Gwynedd Archaeological
Trust Regional Historic Environment Record
Cave, Ogof Tan y Bryn, Llandudno
Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 4571 Trust : Gwynedd Community : Llandudno Unitary authority : Conwy NGR : SH79958160 Site Type (preferred type first) : PREHISTORIC CAVE Status : Scheduled Monument
Description : See FI file PRN 635 for general information on Great Orme caves.
SAM Cn204 Aberconway. <1>
The entrance of this cave faces due NW. The opening is at least 12ft high and 20ft broad, but difficulties of access have precluded more accurate measurements. A broad talus lies in front of the entrance. The cave is unexcavated and its deposits undisturbed. The discovery of Upper Palaeolithic material virtually on the surface implies that this site is of the first importance. It is situated in the back garden of the house called Tan y Bryn. <2>
Planning application at Tan y Bryn brought to GAT's attention, June 1989. PJF wrote to inform developer of presence/importance of site. <3>
This cave is 3.4m wide, 3m high in the middle, and is lofty for 5.5m. About 2m of deposits had been removed in the past, probably for lawn-building soil. Patinated flint was found, with hacked bone fragments indicating human occupation, probably undisturbed at this level because the matrix is very stoney. One tool is a fine Creswellian-type blunted back blade, and the other is a worn leaf-shaped blade. In view of the undisturbed nature of the back, and a porthole, now blocked, running upwards in the ceiling which would once have formed an animal trap, this site is regarded as having great potential. Site and finds have been photographed in detail. (Davies, 1975)
Sources :
Davies, M. , 1975 , Preliminary Investigation, Ogof Tan-y-Bryn , Archaeology in Wales : Vol. 15 : p. 29
Walker, E.A , 2023 , Out from the Darkness and Into the Light: the significance of Welsh caves to Palaeolithic archaeology
Cadw , 1987 , Cn204 , <1>
Fasham, P. J. , 1989 , PRN 4571 , <3>
Davies, M. , 1989 , Limestones and Caves of Wales , <8>
