The Cadfan Stone () is a 7th-9th century stone that has the earliest known

Welsh language Welsh ( or ) is a Celtic languages, Celtic language of the Brittonic languages, Brittonic subgroup that is native to the Welsh people. Welsh is spoken natively in Wales by about 18% of the population, by some in England, and in (the Welsh c ...

inscription, specifically in

Old Welsh Old Welsh () is the stage of the Welsh language from about 800 AD until the early 12th century when it developed into Middle Welsh.Koch, p. 1757. The preceding period, from the time Welsh became distinct from Common Brittonic around 550, ha ...

. The stone is located inside St Cadfan's Church, Tywyn,

Gwynedd Gwynedd () is a county in the north-west of Wales. It borders Anglesey across the Menai Strait to the north, Conwy, Denbighshire, and Powys to the east, Ceredigion over the Dyfi estuary to the south, and the Irish Sea to the west. The ci ...

History

The stone was once thought to mark the grave of both Saint Cadfan and Cyngen Glodrydd, late king of Powys, roughly dating it to the first half of the sixth century. However more recent scholarship dates the inscriptions to far later: Ifor Williams dated them to the 8th century, and a late 7th century or early 8th century date was suggested by Kenneth H. Jackson. 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 The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW; ; ), established in 1908, is a Welsh Government sponsored body concerned with some aspects of the archaeological, architectural and historic environment of Wales. ...

. Nancy Edwards assigned the stone firmly to the ninth century. 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 and 'Y boen' by

Myrddin ap Dafydd Myrddin ap Dafydd (born 25 July 1956) is a Welsh writer, publisher and chaired bard. In 2018 he was elected Archdruid of Wales. Myrddin ap Dafydd was born in Llanrwst, north Wales. He was educated in the town's schools and at the University C ...

. Originally the stone stood over 2.3 metres tall, but it now measures 2.18m tall by 0.25m and 0.2m.Coflein Website
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Interpretation

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

References

{{Archaeology of Wales Monuments and memorials in Gwynedd Welsh literature Welsh artefacts Inscriptions

History

Interpretation

See also

References