Ancient Archaeology Alive: Bryn Celli Ddu hosts living history and folklore events on Anglesey
Step back in time at Bryn Celli Ddu, near Llanfair PG, for living history and folklore events this June, that seek to interrogate landscape, ritual, folklore, and the celebration of archaeology through creative interpretation.
Bryn Celli Ddu is one of the most famous archaeological sites in Britain, the 5,000-year-old tomb was once constructed to protect and pay respect to the remains of ancestors.
Bryn Celli Ddu Archaeology Open Day
Between 11am–4pm on 14 June 2025, an open day celebrating the prehistory of Wales and beyond will take place at the Bryn Celli Ddu. This year we are taking a focused look at the archaeology and ancient history from the Neolithic and Bronze Age of Wales and beyond and highlighting the use of colour in the past.
Throughout the day, attendees will be invited to watch live flint knapping demonstrations with flint experts Ancient Crafts; take a bilingual archaeology tour of the monument with the famous punk antiquarian Rhys Mwyn; explore the archaeological excavation and join in a tour of the current trench; watch demonstrations of ancient rock art making techniques; through to finding out more about ancient natural dyes, ochre mineral paint pigments and the colourful geology of the island with Stone Science and GeoMôn geologists.
CARREG ATEB @ Bryn Celli Ddu
Between 4–7pm on 22 June 2025, visitors are invited to join archaeologists and artists at Bryn Celli Ddu for a fascinating afternoon of folklore inspired procession and performance.
The event will welcome international prize-winning artist, Jeremy Deller to the site, to celebrate the summer solstice weekend, along with special guests from the other Celtic nations including the Armagh Rhymers, bringing alive Bryn Celli Ddu’s architectural forms through music, movement and procession. Join in our colourful folklore procession; and watch as the site comes alive with a performance by Fran Wên.
The event is free to attend, but tickets are essential
Dr Ffion Reynolds, Senior Heritage Events and Arts Manager at Cadw, said:
“Bryn Celli Ddu is an amazing monument, and a fantastic site to promote Anglesey’s abundant archaeology and history. Combining a monument’s rich past with the arts with events like this help to open up the sites for more people to enjoy and bring Welsh heritage and history to life in a memorable way.”
The event is a partnership between Cadw, Think Creatively, Galeri Caernarfon, Pontio, Oriel Môn, Manchester Metropolitan University and supported by the Arts Council of Wales.
CARREG ATEB: Vision or Dream? is taking place as part of the of The Triumph of Art, a UK-wide project by artist Jeremy Deller, as part of the National Gallery, London NG200, its bicentenary celebrations. Mostyn are working in co-production with, Frân Wen, and Jeremy Deller, to produce a youth-led procession and movement piece, which will take place across the solstice weekend, on 21 June, in Llandudno and Mostyn, and 22 June at Bryn Celli Ddu, Ynys Môn.
The Triumph of Art is being developed in partnership with the National Gallery, London, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee, Mostyn in Llandudno, The Box in Plymouth and The Playhouse in Derry-Londonderry. Supported by Art Fund.
Parking:
Free parking is provided at the Bryn Celli Ddu farm. Please follow signs to the monument and follow our steward’s directions. SAT NAV postcode: LL61 6EQ
Refreshments:
Refreshments and snacks will be available at the events.