Pre-Norman Welsh History

The earliest remains of human habitation in Wales dates from the late Palaeozoic (50,000-8000 BC). The people lived in small caves, hunting animals such as oxen and reindeer with primitive stone weapons. Cat’s Hole in Dyfed and the better know Paviland in the Gower are examples of remaining stone-age shelters.

Waterfalls of Wales

Welsh Coracles

The Haven Waterway

Castles of Wales

Churches of Wales

Pembrokeshire Coast Path

National Parks of Wales

St Davids Cathedral

Surfing Wales

Welsh Period Cottages

Gardens of Wales

Steam Railways of Wales

Around the time 6000 BC, the British Isles separated from mainland Europe. At this time it is estimated that only about 300 people inhabited Wales and their civilisation was still very primitive. More advanced cultivation and farming techniques did not reach Wales until about 3000 BC.

Many Neolithic men still lived in caves or wood dwellings. Round Cairns and burial chamber remains provide evidence that Neolithic man had religious beliefs and rudimentary knowledge of engineering. Examples include the burial chamber at Tinkinswood in South Glamorgan, the impressive Pentre Ifan Cromlech near Nevern in North Pembrokeshire and the round Cairns at Trefnigath, Holyhead.

A sudden development in the use of Bronze occurred around 1000 BC when the first Celts arrived in Southern Britain, though metalworking had been introduced almost 1000 years earlier by Beaker folk from Spain. There was a substantial increase in population and large areas of forest were cleared for cultivating crops and grazing sheep, pigs and oxen.

It was during the Iron-Age, 300-100 BC, that the roots of distinctive Welsh life and culture developed. Agricultural villages and large numbers of hill forts were built up and a more pastoral economy developed. Domestic animals were kept and, sophisticated highly decorated iron and bronze implements and pottery were produced.

Pentre Ifan Burial Chamber - Pembrokeshire

There are several hill fort sites remaining in Wales such as Caer Y Twr on Anglesey and the reconstructed Castell Henllys near Newport, North Pembrokeshire. It was from the Celts that the Welsh language developed - mainly from the Brittonic group as opposed to the Goidelic-speakers who occupied the North of Scotland, Isle of Man and Ireland.
By AD 78, the Roman conquest of Wales was accomplished.

Although the lives of the Celtic people remained virtually unchanged, the Romans established some large villas in the Vale of Glamorgan, introduced increasingly sophisticated mining and engineering techniques into the area and prompted the emergence of many Latin words into the colloquial language. Gelligaer, Caernarfon and Caerleon are all examples of Roman forts (caer means castle or fort).

From the fifth century onwards, the Welsh Celts became increasingly isolated from other Celtic peoples due to the advancing presence of barbarian's from the rest of Britain. The Welsh were often under attack, particularly from the Irish. These disputes are reflected in the Welsh folk tales of The Mabinogion. Tradition records that Cunedda Wledig and his eight sons expelled Irish settlers and formed their own dynasty – Gwynedd in North Wales. This pushed out the Goidelic speakers, consolidating the Brittonic language in Wales.

The royal dynasty which emerged in South West Wales (Pembroke/Dyfed) was of Irish origins which may explain the large number of Ogam inscriptions found in Southern Dyfed.

Constructed Iron Age Fort at Castell Henllys - Pembrokeshire

Kingdoms in South East Wales emerged later from firmly established Roman communities. Powys was formed in North-Central Wales and was to bear the brunt of Anglo-Saxon penetration.

Christianity had established itself in Wales before missions from Rome converted Anglo-Saxon pagan beliefs in the seventh and eighth centuries. Middle-Eastern eremitical ideas had also been introduced by Gaulish refugees, fleeing in the face of barbarian invasions. Religious energy also ensued following Ireland’s conversion by St Patrick, as reflected in many Ogam inscriptions.

Celtic Saints such as Dewi Sant, the Patron Saint of Wales, travelled extensively through Wales, preaching, converting and founding churches which were surrounded by earthen embankments. These provided a religious enclosure (or llan), a word now found in many Welsh place names, for example Llanddewi.

Many sculptured, stone crosses such as the cross of Cynfelyn at Margam and those at Llantwit Major and Carew survive as monuments to the age of conversion.

During the Dark Ages, Wales’ complex system of Kingdoms developed relatively peacefully with a gradual unification by policy and marriages. The Llyn Peninsula and Anglesey, St Davids Peninsula, Gwent and the Vale of Glamorgan and Gwynedd remained continuously prominent throughout this period. It was also during this time that the heroic King Arthur became widely known in Wales and is said to have held court at Caerleon on the River Usk.

Pressure from Anglo-Saxon rulers resulted in a strong Welsh national identity and in the mid-eighth century King Offa built the 149 mile long dyke representing a negotiated boundary between Wales and England.

During the second half of the eighth century, Rhodri Mawr united much of Wales, securing it in the face of growing Saxon power and succeeding in keeping the encroaching Vikings at bay. He famously killer the Viking leader Gorm in 856.

Rhodri was killed in 878 in a battle against the English and his lands were subsequently divided between his six sons. Threatened by their territories and Marcia, the rulers of Dyfed, Brycheiniog, Glywysing and Gwent entered into an allegiance with the English monarchy, with Rhodri's sons eventually following suit.

Hywel Dda ruled Wales during the ninth century and enjoyed unity within Wales, friendship with England and peace from the Norsemen/Vikings. Hywel's name is closely linked to the codification of Welsh, medieval law, now preserved in some eighty manuscripts. The Laws, formulated under Hywel Dda at Ty Gwyn, Dyfed were administered in Wales until the sixteenth century.

Celtic Cross at Carew - Pembrokeshire

Carningli, Prehistoric site of an ancient hill fort - Pembrokeshire

The Menai Straights, a site of ancient conflict between the Celts and the Romans - N Wales