The Route of the Twrch Trwyth and the Bluestones.

The Route of the Twrch Trwyth and the Bluestones.

The devious and mischievously destructive route of the giant 'wereboar' Twrch Trwyth and his seven litle piglets, followed by Arthur's heroic hunters, horses and dogs across the challenging terrain of South Wales has, in scholarly circles, traditionally been interpreted as, at least in part, an 'onomastic tale'. Onomastics deals with the 'science of the origin of place names'. There are many other examples thought to be of this tale type throughout the Mabinogion, for instance, Gwydion's circuitous route with his seven swindled swine in the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi. In the context of early medieval Welsh (and Irish) literature this tale type, more often than not, takes the form of a hunt or an errand or some other reason to journey from one place to another. Named places are visited along the way and a route is formed, these places are usually linked etymologically to key episodes within the tale and the orthodox consensus is that the named places inspired the story and therefore the route. Not the other way round. What if, in this case, the route inspired the place-names? And, if so, why was that route worthy of commemoration?

The Route of the Twrch Trwyth. From the Nevern to the Severn.

In compiling this map of the route of the Twrch Trwyth I have attempted to include and locate all of the named places in the text as accurately as possible. I have added in Cerrig Marchogion and Cerrig Meibion Arthur in the overcrowded 'Presseleu' region because they obviously belong to the story. It became apparent to me during this process that the Boar's traverse of the Preseli's passes close by, or through, the newly discovered sources for the Stonehenge Bluestones at Craig Rhosyfelin, Carn Goedog and Cerrig Marchogion. Moreover, the Twrch Trwyth's route takes him very close to the even more recently suggested provenance for the Altar stone at the eastern end of the Senni beds. (I predict that the exact site for the Altar stone will be found somewhere along the valley known as Ystrat Yw). It would stretch credulity to suggest that the author of Culhwch and Olwen, in the 11th century was aware of the significance of these sites in relation to Stonehenge. 

After leaving the Preselis the Boar seeks out valleys and plateaus and avoids mountainous areas where he can. He crosses estuaries twice where ancient ferry systems are known to have existed. On average the slopes he encounters are surprisingly shallow considering the hills and the valleys of South Wales, 2.2% uphill and 2.6% downhill. For the most part, the Twrch Trwyth seems to have taken the route of least resistance. If this was a purely onomastic tale we oughtn't expect these outcomes.

Is the route of the Twrch Trwyth as found in the Red Book of Hergest a commemoration of the route, or one of the routes of the 'Preseli bluestones' through Wales on their way to Stonehenge? Because, actually, this may not be the only route. Mike Parker Person has suggested another feasible route along the A 40 corridor, (I will discuss this proposed route in my post 'Merlin and Carmarthen') and there is of course the long hypothesized shore hugging route along the south Welsh coast. It would make sense if our clever neolithic ancestors might have devised more than one route to transport eighty or more unwieldy stones weighing between one and two tons for a very long way along valleys and across plateaus or along coastlines. Having more than one route would have avoided otherwise inevitable log jams. In some ways it should not be surprising if such a momentous undertaking as the transportation of 80 megaliths was memorialised in the form of an epic tale. Which is what the Hunt for the Twrch Trwyth is. I noted in a previous post that it seems remarkable that the giant boar  appears to come to land at  'Porth Cleis in Dyved', obviously a man-made port, and then crosses the Towy and the Severn Estuaries, the two riverine barriers he must cross, at  the known early ferry crossing sites of Llansteffan to Ferryside and Beachley Head to Aust. This then looks like an established ancient man-made route 

The two routes have striking similarities...

In recent years then, the rocky outcrops of Craig Rhosyfelin, Carn Goedog and Cerrig Marchogion have been identified with great certainty by petrologists Rob Ixer, Richard Bevins and others as the source for some of the Stonehenge bluestones. Excavations overseen by Prof. Mike Parker Pearson have confirmed quarrying activity at two of these sites at a time some hundreds of years before Stage 1 at Stonehenge, suggesting that a monument or monuments were erected in the vicinity of these quarries before the stones were taken to the Salisbury Plain. 

Over the last decade or so Prof. Mike Parker Pearson has authored several papers and delivered talks identifying Castell Mawr, a neolithic henge, and Waun Mawn, a once huge stone circle, as possible candidates for the original sites of these bluestone monuments. Well respected independent researcher Robin Heath has also identified Castell Mawr as the original site of the Stonehenge Bluestones, but for very different reasons. Watch his lecture on YouTube here: Robin Heath | An Original Stonehenge in Wales | Stonehenge as a Later Imitation | Megalithomania. He delivered the talk in February 2020.

Even more recently Ixer and Bevins have proved that the Altar Stone could not possibly have originated in the Cosheston Beds as H H Thomas proposed almost a hundred years ago, thus removing any scientific basis for the sea route. They have concluded that instead the Altar Stone comes from the eastern limit of the Senni formation. And I would point out that the Boar's route passes down the Ystrat Yw valley which is at the eastern limit of the Senni Formation. Once more demonstrating the Boars uncanny knack of passing through all the known origin quarries for the bluestones of Stonehenge.

Prediction. Altar Stone from here.

It should also be noted that pigs feature mightily in the archaeology of Durrington Walls, the 'township' which housed the workers who erected Stonehenge. Recent results show that 90% of the meat consumed there were pigs and that many of these 'little piglets', (scientific study has shown, from teeth analysis) were herded to Durrington Walls from West Wales.

These new discoveries have radically changed the traditional theory of a sea route in favour of a land route. That the Route of the Twrch Trwyth passes through these, recently confirmed, very same quarries is highly suggestive. It suggests that this story, at the very least a thousand years old, contains knowledge of this momentous megalithic activity and pig herding activity from an era four thousand years earlier than that. It suggests that a route for the Preseli Bluestones to the Severn Estuary, if not to Stonehenge itself, was preserved in oral form until it was finally written down in the 11th century, probably earlier. 

What we could have here is a bona fida 5,000 year old record of one of the most enduring mysteries in world history, to use a  few hackneyed phrases, hidden in plain sight, beneath our very noses. In the Hunt of the Twrch Trwyth we may have a precisely mapped out route of the Bluestones across the neolithic Welsh landscape.

The route of the Twrch Trwyth through the Preseli Hills as described in Culhwch and Olwen, and according to local tradition.

Now when Arthur approached, Twrch Trwyth went on as far as Preseleu, and Arthur and his hosts followed him thither, and Arthur sent men to hunt him; Eli and Trachmyr, leading Drutwyn the whelp of Greid the son of Eri, and Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw, in another quarter, with the two dogs of Glythmyr Ledewig, and Bedwyr leading Cavall, Arthur's own dog. And all the warriors ranged themselves around the Nyver. 

The enchanted boar and his seven little pigs are chased by Arthur's men from the havoc of Deu Gleddyf into the Preseli Hills. They stalk him eastwards along the two banks of the river Nevern. To avoid Arthur's men the Twrch Trwyth changes tack, sneaks off the Nevern and travels down the Afon Brynberian for a couple of miles, passing through two remarkable sites on either flank, as if through a gateway. One of these sites is the world famous bluestone cromlech Pentre Ifan, the other has been, up until relatively recent times, almost completely overlooked. It is a (stoneless) neolithic henge known as Castell Mawr. So the route of the Twrch Trwyth through the Preseli Hills begins by him passing through two neolithic monuments, one circular, one with a huge capstone. Both these monuments have in recent times been identified by archaeologist prof. Mike Parker Pearson as being key to understanding the circular dimensions and architectural structures at Stonehenge. Pentre Ifan demonstrates the technology used to lift the lintels of the Sarsen circle. Whilst Castell Mawr, due to it's proximity to these recently discovered quarries is strongly suspected as being the original home to at least some of the Stonehenge bluestones (Parker Pearson). The Boar then follows the Brynberian valley  until it arrives at the first of a series of three neolithic quarries recently confirmed by Ixer and Bevins as the sources for a significant number of the Stonehenge Bluestones. 

Gateway to the Preseli Hills.

I am not the first to notice that this outcrop of rhyolite known as Craig Rhos-y-felin has the appearance of a sleeping boar with its bristly back and it's snout to the ground. Perhaps the author imagined the giant boar resting at this site. Anthropologist Mary-Ann Ochota has likened the dramatic outcrop to 'a sleeping dragon or the scales of a mythical beast'. It is now certain that this neolithic quarry provided at least one of the Stonehenge bluestones. Neither can there be any doubt that this part of the route of the Twrch Trwyth is that which is specified in Culhwch. 

Craig Rhos-y-felin. A sleeping boar, complete with ears and tusks. (photo credit Mary-Ann Ochota)

Errr...

The Twrch Trwyth's route next takes him upstream to Carn Goedog, where he might have had another rest. Bevins and Ixer have identified Carn Goedog as a major source for the spotted dolerites at Stonehenge So these two confirmed bluestone quarries, Craig Rhos-y-felin and Carn Goedog, both have the appearance of a resting or hiding giant boar, it seems very likely that these rocky outcrops disguised as giant boars hiding in the Preseli landscape inspired the gigantic size of the boar. The text of Culhwch doesn't mention these sites but the boar must at least pass close by them on his way from the Nevern to Cwm Cerwyn.

Sleeping Boar, Carn Goedog. Many of the Stonehenge Bluestones come from this quarry.

Errrr...

According to the tale, just before the boar arrives at Cwm Cerwyn there are two violent encounters, and there can be little doubt that these battles are to be associated with Cerrig Marchogion, The Stones of the Knights, or of the Horsemen. 

And there Twrch Trwyth made a stand, and slew four of Arthur's champions, Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw, and Tarawc of Allt Clwyd, and Rheidwn the son of Eli Atver, and Iscovan Hael. And after he had slain these men, he made a second stand in the same place. And there he slew Gwydre the son of Arthur, and Garselit Wyddel, and Glew the son of Ysgawd, and Iscawyn the son of Panon; and there he himself was wounded.

Precision mapping. There are two groups of four spotted dolerite outcrops that make up the Stones of the Horsemen, these have been identified by Bevins and Ixer as a source of the Stonehenge Bluestones. I'm assuming it was imagined that the Twrch Trwyth charged up the ridge to reach high ground before turning and attacking the first four horsemen, who were slain as group. The boar then charged back down the hill and took out the second group of four horsemen one by one in a long straggly line.

Cerrig Marchogion. The Stones of the Horsemen. 

First Four Horsemen.

Second four Horsemen.

Perspective of the route from the Nevern to Cwm Cerwyn and the Stones of the Sons of Arthur.

The following is the abstract for a paper recently published in Antiquity: 

Geologists and archaeologists have long known that the bluestones of Stonehenge came from the Preseli Hills of west Wales, 230km away, but only recently have some of their exact geological sources been identified. Two of these quarries—Carn Goedog and Craig Rhos-y-felin—have now been excavated to reveal evidence of megalith quarrying around 3000 BC—the same period as the first stage of the construction of Stonehenge. The authors present evidence for the extraction of the stone pillars and consider how they were transported, including the possibility that they were erected in a temporary monument close to the quarries, before completing their journey to Stonehenge.
Pearson, M., Pollard, J., Richards, C., Welham, K., Casswell, C., French, C., . . . Ixer, R. (2019). Megalith quarries for Stonehenge's bluestones. Antiquity, 93(367), 45-62. doi:10.15184/aqy.2018.111

The gradient along the Twrch Trwth's route through the Preseli Hills. The highest point being Cerrig Marchogion. 

Mauve Line = Twrch Trwyth's route.

Green line = Rhosyfelyn stones to Waun Mawn

Yellow line = Carn Goedog stones to Cerrig Marchogion.

Red line = Cerrig Marchogion stones to Waun Mawn.

The Waun Mawn excavation proved that a bluestone circle once stood here in the late neolithic. Most of the stones having been removed.

Possible Bluestone Routes

Thomas's Coastal Route (Blue line). Parker Pearson's Land Route (Dotted line). Altar Stone Route (Red line).

Twrch Trwyth's Route on Cambriae Typus, Compiled by myself  in 2012 acknowledging Bromwich and Evans.

Routes compared

August 1st Sunrise

Midwinter Sunrise

Stonehenge. Bluestones and Sarsens

Stonehenge.

It has occurred to others as well as to me that the missing stones of Waun Mawr fall short of the numbers required to make up the 84 stones which eventually arrived at Stonehenge. That the people who moved the Welsh stones picked up the Alter stone on their way to Salisbury Plain, might suggest that other stones along the route may have found there way there also. Moreover, I wouldn't be surprised if at least one of the stones has an Irish origin. Both Geoffrey's account of Merlin's acquisition of the Giants Dance and the Hunt for the Twrch Trwyth begin in Ireland, possibly the same part of Ireland.

The Twrch Trwyth

Then Arthur sent Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd, to endeavour to speak with him. And Gwrhyr assumed the form of a bird, and alighted upon the top of the lair, where he was with the seven young pigs. And Gwrhyr Gwalstawt Ieithoedd asked him, "By him who turned you into this form, if you can speak, let some one of you, I beseech you, come and talk with Arthur." Grugyn Gwrych Ereint made answer to him. (Now his bristles were like silver wire, and whether he went through the wood or through the plain, he was to be traced by the glittering of his bristles.) And this was the answer that Grugyn made, "By him who turned us into this form, we will not do so, and we will not speak with Arthur. That we have been transformed thus is enough for us to suffer, without your coming here to fight with us." 

"I will tell you. Arthur comes but to fight for the comb, and the razor, and the scissors, which are between the two ears of Twrch Trwyth." 

Said Grugyn, "Except he first take his life, he will never have those precious things. And to-morrow morning we will rise up hence, and we will go into Arthur's country, and there will we do all the mischief that we can."

So they set forth through the sea towards Wales. And Arthur and his hosts, and his horses and his dogs, entered Prydwen, that they might encounter them without delay. Twrch Trwyth landed in Porth Cleis in Dyved, and Arthur came to Mynyw. The next day it was told to Arthur that they had gone by, and he overtook them as they were killing the cattle of Kynnwas Kwrr y Vagyl, having slain all that were at Aber Gleddyf, of man and beast, before the coming of Arthur.

Now when Arthur approached, Twrch Trwyth went on as far as Preseleu, and Arthur and his hosts followed him thither, and Arthur sent men to hunt him; Eli and Trachmyr, leading Drutwyn the whelp of Greid the son of Eri, and Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw, in another quarter, with the two dogs of Glythmyr Ledewig, and Bedwyr leading Cavall, Arthur's own dog. And all the warriors ranged themselves around the Nyver. And there came there the three sons of Cleddyf Divwlch, men who had gained much fame at the slaying of Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd; and they went on from Glyn Nyver, and came to Cwm Kerwyn.

And there Twrch Trwyth made a stand, and slew four of Arthur's champions, Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw, and Tarawc of Allt Clwyd, and Rheidwn the son of Eli Atver, and Iscovan Hael. And after he had slain these men, he made a second stand in the same place. And there he slew Gwydre the son of Arthur, and Garselit Wyddel, and Glew the son of Ysgawd, and Iscawyn the son of Panon; and there he himself was wounded.

And the next morning before it was day, some of the men came up with him. And he slew Huandaw, and Gogigwr, and Penpingon, three attendants upon Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr, so that Heaven knows, he had not an attendant remaining, excepting only Llaesgevyn, a man from whom no one ever derived any good. And together with these, he slew many of the men of that country, and Gwlydyn Saer, Arthur's chief Architect.

Then Arthur overtook him at Pelumyawc, and there he slew Madawc the son of Teithyon, and Gwyn the son of Tringad, the son of Neved, and Eiryawn Penllorau. Thence he went to Abertywi, where he made another stand, and where he slew Kyflas the son of Kynan, and Gwilenhin king of France. Then he went as far as Glyn Ystu, and there the men and the dogs lost him.

Then Arthur summoned unto him Gwyn ab Nudd, and he asked him if he knew aught of Twrch Trwyth. And he said that he did not.

And all the huntsmen went to hunt the swine as far as Dyffryn Llychwr. And Grugyn Gwallt Ereint, and Llwydawg Govynnyad closed with them and killed all the huntsmen, so that there escaped but one man only. And Arthur and his hosts came to the place where Grugyn and Llwydawg were. And there he let loose the whole of the dogs upon them, and with the shout and barking that was set up, Twrch Trwyth came to their assistance.

And from the time that they came across the Irish sea, Arthur had never got sight of him until then. So he set men and dogs upon him, and thereupon he started off and went to Mynydd Amanw. And there one of his young pigs was killed. Then they set upon him life for life, and Twrch Llawin was slain, and then there was slain another of the swine, Gwys was his name. After that he went on to Dyffryn Amanw, and there Banw and Bennwig were killed. Of all his pigs there went with him alive from that place none save Grugyn Gwallt Ereint, and Llwydawg Govynnyad.

Thence he went on to Llwch Ewin, and Arthur overtook him there, and he made a stand. And there he slew Echel Forddwytwll, and Garwyli the son of Gwyddawg Gwyr, and many men and dogs likewise. And thence they went to Llwch Tawy. Grugyn Gwrych Ereint parted from them there, and went to Din Tywi. And thence he proceeded to Ceredigiawn, and Eli and Trachmyr with him, and a multitude likewise. Then he came to Garth Gregyn, and there Llwydawg Govynnyad fought in the midst of them, and slew Rhudvyw Rhys and many others with him. Then Llwydawg went thence to Ystrad Yw, and there the men of Armorica met him, and there he slew Hirpeissawg the king of Armorica, and Llygatrudd Emys, and Gwrbothu, Arthur's uncles, his mother's brothers, and there was he himself slain.

Twrch Trwyth went from there to between Tawy and Euyas, and Arthur summoned all Cornwall and Devon unto him, to the estuary of the Severn, and he said to the warriors of this Island, "Twrch Trwyth has slain many of my men, but, by the valour of warriors, while I live he shall not go into Cornwall. And I will not follow him any longer, but I will oppose him life to life. Do ye as ye will." And he resolved that he would send a body of knights, with the dogs of the Island, as far as Euyas, who should return thence to the Severn, and that tried warriors should traverse the Island, and force him into the Severn. And Mabon the son of Modron, came up with him at the Severn, upon Gwynn Mygddon, the horse of Gweddw, and Goreu the son of Custennin, and Menw the son of Teirgwaedd; this was betwixt Llyn Lliwan and Aber Gwy. And Arthur fell upon him together with the champions of Britain. And Osla Kyllellvawr drew near, and Manawyddan the son of Llyr, and Kacmwri the servant of Arthur, and Gwyngelli, and they seized hold of him, catching him first by his feet, and plunged him in the Severn, so that it overwhelmed him. On the one side, Mabon the son of Modron spurred his steed and snatched his razor from him, and Kyledyr Wyllt came up with him on the other side, upon another steed, in the Severn, and took from him the scissors. But before they could obtain the comb, he had regained the ground with his feet, and from the moment that he reached the shore, neither dog, nor man, nor horse could overtake him until he came to Cornwall. If they had had trouble in getting the jewels from him, much more had they in seeking to save the two men from being drowned. Kacmwri, as they drew him forth, was dragged by two millstones into the deep. And as Osla Kyllellvawr was running after the boar, his knife had dropped out of the sheath, and he had lost it, and after that, the sheath became full of water, and its weight drew him down into the deep, as they were drawing him forth.

Then Arthur and his hosts proceeded until they overtook the boar in Cornwall, and the trouble which they had met with before was mere play to what they encountered in seeking the comb. But from one difficulty to another, the comb was at length obtained. And then he was hunted from Cornwall, and driven straight forward into the deep sea. And thenceforth it was never known whither he went; and Aned and Aethlem with him. Then went Arthur to Gelliwic, in Cornwall, to anoint himself, and to rest from his fatigues.