Llyn Fawr

Llyn Fawr is a lake occupying a glacial cirque in the northern escarpment of the South Wales Coalfield uplands overlooking the heads of the Vale of Neath and the Cynon Valley, South Wales. It is known as the site of an important hoard of weapons and tools from the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age. It lies within Craig-y-Llyn an area that is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.[1]

Llyn Fawr
Llyn Fawr
Location	Rhigos, South Wales Valleys, Wales
Coordinates	51°43′11″N 3°34′6″W
Lake type	natural lake, reservoir
Basin countries	United Kingdom
Surface area	9.8 ha (24 acres)
Surface elevation	368 m (1,207 ft)

Llyn Fawr has an area of 9.8 hectares (24 acres) and lies south of Rhigos in the Town of Aberdare in the unitary authority of Rhondda Cynon Taf. It lies near the source of the river Rhondda Fawr, at an altitude of 368 metres, and is overlooked by the crags of Craig y Llyn. Originally a smaller lake, it was converted into a reservoir in the early 20th century.

The Llyn Fawr hoard was discovered between 1909 and 1913 during the construction of the reservoir. It contains many objects from the late Bronze Age, but also a number of iron objects, notably an iron sword of the Hallstatt type. Two other iron implements were found – a spear and a socketed sickle. Bronze items included two cauldrons and axeheads. The items appear to have been placed in the lake as votive offerings. The date of these items is uncertain because of the context of the finds, but the sword is thought to date from about 650 BC. It is the earliest iron object to have been discovered in Wales.

This hoard gave its name to the Llyn Fawr Phase, which is the last phase of the Bronze Age in Britain.