Founts of Knowledge: An Archaeological Ethnography of Four Sacred Wellsprings in Glamorgan, Wales

Sacred wells and springs in Wales are well-evidenced as heritage sites of contemporary ritual significance in reception of earlier traditions (Holmes, 2020; Jones, 1954). They are associated with likely early medieval provenance and contextualised by ancient and prehistoric ritual practices at similar water sources (Huws, 2022; Ray, 2020). Despite strong evidence of medieval saintly associations, late modern ritual, and ongoing use, however, the site-biographies of many specific Welsh wellsprings are muddied. The length and variety of their possible use periods, post-Reformation erosion, and an ambiguous archaeological record make many wellsprings complex subjects (Roberts, 2011; Seaman, 2020). In an attempt to account for this complexity, this study synthesises archaeological and ethnographic approaches to consider four case study wellsprings in Glamorgan in multitemporal context (Hamilakis, 2011). Through an ‘archaeological-ethnographic landscape survey’ (AELS), an analysis is developed considering the interplay of a range of historical periods of magico-religious significance and contemporary use (Hamilakis, 2011). References to archaeological ethnography emphasise themes of materiality and object agency, ontological reflexivity, and experiences of liminality (Bennet, 2010; Chadwick, 2012; Foley, 2013; Latour, 2005). Supplementing sparse archaeological data with ethnographic methods is found to be interpretively generative, although AELS may be a more effective contributor to more intensive archaeological research.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

ma

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

masters

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Blewett, Jacob William

• BL Crefydd
• DA Prydain Fawr

Dc Identifier Grantnumber

UWTSD

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.uwtsd.ac.uk:4118