Discussion
of Mynydd-y-Gaer's Arthurian
Connection
By
David Nash Ford
MYNYDD-Y-GAER
Burial
Place of Uther, Arthur or Athrwys?
The
Tradition: Medieval accounts of the
Arthurian story, including Geoffrey
of Monmouth's "History of the Kings of
Britain," tell how Uther Pendragon was buried at
or near a place called Caer Caradog (which Geoffrey
mistakenly identifies as Sailsbury).
The
Theory: Blackett
& Wilson claim that one of the two figures
who went to make up "King Arthur" is to be
identified with King Athrwys
of Gwent & Glywysing. Athrwys (or Arthwys)
was an historical monarch who is usually believed to
have lived in the mid-7th century, though Blackett
& Wilson push him back in time to the traditional
Arthurian period at the beginning of the 6th
century. They interpret "Uther Pendragon" as
a title used by both Athrwys and his father, King Meurig
ap Tewdr. Following numerous clues, they claim
to have traced King Athrwys' burial-place first to a
secret cave and then to a re-interment in the ruined
Church of St.Peter-super-Montem on Mynydd-y-Gaer in
Mid Glamorgan. The fort of Coedcae Gaer on a spur
projecting south-eastward from here, is marked on old
maps as Caer Caradog. Barber & Pykitt follow
Blackett & Wilson, but take the more obvious line
of claiming this as the burial-place of Meurig ap
Tewdr alias Uther Pendragon.
 Modern
Archaeology: Blackett & Wilson's
hypothesis hit the headlines in 1983, and created much
interest across the country. Unfortunately, this also
brought notoriety to some of the places that they
revealed to have Arthurian associations; and
the secret burial cave subsequently suffered a
series of attacks by vandals. Concerned about the site
that they believed to contain Arthur's last
resting-place, Blackett & Wilson undertook a
private excavation near the altar of St. Peter's
Church. Here they claim to have discovered a large
sword-shaped memorial which reads, in very faint 6th
century style, " Rex Artorius fili Mauricius"
(picture below - text outlined). Beneath this
was a grave which they hurriedly sealed for future
investigation.
Subsequent excavations
undertaken in 1990 by Dr Eric Talbot of Glasgow
University and a team of professional archaeologists,
with the permission of the RCAHMW, have revealed that
below the present church (of 13th century origin) lie
the remains of at least two earlier building phases: A
solid rectangular building covering an earlier
"beehive" hermitage and rectangular paved
(possibly) wooden erection. Significant finds included
a small electrum cross bearing the inscription,
"Pro Anima Artorius".
Possible
Interpretations & Criticism: Despite
flying in the face of much accepted doctrine
concerning a Real King Arthur, many of Blackett
& Wilson's arguments are extremely compelling.
Coedcae Gaer may be translated as Forest of Cai
Fort which might sound like further evidence for
their identification of the great High-King Arthur.
However, whether one accepts this or not, the question
still remains, "Did they find the Grave of
King Athrwys of Gwent & Glywysing?" As
the initial discovery of the memorial stone at
St.Peter's Church there had no official supervision,
this major find has thus come in for considerable
criticism. It is true that Early Medieval Latin is so
corrupt that it is difficult to claim any particular
inscription to be incorrect, but still something like
"Artorius Rex filius Mauricii" would read
much better, and surely the letters are much too
regular for a 6th century context. But then
again, the corroborative cross inscribed "For the
Soul of Artorius" recovered under better
documented circumstances would indicate that the site
is indeed associated with a man named Arthur, and the
King of Gwent & Glywysing would seem the most
likely candidate. The "beehive" cell would
certainly indicate St. Peter's to be the site of a 5th
or 6th century hermitage. The associated rectangular
building was probably of similar date, though Blackett
& Wilson's interpretation is a little more
controversial.
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