Battles

Bedd Branwen (‘Branwen’s Grave’) is a Bronze Age ring cairn on Anglesey and the reputed burial site of the mythical Branwen from the Second Branch (section) of The Mabinogion. Branwen has a central role as the sister of Bendigeidfran, the giant king of Britain, who marries her off to Matholwch, King of Ireland. It doesn’t end well: after a series of gory incidents involving mutilated horses, severed heads, and a magical cauldron bringing the dead back to life, Branwen returns to Wales and dies of a broken heart. Upon excavation, the cairn – now missing its original earthen mound - revealed cremation urns, a jet necklace and three vessels containing detached children’s ear bones: a particularly Welsh prehistoric phenomenon.

Photo of the ear bones from Bedd Branwen - copyright @Storiel