Khazad-dûm in the First Age

[Bêthberry]

Hi Birdie,

The best answer I can make out comes from the chapter "Of the Sindar" (chapter 10) in The Silm.

It came to pass during the second age of the captivity of Melkor that Dwarves came over the Blue Mountains of Ered Luin into Beleriand.... Far to the east were the most antient dwellings of the Naugrim [Dwarves]....Greatest of all the mansions of the Dwarves was Khazad-dum, the Dwarrowdelf, ...that was afterwards in the days of its darkness called Moria; but it was far off in the Mountains of Mist beyond the wide leagues of Eriador, and to the Eldar came but as a name and a rumour fromthe worlds of the Dwarves of the Blue Mountain.

Thus, it was not in Beleriand, but farther east, in the Misty Mountains. The dwarves had migrated west into Beleriand after founding it.

Gosh I hope this makes sense. Let's just say that I'm still taking Geo 101: Early Middle Earth. *grin*

Bethberry