A planning application has been submitted to build a Neolithic Tomb near Llanidloes that would provide a final resting place for people’s ashes.
The design is based on real neolithic tombs found on Anglesey in North Wales, stronghold of the Druids during the Roman invasion of Britain.
The application has been made by Dr Kevin Blockley for the Cambrian Archaeological Project at Out of Eden Stone Age Farm, New Chapel near Llanidloes.
A Design and Access Statement for the application explains that “human cremations in pottery urns” would be stored in the tomb.
Dr Blockley, said: “We have consulted widely for our Out of Eden, Neolithic site, but not the cremation mound specifically
“Ashes could also be buried around the outside of the mound, around the kerb stones.”
The proposals forms part of the Out of Eden Project which is about “creating a unique” educational experiences.
The hope is that this would transition people back to the time of hunter gatherers and their “first experiments” with farming.
The design and access statement asks: “Is there something which we can still learn from the ancient way pf life of our ancestors that could influence the course of our own lives?”
The structure of the tomb is based on Neolithic passage tombs on Ynys Môn, Barclodiaid y Gawres and Bryn Celli Ddu, that are in the care of Cadw – the Welsh Government’s historic historic environment service.
The tomb will be an earth mound, 14 metres in diameter and 4 metres tall surrounded by a 2m wide ditch.
On the south-east side there will be a gap in the ditch and an entrance into the stone-lined chambers each with timber shelving where replica Neolithic pottery vessels holding people’s ashes will placed.
The DAS adds that the tomb will be kept locked between burials and access only allowed to those who have places ashes in the tomb and on other special open days to publicise the project.
Photo: The Out of Eden site
Story by Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporting Service