Graig Lwyd: A Neolithic Axe Landscape in North Wales

In the hills of north Wales there is a great deal of archaeology. From standing stones, circles, cists and cairns, there is plenty to see today. However there is a type of stone used in the Neolithic that was clearly very important for its ability to be flaked. Its not flint, instead its a volcanic rock that could be flaked in the same way and ground into axe heads. These axe heads have been found hundreds of miles away from north Wales which demonstrates their high value. Dr. James Dilley explores the axe landscape which is close to his heart, having visited and explored it for many years. He has also made many replica axes using this special stone and always says out of all the materials he has tried that it is the best for axes. Filmed Edited & Produced by Emma Jones of ELWJ Media - www.elwjmedia.co.uk Image Copyright: -Ehenside Tarn Polished Stone Axehead: ©The Trustees of the British Museum -Neolithic axe, with Antrim porcellanite axehead, from Shulishader, Lewis: ©NMS -The Shulishader axe. Drawing by Helen Jackson for NMS Jadeitite Axehead: ©The Trustees of the British Museum --------- You can support the creation of these videos on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AncientCraftUK To find out more about my flintknapping and experimental archaeology visit my website or follow me on social media! Website: http://www.ancientcraft.co.uk/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ancientcraftUK Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AncientCraftUK/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ancientcraftuk/