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Craig-y-Mwyn Lead Mine is a prehistoric lead mine situated in Wales and protected by Cadw under the reference MG249. The site exploits lead-bearing veins within the Caradoc Rocks, a sequence of mudstone, siltstone and sandstone formed during the Caradocian period and now exposed across the surrounding landscape. The geological conditions that make this location valuable for lead extraction—the presence of mineralised fractures in the Ordovician bedrock—would have been recognised by prehistoric miners seeking this important metal.
Lead mining in Britain during the Bronze Age and Iron Age represents a significant development in metalworking technology and trade. The extraction of lead from surface and shallow subsurface deposits required considerable knowledge of ore recognition and working practices. Craig-y-Mwyn's location within Wales places it within a region known for mineral resources, and the site contributes important evidence for prehistoric resource exploitation and the development of metallurgical industries.
The mine remains an archaeological record of early metal extraction, its preservation under Cadw's protection ensuring that the physical evidence of prehistoric mining activity continues to be safeguarded. The site demonstrates how ancient communities identified and utilised natural mineral deposits within their local geology, reflecting the sophistication of Bronze and Iron Age technological knowledge.
Craig-y-Mwyn Lead Mine is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference MG249. View the official record →
Craig-y-Mwyn Lead Mine is a prehistoric lead mine situated in Wales and protected by Cadw under the reference MG249.
Craig-y-Mwyn Lead Mine dates from the prehistoric period, and is classified as a lead mine. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Craig-y-Mwyn Lead Mine is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Cadw — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Wales. The official designation reference is MG249.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Bwlch Sych round cairn (6.8 km), Siglem Las conjoined round cairns (7 km), Cil Haul Barrow (7 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Craig-y-Mwyn Lead Mine's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Craig-y-Mwyn Lead Mine stands on Caradoc Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Caradocian. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.