Archaeology in Wales

A strip, map and sample excavation undertaken to the north of the scheduled Romano-British enclosed settlement recorded evidence for late Iron Age and earlier Roman land divisions represented by a series of shallow ditches and gullies as well as two poorly preserved earlier Roman cremation burials. Prehistoric activity was represented by three pits, one of which produced an important assemblage of late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age ceramics.

A programme of archaeological investigation comprising survey and limited excavation was undertaken ahead of plans to replace the water main between Llyn Eiddew Mawr, in the Ardudwy Uplands above Harlech, to the Rhiwgoch water treatment works through Snowdonia National Park. Many of the new features identified were the remains of field systems associated with the use of the uplands in the 18th and 19th century. Significant earlier features included a small burial cairn (SH 63321 32527) located close to the schedule Ffridd Fron kerb cairn (SAM Me208) and a possible ring cairn (SH 59848 30949) that may be related to the Garreg ring cairn (SAM Me107). Narrow ridge and furrow observed could be of Iron Age date and a hut circle may also date to the Iron Age or Romano-British period. Finds recovered from excavations included a Mesolithic end scraper and blade, an unretouched flake likely to be of late Neolithic date possibly imported into the area and a number of worked stone from the local area using pebble, including two thumbnail scrapers diagnostic of Beaker assemblages from the later 3rd millennium. A quartzite pebble imported from the coast was broken to provide a chopping tool edge. Au/SH

A programme of coring and pollen analysis was commissioned to reconstruct the ecological history of Llyn Llech Owain lake (SN 568152). This short report presents the preliminary results of the analyses from the upper part of the profile (above 4m) where there appears to be evidence of human activity. Above the level of the core representing the mid-Holocene 'elm decline' there are indications of significant changes in the local and regional vegetation that may indicate human activity from the Neolithic that accelerated in the Bronze Age. This includes potential evidence for pastoral activity where openings in the vegetation were maintained through animal grazing and the presence of microscopic charcoal which could be anthropogenic or from natural fires. Au/SH

Gwynedd Archaeological Trust carries out a programme of excavation at Parc Cybi between November 2006 and June 2008 funded by the Welsh Assembly Government in advance of a business park development. The excavations revealed several groups of pits and postholes close to a rectangular structure found in 2007, interpreted as a granary. There were few artefacts recovered but a complex of inter-cutting pots produced significant quantities of prehistoric pottery. Some of the features are believed to be Neolithic but others are potentially later indicating continued use of the site. The remains of a small compact group of Roman buildings was completely excavated and comprised a small rectangular building (5m x 4m internally) and a circular structure (inner diameter 6.5m) which was clay walled a probably contained a furnace. A stone-capped pit was found under the clay floor that was either contemporary with the building or pre-dated it. A variety of timber structures were indicated by multiple postholes, possibly barns or similar structures. Pottery suggests the Roman building complex dates to the 3rd and 4th centuries AD but its origin may have been in the 2nd century. Industrial activity was represented by the furnace but no evidence of metal-working debris was found despite extensive sampling. A terraced trackway through the building complex was continued as a well-preserved double walled trackway with metalled surface and roughly perpendicular ditches may be the remains of an associated field system. Some features associated with a 18th century farm were also recovered. Au/SH

A survey at Dyffryn Crawnon led to the identification of a number of features including 12 trackways, 22 building platforms of varying sizes, relict field boundaries and enclosures, with many depicted on the 1st edition 6 inch Ordnance Survey map, and a significant dry-stone wall up to 6ft tall shown on a 16th century map. SH

During a watching brief in June 2012 several pieces of waterlogged timber and flints potentially of Mesolithic date were exposed. Once the timbers had been inspected off-site it was clear that one piece of oak (1.70m long x 0.26m width x 0.24m depth) was carved with a series of parallel running and alternating zig-zags as well as concentric ellipses on its rounded end. Radiocarbon dates indicated that the timber dates to the Late Mesolithic to Early Neolithic. If the carving is determined to be the result of human agency, it will make the find of national and potentially international significance. In December 2013 the timber was moved to York Archaeological Trust to undergo conservation work by Ian Panter. Once conservation is complete the timber will be added to the National Museum Wales collection after it was donated by the landowner in 2012. Au/SH

Two erect stones, just over a meter high, possibly of prehistoric date, were found at Mynydd Mwyn Mawr Farm near Llanerchymedd. The stones are aligned with a spring and hilltop which along with the vertical erection and similar height suggests intentional configuration of the stones. The article reports on the results of site visits and preliminary metal-detecting survey. An unusual metal artefact 0.125m long was recovered and could be a chisel or other metal tool. The landowner had previous found a small stone implement approximately 700m south-east of the stones which could be a Bronze Age hammerstone. Based on the stone composition and selection, alignment, packing stones and site location, Dr George Nash believes that the site is of Bronze Age origin.

Current fieldwork at Hen Gastell has clarified details of the site, but there are other questions that remain unanswered. The excavation demonstrated that the ditch is a genuine cut feature, not a palaeochannel or other natural feature, and is more substantial than it appears on the surface. The lack of Roman pottery at the site suggests either a late prehistoric or possibly an Early Medieval data. Radiocarbon dates will be obtained from charred plant remains from the inner bank and buried soil beneath it. Further excavation will take place in July 2014 as part of a community excavation.

This article details the analysis of a piece of early medieval sculpture, rediscovered in May 2013 lying in the Nant Tawelan stream (SN 5712 5101), using digital photography and laser scanning. The stone confirms the existence of at least three early medieval stones at St Sulien's Church and its use as a place of burial in the 5th or 6th centuries. It is possible that archaeological features visible in the adjacent landscape may be contemporary.

Archaeological works revealed a landscape of settlement activity dating from the Roman period up until the 20th century. Although no prehistoric activity was identified in the area it is possible that some of the field boundaries had their origins in earlier periods. The Roman roundhouse settlement (GAT HER 31969 and 36094) was partially investigated and showed that there were at least two roundhouses with a further two possible building platforms indicating a small settlement.