Gwaen Gynfi sheepfold & prehistoric settlement

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An archaeological site located at the edge of Penrhyn Quarry in Bethesda, North Wales, UK is facing a grave threat. The slowly expanding slate quarry will likely destroy or damage this site further in the future. Fortunately, archaeologists from Gwynedd Archaeological Trust have already recorded this site to preserve its history for posterity. The most striking feature of the site besides modern quarry tracks is the multicellular sheepfold dating back to the late 18th century. This ancient sheepfold was connected by low entranceways called sheep creeps which allowed shepherds to divide and sort their flocks with precision. Unobtrusively situated nearby is a settlement from either the late Bronze Age or Iron Age, comprising round houses and enclosures defined by protruding stones through the turf. A one-meter scale model is present in the Sheepfold, although it appears slightly pixelated; the red end points towards the north. This detailed model was generated using kite aerial photographs taken on a dull and rather blustery day. The site was photographed on December 30, 2016.