Cadfan Stone

Cadfan Stone
Carreg Cadfan
Material	Stone
Height	2.3m originally (now 2.18m)
Width	0.25m
Depth	0.2m
Period/culture	7th-9th centuries
Present location	St Cadfan's Church, Tywyn

The Cadfan Stone (Welsh: Carreg Cadfan)[1] is a 7th-9th century stone that has the earliest known Welsh language inscription, specifically in Old Welsh. The stone is located inside St Cadfan's Church, Tywyn, Gwynedd.

History

Recent scholarship dates the inscriptions to the 9th century.[2] They were previously considered to be older. Ifor Williams dated them to the 8th century,[3] and a late 7th century or early 8th century date was suggested by Kenneth H. Jackson.[4] A date between the 7th century and the 9th century is suggested by Coflein, the website of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales.[5]

Despite its undoubted significance, the Cadfan Stone has been given relatively little attention from Welsh authors and poets. Exceptions include the poems 'Cofebion Tywyn' by Owain Owain[6] and 'Y boen' by Myrddin ap Dafydd.[7]

Originally the stone stood over 2.3 metres tall, but it now measures 2.18m tall by 0.25m and 0.2m.[8]

Interpretation

Below is the interpretation given in the most recent study of the stone (sides A, B, C and D) by Nancy Edwards.[9]

A/D. Tengr(um)ui cimalted gu(reic) / Adgan // anterunc du But Marciau

'Tengrumui wedded wife of Adgan (lies) fairly near ( or very near) to Bud (and) Marciau (or But Marciau).'

A. m(ortci)c ar tr(i)

'The mortal remains of the three'

B/C. Cun ben Celen // tricet nitanam

'Cun woman (or wife of Celyn), a mortal wound remains.'

C. mort/cic pe/tuar

'The mortal remains of four'

See also

• Archaeology of Wales

References

1. The Antiquary. E. Stock. 1881. p. 221.
2. Edwards, Nancy. 2013. A Corpus of Early Medieval Inscribed Stones and Stone Sculpture in Wales. Vol. III: North Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales Press, p. 430.
3. William, Ifor. 1972. The Beginnings of Welsh Poetry. Cardiff: University of Wales Press, pp. 25-40. His opinion is reflected in John Davies, Menna Baines, Nigel Jenkins and Peredur Lynch (ed.), The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales (Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 2008).
4. Jackson, K. H. 1953. Language and History in Early Britain. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, pp. 189 and 386.
5. St Cadfan's Church, Tywyn Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine.
6. Owain Owain, 'Cofebion Tywyn', Y Faner, 7 April 1972.
7. Myrddin ap Dafydd, Clawdd Cam (Llanrwst, 2003), p. 32.
8. Coflein Website
9. Edwards, Nancy. 2013. A Corpus of Early Medieval Inscribed Stones and Stone Sculpture in Wales. Vol. III: North Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales Press, p. 430.