Archaeology in Wales

Establishing a long chronology for axe factory sites has proved to be difficult for a number of reasons including; the size and complexity of individual sites and open nature of their workings, their location in often difficult, remote terrains, the problems of obtaining suitable samples from uncontaminated contexts, or the absence of carbon producing processes to extract suitable rock matter for axe making. Recent excavations at Craig Lwyd axe factory at Penmaenmawr have provided some dates for the use of this stone in the surrounding region, and excavations at Parc Bryn Cegin have produced a wealth of material spanning the duration of the Neolithic with other sites on Anglesey and the Llyn Peninsula also contributing dates to provide a basic chronological structure that indicates the Welsh sites are broadly contemporary with the Middle Neolithic (3780-2850 BC) Great Langdale axe factory in the Lake District. Au/SH

Interim report on the excavations of an Early Bronze Age burial monument at Llanmaes (SS 983 694) in 2009-2010 and further excavation in 2009 of an Iron Age and Romano-British enclosure (SS983 693, PRN 02933).

An archaeological survey of a c.25km upland area, centred on Carnedd Moel-siabod (SH 7052 5463), recorded evidence for human activity from the Bronze Age comprising a small number of important funerary monuments including two scheduled funerary cairns (PRN 3758/9) and a cairn on the summit of Moel -siabod (PRN 3727). Documentary evidence indicates that this area was used as extensive summer cow pasture and the remains of possible medieval hafod sites were identified within the survey area. Further dwellings were single-storey post-medieval buildings associated with summer pastures. An 'ancient trackway' between Dolwyddelan and Bwlch y Rhediad was recorded (PRN 3864). Post-medieval industrial activity within the area comprised slate quarrying. Au/SH

In July 2010, staff and students from Bangor University and the University of Chester, in partnership with Llangollen Museum with the help of local volunteers, undertook the first season of excavation on the stone cairn upon which stands the Pillar of Eliseg. The aim of the project is to explore the context of the cross-shaft, to reconstruct a more detailed 'biography' of the monument and to test the hypothesis that the original cross was the focus of an early medieval assembly and royal inauguration site.

Surveys conducted in North-East and East Wales included: the Historic Settlement Reassessment where 43 settlements in Brecknock Borough and 62 in Radnorshire with individual reports available on the CPAT website (http://www.cpat.org.uk/ycom/intro.htm). A desk-based assessment conducted by GGAT in advance of planning on a site at Bush Hill, Pembroke (SM 98279 02393) used map regression and aerial photography to identify five previously unknown or unrecorded sites including a tree-lined avenue leading to Bush House marked on an estate map. A community-based fieldwalking survey led by GGAT at Church Farm barrow cemetery in Monknash (SS 92180 70690) recovered a wide range of material including flint blades, flakes and cores of likely Bronze Age date, possible Iron Age pottery and medieval pottery possibly relating to the 12th century monastic grange (00229s) belonging to Neath Abbey. Au/SH