Antiquities discovered in Pembrokeshire spanning many centuries of human and animal activity are on display – some for the very first time in public – at a brand new exhibition at Oriel y Parc Gallery and Visitor Centre in St Davids.
In conjunction with Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, who owns Oriel y Parc, has staged ‘Stones and Bones’, an ambitious exhibition with an eclectic mix from the Museum’s collections of archaeology, geology, natural history and art. The Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic time periods all feature.
Some of the treasures on view are very special to Pembrokeshire, including beads from Nab Head, St Brides, and pottery from Clegyr Boia, St Davids. Also on display are animal bones found in two famous cave sites – Priory near Pembroke and Little Hoyle, near Tenby – as well as the most complete mammoth tusk found in Wales.
Visitors can also view a very large and impressive bison – once a free-roaming animal in an ancient landscape.
James Parkin, the National Park Authority’s Director of Countryside, Community and Visitor Services, said: “Visitors are in for a treat – that’s the verdict of those who had first view of the exhibition.
“In Wales’ Year of Discovery this is a very exciting project as part of our ongoing partnership with Amgueddfa Cymru. Visitors can explore our relationship with the natural world and will be inspired to embark on their own journey of discovery.
“The exhibition is brought up to date with examples of technology which we cast away in today’s society but which future archaeologists might dig up as relics of our generation.”
Linked to the exhibition is an evocative audio visual presentation, helping visitors to imagine an ancient wilderness landscape – very different to today’s climate.
The stunning Pembrokeshire landscape features in the art selections which continue to draw upon Amgueddfa Cymru’s extensive Graham Sutherland Collection. Other artists’ featured are Thomas Graham Jackson, Ronald Lowe and David Tress.
Ashley McAvoy, Touring Exhibitions Manager, Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, said,
“This is a fantastic opportunity for visitors to Oriel y Parc to see a diverse range of objects from the national collections in this new exhibition. Where else can you see a bison next to a Graham Sutherland painting?
“I hope it will encourage visitors to raise questions about our changing landscape and recognise the importance of archaeology and geology in helping us to understand and connect with our past.”
The ‘Stones and Bones’ exhibition runs until January 2020 and there is free entry to the Oriel y Parc Centre in a very family-friendly place of discovery.
The gallery is open from 10am-4pm every day.
Oriel y Parc Gallery and Visitor Centre is owned and run by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and is the home of Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales in Pembrokeshire.
For more information about Oriel y Parc visit www.orielyparc.co.uk.
Datgelu arddangosfa newydd gyffrous yn Oriel y Parc
Mae olion hynafol o weithgarwch pobl ac anifeiliaid y daethpwyd o hyd iddynt yn Sir Benfro yn cael eu harddangos i’r cyhoedd am y tro cyntaf erioed – a hynny mewn arddangosfa newydd sbon yn Oriel a Chanolfan Ymwelwyr Oriel y Parc, Tyddewi.
Mewn cydweithrediad ag Amgueddfa Cymru, mae Awdurdod Parc Cenedlaethol Arfordir Penfro, sy’n berchen ar Oriel y Parc, wedi creu arddangosfa uchelgeisiol o’r enw ‘Cerrig ac Esgyrn’, sy’n cynnwys cymysgedd eclectig o blith casgliadau archaeoleg, daeareg, hanes naturiol a chelf yr Amgueddfa. Mae’n cynnwys eitemau o’r cyfnodau Palaeolithig, Mesolithig a Neolithig.
Mae rhai o’r trysorau sydd yn yr arddangosfa yn arbennig iawn i Sir Benfro, gan gynnwys gleiniau o Nab Head yn Sain Ffraid, a chrochenwaith o Glegyr Boia yn Nhyddewi. Mae esgyrn anifeiliaid y daethpwyd o hyd iddynt mewn dwy ogof enwog – Priordy ger Penfro a Little Hoyle ger Dinbych-y-pysgod – i’w gweld yn yr arddangosfa hefyd, yn ogystal ag ysgithr (tusk) mamoth cyfan y daethpwyd o hyd iddo yng Nghymru.
Hefyd, gall ymwelwyr weld bison mawr a thrawiadol iawn – anifail a fu’n crwydro’n rhydd ar hyd y dirwedd hynafol.
Dywedodd James Parkin, Cyfarwyddwr Gwasanaethau Ymwelwyr, Cymunedol a Chefn Gwlad Awdurdod y Parc Cenedlaethol: “Mae gwledd yn aros am yr ymwelwyr – dyna oedd barn y bobl a gafodd yr olwg gyntaf ar yr arddangosfa.
“Yn ystod y Flwyddyn Darganfod yng Nghymru, mae hwn yn brosiect cyffrous iawn sy’n rhan o’n partneriaeth barhaus gydag Amgueddfa Cymru. Gall ymwelwyr archwilio ein perthynas â’r byd naturiol a byddant yn cael eu hysbrydoli i fynd ar eu taith ddarganfod eu hunain.
“Mae’r arddangosfa yn cynnwys elfennau cyfredol sy’n dangos enghreifftiau o dechnoleg rydyn ni’n eu taflu o’r neilltu yn ein cymdeithas heddiw, ond y gallai archeolegwyr y dyfodol ddod o hyd iddynt fel creiriau o’n cenhedlaeth ni.”
Mae cyflwyniad clyweledol atgofus i gyd-fynd â’r arddangosfa hefyd, sy’n helpu ymwelwyr i ddychmygu’r dirwedd wyllt, hynafol – a fyddai wedi bod yn wahanol iawn i’n hinsawdd ni heddiw.
Mae tirwedd drawiadol Sir Benfro i’w weld yn y darnau o gelf a ddewiswyd ar gyfer yr arddangosfa, sy’n parhau i ddefnyddio casgliad helaeth Amgueddfa Cymru o waith Graham Sutherland. Ymhlith yr artistiaid eraill sydd wedi’u cynnwys mae Thomas Graham Jackson, Ronald Lowe a David Tress.
Dywedodd Ashley McAvoy, Rheolwr Arddangosfeydd Teithiol Amgueddfa Cymru:
“Mae’r arddangosfa newydd hon yn gyfle gwych i ymwelwyr Oriel y Parc weld amrywiaeth o wrthrychau o gasgliadau cenedlaethol. Lle arall gewch chi gyfle i weld bison yn sefyll wrth ymyl darlun gan Graham Sutherland?
“Rwy’n gobeithio y bydd yn annog ymwelwyr i godi cwestiynau am ein tirlun sy’n newid ac i gydnabod pa mor bwysig yw archaeoleg a daeareg i’n helpu ni i ddeall ein gorffennol a chysylltu ag ef.”
Bydd yr arddangosfa ‘Cerrig ac Esgyrn’ ar agor tan fis Ionawr 2020. Mae mynediad am ddim i Ganolfan Oriel y Parc am ddim ac mae’n lle addas iawn i deuluoedd fynd ati i ddarganfod.
Mae’r oriel ar agor o 10am-4pm bob dydd.
Awdurdod Parc Cenedlaethol Arfordir Penfro sy’n berchen ar Oriel a Chanolfan Ymwelwyr Oriel y Parc, ac yn eu rheoli, a dyma gartref Amgueddfa Cymru yn Sir Benfro.
I gael ragor o wybodaeth am Oriel y Parc ewch i www.orielyparc.co.uk
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