Dwi’n astudio marwolaeth yn y Gymru gynhanesyddol gydag Amgueddfa Cymru a Phrifysgol Fetropolitan Manceinion. Rhan o fy ngwaith yw archwilio beddrodau ac mae Bryn Celli Ddu yn un o ddau feddrod Neolithig Diweddar ar Ynys Môn gyda chelf creigiau yn debyg i enghreifftiau a geir ar draws y môr yn Iwerddon.
Yn y gorffennol defnyddiwyd y beddrodau hyn fel mwy na lle i gladdu’r meirw yn unig, roedden nhw’n lleoedd i gwrdd, dathlu, i adnewyddu. Heddiw mae Bryn Celli Ddu yn dal i gael ei ddefnyddio mewn llawer o wahanol ffyrdd gan lawer o wahanol bobl a grwpiau, ac mae’n golygu gwahanol bethau iddyn nhw i gyd.
Mae Bryn Celli Ddu yn lle arbennig i mi oherwydd y tro cyntaf i mi ei ymweld ar gyfer yr heuldro roeddwn i’n feichiog gyda fy mhlentyn cyntaf, a’r tro diwethaf roedd fy ail blentyn yn ychydig fisoedd oed. Mae wedi teimlo’n obeithiol i fod yma eto eleni i ddathlu’r heuldro gyda nhw.
Yn ystod y dydd, roedd Bryn Celli Ddu yn lle i gerdded o’i gwmpas, i archwilio tu fewn i’r beddrod, ond yn y nos fe drawsnewidiwyd y bryn yn llwyfan, gyda’r ffocws yn troi i ben y crug. Daeth cerddorion, cantorion, perfformwyr ac artistiaid i’w lle ar ac o amgylch y bedd er anrhydedd i’r safle.
Symudodd a newidiodd yr awyr. Trodd y lliwiau o las, i felyn, i oren a choch, gyda’r cymylau’n ysgafnhau ac yn tywyllu’r nos. Roedd silwét y perfformwyr i’w weld yn erbyn yr awyr, wedi’u newid i siapiau a sain yn unig. Ffordd wahanol o fod o fewn y gofod, yna roedd tân, yn cynnau’r tywyllwch – diweddglo enigmatig.
Roedd yn hudolus bod yno gyda channoedd o bobl eraill i rannu’r profiad.
Find out more about the event at – https://cadw.gov.wales/about-us/news/myths-music-and-monuments-experiential-arts-event-arrives-anglesey
Solstice at Bryn Celli Ddu
I study death in prehistoric Wales with Amgueddfa Cymru and Manchester Metropolitan University. Part of my work is examining tombs and Bryn Celli Ddu is one of two tombs Late Neolithic tombs on Anglesey with rock art similar to examples found across the sea in Ireland.
In the past these tombs were used as more than solely a place to bury the dead, they were places to meet, to celebrate, to renew. Today Bryn Celli Ddu is still used in many different ways by many different people and groups, and it means different things to them all.
Bryn Celli Ddu is a special place for me because the first time I visited for the solstice I was pregnant with my first child and the last time my second child was a few months old. It felt hopeful to go there to celebrate the solstice with them this year.
In the day, Bryn Celli Ddu was a place to walk around, to explore inside the tomb, but at night the mound was transformed into a stage, with the focus switched to the top of the barrow. Musicians, singers, performers and artists took their place on and around the grave in honour of the site.
The sky moved and changed. The colours switched from blue to yellow to orange and red, clouds lightening and darkening the night. The performers were silhouetted against the sky, reduced to shapes and sound. A different way to be within the space, then fire, lighting up the dark – an enigmatic ending.
It was magical to be there with hundreds of others to share the experience.
Cannot express how amazing it was to see live bands after such a long time and in such a stunning setting. Was absolutely blown away by the performance of Gwenno and cannot recommend her music enough:
Annwn BC 
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