wales.

They own the St Peters site, having bought it when the church was in a terrible derelict state, and even commissioned (I think) an archaeological dig there in 1990 by Eric Talbot.

Sorry, didn't mean to sound exclusive.

No worries, Steff, thanks for clearing that up.

I don't really know if the ruins I'm talking about is ST Peter's-super-montem, I think we may of just assumed this. It's a fair way from Llanharan.

I'm no Arthur fanatic, just thought the site was quite interesting and definately ancient.

Have you seen the pic I posted? I'll post another, further away, so you an see if it's the same area.

Thanks for your replies.

Here's another pic, from afar...

http://s13.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0TAGX923H77KN13KLQRTJPF5B4

It was your first pic that made me think it was Mynydd y Gaer. I did post a link to a relevant site, but it wasn't very obvious. Here it is again, was this where you were?

Mynydd-y-Gaer

Thanks for the link, not sure, but don't think that is the place.

quote:

Originally posted by rhonddaboy:
Please excuse my ignorance, but what does a "Wilson & Blackett moment" mean?

Can't work out how to use the OS map I'm afraid, never used one before! I think the co-ordinates from Google earth are, N51 33'27.63 W3 27'12.78 (not sure if I've even typed that correct!)
Could someone please confirm that it's St. Peter's super montem?

You can confirm it here

Converter

but the co-ordinates you supply more or less tally with those taken from the OS map at the grid ref I quoted (51.33.27N 3.27.14 W)

Thanks, but that's far too complicated for me, so I'll take your word on it. Guess it must be the place.

Be worth a dig though wouldn't it? Not sure how good the last one was, when we went there it was a bit of a mess, lots of bone and grave everywhere.

The place definately had something about it, (although I was young and the local legend probably helped!)

Interesting how it's built perfectly aligned with the compass, is this a common thing?

I'm now addicted to Google earth!

Thanks for all your help!

rhonddaboy all you have to do is read what was said about the previous excavation. I have no idea which W&B (God Bless Them) book it is in but I am sure your local library (if it is anything like mine) will have all of them.

Just a guess ' Artorius Rex Discovered?

I've read a typscript of the original excavation report - curious document.

quote:

Originally posted by Steffan:
Sorry, Rhonddaboy. Now and then, the names of two Arthur fanatics pop up on this forum and they are not exactly admired here. Maybe you have heard of them Alan Wilson and Baram Blackett. Sorry, didn't mean to sound exclusive.

Internationally renowned experts on the subject of King Arthur - or so their press releases say...........

... and genealogists to US Presidents too !!!! I have meant to go and have a look around Mynydd y Gaer for years, in the same way that I have never got around to strolling around Gelligaer Common and having a look at St Gwladys' gaff (amongst other things)

quote:

Originally posted by roger davies:
Just a guess ' Artorius Rex Discovered?

I've read a typscript of the original excavation report - curious document.

That may be the one but in all honesty I really dont know. I did borrow one book of theirs not so long back and put it down very quickly.

Saying that, Wendy Davies takes some beating.

Why a curious document?

If the version printed in the Holy Kingdom (the one written by Adrian Gilbert, of the Mayan Prophecies fame) is anything to go buy, it is a very unorthodox template for excavation reports. Considering they made a point of getting the Pros in. To be fair though, they do present it as a summary of the findings.

What else has Eric Talbot done?

quote:

Originally posted by Steffan:
What else has Eric Talbot done?

A survey of welsh ceramics. Excavation of a motte at Tre Oda in Cardiff and many ecavations in Scotland (he lectured in a Department run by Professor Leslie Alcock - I assume that he moved to Scotland ater a job offer by Alcock who was at one time in Cardiff University).

Following Alcock's retirement Talbot returned to Wales. I met him several times in Hay on Wye - he worked, briefly, in one of Richard Booth's bookshops selling archaeological books.