Cyngor Archaeoleg Brydeinig CYMRU Council for British Archaeology WALES ** Online Information for Archaeology in Wales **

In this issue:

David Bick

Richard Avent

News from Lampeter

Excavations at Cardiff Castle, Cardiff

New Director for the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust

Badgers and Barrows

Excavations at West Angle Bay 2006

Parc Bryn Cegin, Llandygai

Missiles and Motor Racing

A good year for cropmarks in Wales

Excavation of an Iron Age Defended Enclosure at Ffynnonwen, Cardigan

Excavation and Survey at the Dyffryn Lane Ritual Complex

A Tribute to the Work of Aileen Fox 1907-2005

Maritime Archaeology courses in Wales

2006 Autumn Meeting and Symposium

Sadly, this issue of the Newsletter opens with tributes to two men who both made a significant contribution to Welsh archaeology, David Bick and Richard Avent.

There follows a wide range of articles and news about current archaeological work across the Principality, finishing with a ‘flyer’ for a tribute to the work of Aileen Fox on the Roman period in Wales and South Britain.

The Membership Secretary asks me to remind those of you who have not renewed their subscriptions to CBA Wales for this year that subscriptions were due in April at the following rates: large society/institution £15; small society £10; family £10; individuals £8; senior citizens £6. Subscriptions should be sent to The Treasurer, John Latham, The National Trust Archaeological Survey, Clwyd Ddu, Llanerchaeron, Lampeter, SA48 8DG.

Ken Murphy

David Bick

David Bick, who has died aged 76, will be best known to CBA members for his numerous contributions over a number of years to Archaeology in Wales on metal mines and other industrial archaeological topics. Indeed, he contributed a reminiscence on the archaeology of metal mining in Wales in last Autumn’s Newsletter.

Following his early retirement David Bick was able to devote much of his time to his great interest, the study of industrial archaeology and history, in particular metal mines, an interest that started as a schoolboy on visits to the Forest of Dean. He founded the Welsh Mines Society, and wrote (and published) a series of books, pamphlets and monographs, including a series titled The Old Metal Mines of Mid-Wales, and specific studies such as Frongoch Lead and Zinc Mine, in 1986. He was active until the end, with his last article appearing within a week of his death. He was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 1986 in recognition of his pioneering work in the field of industrial archaeology.

Richard Avent

The tragic death of Richard Avent in a diving accident off Gozo on August 2, 2006, which also claimed the life of his younger son, has robbed Wales of one of its most distinguished archaeologists.

Richard was appointed assistant curator to Carmarthen Museum in 1971 following his graduation from University College Cardiff in 1970, and in 1973 joined the Ancient Monuments Inspectorate in Cardiff. He became principal inspector in the newly created Cadw in 1984, and later chief inspector. The past 30 years have been turbulent times in the Principality’s administration, but Richard demonstrated that he was a capable administrator as well as a talented archaeologist and guided the archaeological institutions under his care with a steady hand. In the mid 1970s he was instrumental in establishing the four Welsh Archaeological Trusts (Clwyd-Powys, Dyfed, Glamorgan-Gwent and Gwynedd), organisations that are still flourishing and are much admired and envied in other parts of Britain. This was one of the first initiatives that marked a diversion between the archaeological organisation and institutions of England and those of Wales. A new series of guidebooks for Welsh monuments, which Richard contributed to, were very much admired, and are now much emulated. During the 1990s as the emphasis moved away from individual sites and towards studying landscapes he reacted in promoting a Register of Historic Landscapes in Wales.

Richard Avent’s main contribution on the academic front was on Castles. He undertook a long-term excavation at Laugharne Castle in Carmarthenshire, published Castell Tywysogion Gwynedd/Castle of the Princes of Gwynedd in 1983, and contributed to numerous journals and monographs. He was a founder member of ICOMOS-UK, the International Council on Monuments and Sites. In 1979, he was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and recently had become president of the Cambrian Archaeological Association.

Richard was a kind and gentle person. His colleagues unreservedly trusted him. One always felt that he would strive to do what was best for Welsh archaeology, and often in meetings one could sometimes sense him thinking how he could ‘sell’ a particular innovative or new scheme to his political masters.

Ken Murphy

News from Lampeter

Archaeologists from the University of Wales, Lampeter have continued over the summer to work in various places including Cyprus and Scotland. The Department’s research and training excavations at Strata Florida Abbey have continued under the direction of Professor David Austin with accomplishments this season including exciting results from geophysical survey. We continue to offer degrees in archaeology in Lampeter and Carmarthen and at postgraduate level we are in the process of validating new programmes in the Archaeology of the Biblical Lands, to be convened by the newly appointed Dr Andrew Petersen, and a unique part-time MA in Archaeoastronomy and Landscape Archaeology. Our professional services in environmental archaeology and dendrochronology have recently been enhanced by the launch of a new website at www.lamp.ac.uk/uwlas/.

This summer sees the retirement of Professor Andrew Fleming, who becomes Professor Emeritus from the beginning of October. Also retired is the long-serving Departmental Administrator Mrs Maureen Hunwicks. Dr Greg Stevenson has come to the end of his contract and becomes an Honorary Research Fellow as does Dr Trevor Kirk and Mr Robin Heath. Dr Andrew Petersen has been appointed Lecturer in Near Eastern Archaeology and we are aiming to advertise shortly for a lectureship in Classical Archaeology. Dr Paula Jones has been appointed as our archaeology tutor based at Trinity College, Carmarthen. We also have two new appointments in anthropology.

For further information about the Department visit our Website at www.lamp.ac.uk/archanth/ or phone 01570 424732.

Paul Rainbird
Department of Archaeology & Anthropology

Excavations at Cardiff Castle, Cardiff

From July 2005 to March 2006 extensive excavations were conducted within the grounds of Cardiff Castle prior to the construction of an interpretation centre. The centre forms part of a larger project that includes conservation work and improvements to both visitor facilities and access. The City and County of Cardiff Council own and manage the Castle, and the conservation work, interpretation centre and excavation is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Wales Tourist Board.

The excavated area measured 30m by 15m and was located immediately adjacent to the southern wall, north of the Lower Gallery. The removal of the 4m deep earthen bank, that had been reconstructed during the 1920s, revealed several features dating to the post-medieval period, including two stone cess pits containing early majolica, Westerwald stoneware and large amounts of animal bone including fish, bird and sheep. A rectangular building, divided into four chambers, was also revealed. Three of the chambers had cobble-floors and contained deposits of lime, as well as a decorated knife dating to the 17th century. It is likely that the structure was used for the storage and mixing of lime for use in building works on the castle.

Further excavation revealed medieval features, such as a small kiln with a solid cobble base, and rubbish pits containing decorated bone gaming counters, decorated window glass, a glazed floor tile depicting a peacock and a bronze sword chape. Fragments of a locally produced jug dating to the 14th century and decorated with a stylised head of a ram, were also recovered.

Two phases of Roman banks were also observed. The first ran along the inside of the Roman wall and narrowed towards the south gate. The earlier phase of Roman bank had been constructed either side of a road, clearly respecting its route. The road ran north-south and had been resurfaced at least once, with wheel ruts also visible. Large fragments of amphorae had been incorporated as a hardcore for its foundations.

The earliest phase of Roman activity included two small ovens, large deposits of hammerscale, indicating fine metal-working, and narrow foundation slots and clay floors of a large building, possibly a barrack block. Numerous Roman artefacts were recovered, including bronze tweezers, brooches, bone pins, oil lamps, locally made and imported pottery, as well as numerous coins including a hoard of over 600.

Evidence for prehistoric activity was also observed in the form of small pits and post-holes containing flint tools and coarse pottery. A line of stakeholes at least 15m long and running on a north-south alignment was noted and is likely to be the remains of a prehistoric fenceline or boundary. Such features are likely to be the earliest evidence for occupation in central Cardiff.

Rob Dunning,
Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust

New Director for the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust

Andrew Marvell was appointed Director of The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust on 1 March 2006. He has worked in Wales for more than twenty-five years, notably carrying out excavations at a number of Roman Military Sites and until more recently overseeing the works of the Trust's Contractual Division.

Badgers and Barrows

Throughout August, Cambria Archaeology undertook a major excavation for Defence Estates of an early medieval cemetery adjacent to Brownslade Barrow on the Castlemartin Army Training Range in Pembrokeshire. The cemetery was first identified by Antiquarians in the nineteenth century. However, in the last few years it has been observed that the cemetery has been badly disturbed by a badger sett with human skeletal material regularly brought to the surface. Three radiocarbon dates obtained for this bone material indicates a date range of between AD 450 and AD 960.

Following extensive consultation with Defence Estates, the National Park Archaeologist, the Heritage Management Section of Cambria Archaeology, CCW and Cadw, a decision was taken to relocate the badger sett, erect badger-proof fencing around the undisturbed areas and to undertake the full excavation of those areas that have been most severely affected by the badger action. The excavation was funded by the MoD Defence Estates.

Over 30 graves were recorded, the majority of which contained the fragmentary remains of orientated, extended inhumation burials. The majority had been badly disturbed by badger activity with only fragments of the articulated skeletons surviving. In some cases the badger activity had completely removed the upper and/or lower parts of the skeletons. Several of the burials were associated with stone cists and these had generally fared rather better than the Œopen¹ graves. However, even some of the stone cist burials had been undermined by badger runs and had subsequently partially collapsed.

A collapsed burial in a stone cist that has been undermined by a badger run

The general condition of the bones was excellent with good preservation of all parts of the skeleton. The cemetery covered an area at least 25m by 15m although the western and northern sides lay beyond the edge of the excavation. There was no evidence for any boundary feature enclosing the cemetery such as a fence line or wall. There was a suggestion that a number of infant burials in the western area of the excavation were later than the adult burials in this part of the cemetery. No further dating information was obtained. Consequently, there is not yet any demonstrable evidence that any of the burials date to the period after the Anglo-Norman conquest of this area of Pembrokeshire. However, this possibility cannot be ruled out and it may be clarified when further radiocarbon dates are obtained.

The excavation has provided significant information about the nature of the badger activity and the extent of the disturbance caused to the archaeological features and deposits. Although there was evidence for former badger activity across the whole of the site, it appears that they had been progressively moving from east to west. They do not appear to have been recently active in the western area of the excavation, although this area still contained a complex of backfilled former runs and chambers. By contrast the eastern area resembled a ŒSwiss cheese¹ with active runs and chambers forming large voids in the excavation area. In both areas the extent of the damage was greater than expected, with intercutting runs as earlier badger runs were abandoned and later ones created. Inevitably, this activity has caused severe damage to the graves of the early medieval cemetery and later features and structures. However, it seems that the badger activity has only penetrated to a depth of approximately 1m. This has left the lower deposits relatively undisturbed.

Despite the damage caused by the badger activity, a significant amount of information was recovered relating to the layout and composition of the early medieval cemetery and this will be clarified during the post-excavation analysis. Throughout the excavation Cambria Archaeology provided daily updates through a dig diary and this can still be viewed at www.cambria.org.uk/digdiary06.htm.

Gwilym Hughes
Cambria Archaeology

Excavations at West Angle Bay 2006

For two weeks in July a second season of excavation at West Angle Bay, Pembrokeshire, was undertaken by staff from Cambria Archaeology and Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, with students from University of Wales Cardiff and local volunteers. The Project was funded by Cadw. A local community group, Pembrokeshire Local Action Network for Enterprise and Development (PLANED), provided funding for an outreach element to the work. As well as providing supervision for 17 volunteers, this funding allowed more than four hundred visitors to be shown around the site, which is situated on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.

Louise Coleman of the University of Wales Cardiff excavating the adult cist grave.

Six trenches were located to address specific questions posed by a geophysical survey (undertaken by Stratascan) and the previous year¹s excavation. An impressive ditch (as yet undated, but possibly prehistoric) and a probable ditched trackway were excavated. The 2005 excavations had revealed a bank and ditch that appeared to pre-date the sub-circular enclosure wall of the early medieval cemetery, which followed the same alignment. A trench from the previous season was re-opened, in order to clarify the character and deposition sequence of the enclosure wall, and this bank and ditch. Initial results suggest that the latter may be of prehistoric date. A number of graves were excavated within the cemetery, including one adult cist grave and several infant burials, also in cists.

Duncan Schlee
Cambria Archaeology

Parc Bryn Cegin, Llandygai

The Autumn 2005 issue of the Newsletter contained a report on excavations by Gwynedd Archaeological Trust at Parc Bryn Cegin, Llandygai, outside Bangor. Work here continued until the end of January 2006 with finally about 23ha of land south of the Llandygai henge complex investigated. Since the excavations have finished post-excavation work has been ongoing and analysis and writing up is well underway. It is hoped that the final report will be published in Archaeologia Cambrensis next year.

The first results of an extensive dating programme have returned and it appears that the early Neolithic building dated to about 3700-3600 cal BC, although more dates will be obtained. This should also date the use of the Graig Lwyd rock source as flakes of this rock were found in the postholes.

Eight small clusters of pits were found across the site. Most produced Peterborough ware, although one group next to the Neolithic building contained grooved ware. Frances Lynch has now studied and drawn all the prehistoric pottery. Residue and fabric analysis is being undertaken. One of the pit clusters, largely lacking in finds, has been radiocarbon dated to the Bronze Age, but a date and a single sherd from an outlying pit suggest that at least this pit was early Neolithic.

Sixteen patches of burnt stone were revealed, most of which had associated pits or troughs, and can be termed burnt mounds. Initial dates from these show that some of this activity was Neolithic. Several mounds have produced late Neolithic dates as well as the more usual Bronze Age ones and one mound seems to date from the early/mid Neolithic. Several small pits, generally clay-lined and filled with burnt stone were found widely distributed. These are interpreted as earth ovens and they will be dated to establish with which other activity they were associated.

A ring-groove roundhouse was dated to early Iron Age and Peter Crew identified metal working debris from this area as from iron smithying. This structure had an adjacent ancillary building and the eroded traces of another similar roundhouse lay further down the hill. The main roundhouse settlement on the site probably dated from the late Iron Age through into the Roman Period. There were two enclosures joined by a narrow boundary ditch. The southern enclosure contained at least one roundhouse, but another may be preserved under the balk. The northern enclosure had three roundhouses and there was an area of activity between the two enclosures consisting of a post-built structure and a penannular gully, which may or may not be another roundhouse. Most of the roundhouses are assumed to have been clay-walled and the finds were generally Roman in date. These included glass fragments that suggested bead making on site, tying in with the cache of beads found some distance away. Also found in one of the roundhouses was a Roman copper alloy seal box with decoration in enamel on the lid. This still contained a lump of beeswax.

The palaeoenvironmental work and further radiocarbon dates will add even more to our understanding of this complex landscape.

Excavation and post-excavation analysis were funded by Welsh Assembly Government.

Jane Kenney
Gwynedd Archaeological Trust

Missiles and Motor Racing

Recording by Gwynedd Archaeological Trust (GAT) at the Anglesey Circuit (Trac Môn), Ty Croes, southwest Anglesey (NGR SH 333691) for Meyrick Estate Management Ltd provides a vivid demonstration of the changing nature of work archaeologists are now expected to routinely carry out.

The site was formerly a Ministry of Defence (MoD) Military Camp, established in 1942 and closed during the 1970s, which was used for the test firing of anti-aircraft (AA) weapons and surface-to-air missiles (SAM). In 1997 the Anglesey Circuit was opened as a championship motor racing circuit, utilising much of the land formerly used as the military camp. An archaeological assessment of the site was undertaken in March 2002 by The Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust and formed the basis of the recording programme.

The site covers c46ha and GAT was required to undertake a photographic and written record of the redundant military buildings and gun emplacements likely to be affected by the proposed development. The recording phase identified five gun emplacements associated with the firing of Thunderbird and Bloodhound SAMs, including the fittings used to anchor the base units of the missiles, whilst an abandoned road and narrow gauge railway for carrying munitions and heavy items was also identified and recorded. The military activity in this area was not dated to any specific period, but the identification of SAM emplacements suggested activity from 1959 onwards, when the infrastructure for the test firing of missiles was put in place. An anti-aircraft gun emplacement was also identified in the same area and was thought to indicate the operation of the 3.7” Vickers AA gun used between 1942 and 1959 prior to the installation of the missiles.

John Roberts

A good year for cropmarks in Wales

This summer started the way most summers do in Wales, with a very wet May but warming into June and July. By late June, Soil Moisture Deficit (SMD) figures were high – for Wales – along the Vale of Glamorgan, Welsh Borderlands and north-west Wales including the Isle of Anglesey. Into July, with the temperatures on 19th July reaching 34 degrees Celsius, the hottest on record for Wales, SMDs climbed into the 100s for much of Wales, yielding good discoveries in all parts. Many famous cropmark sites, like the Llanfor Roman complex at Bala, were showing at their best since 1976.

Undoubtedly the most significant finds have been two probable Neolithic causewayed enclosures. Prior to this summer’s flying only three were previously known from Wales, one on Anglesey found during excavation, and two in south Wales at Norton, Ogmore and at Corntown near Ewenny (see Burrow et. al. 2001).

The concentric lines of a probable ‘Corntown-type’ Neolithic causewayed enclosure at Flemingston, St Athan (Crown Copyright RCAHMW)

The Womaston causewayed enclosure, near Walton, Radnorshire. (Crown Copyright RCAHMW)

The two newly-discovered causewayed enclosures are both slightly different. The first, at Womaston (NPRN 404649), near Walton in south Radnorshire, was discovered by Chris Musson on reconnaissance of the Welsh Borderlands following work in Herefordshire. This is a characteristic oval bivallate causewayed enclosure on a rounded hill. The second was discovered during reconnaissance in south Wales at Flemingston (NPRN 404651), near St Athan. This also has interrupted ditches but shares a similar morphology, the close-set concentric ditches, with the Corntown enclosure which lies some 14km north-west.

Cropmarks of a Bronze Age circular enclosure revealed at Pen-y-wal, Dollwen, Gogninan near Aberystwyth, with a newly recorded upstanding barrow (above the enclosure) and a possible Œritual pit¹ (to the right) completing an interesting complex (Crown Copyright RCAHMW)

Detail of a medieval church, Llwydfaen medieval township, Vale of Conwy, north Wales, a very unusual discovery for Welsh aerial archaeology. (Crown Copyright RCAHMW)

There were other notable discoveries; a large circular concentric enclosure (NPRN 404647), probably early Bronze Age in date, at Goginan near Aberystwyth, flanked by a newly-recorded upstanding barrow (NPRN 404648) and cropmarks of a large pit. It is unique in Ceredigion. Two previously unrecorded Roman fortlets have been discovered guarding strategic passes on the Roman road system near Llanerfyl (NPRN 404653) in northern Powys (noted some years ago by Hugh Toller and Barri Jones but never recorded) and at Llawr-y-Bettws (NPRN 404710) near Bala in Gwynedd. One of the most rewarding discoveries was the outline of a hitherto lost medieval church (NPRN 404665) near the Llwydfaen medieval township in the Vale of Conwy. It is surrounded by other traces of wall footings and roads, but no conclusive evidence of an associated cemetery. Three square barrow cemeteries were also discovered in north Wales, at Druid (NPRN 404711) near Corwen, in Penrhyn Park (NPRN 404666) near Bangor, and on the outskirts of Caernarfon (NPRN 404650) near Segontium Roman fort.

Reference
Burrow, S, Driver, T and Thomas, D, 2001, ‘Bridging the Severn Estuary: two possible earlier Neolithic enclosures in the Vale of Glamorgan’, in: T Darvill and J Thomas (eds.) Neolithic Enclosures in Atlantic Northwest Europe, Neolithic Studies Group Seminar Papers 6, Oxbow Books.

Dr Toby Driver
RCAHMW

Excavation of an Iron Age Defended Enclosure at Ffynnonwen, Cardigan

A defended enclosure at Ffynnonwen, Tremain, Cardigan was excavated during the summer of 2006 as part of a continuing programme of investigation of this type of site in south Ceredigion and north Pembrokeshire. The programme of work assesses the below-ground degree of preservation of these sites, for which no surface evidence survives, and provides important information on their character and date. The project is jointly run by Cambria Archaeology and the University of York and is grant-aided by Cadw.

Previously, and reported on in the Autumn 2005 issue of the newsletter, a rectangular enclosure at Troedyrhiw just 2km from Ffynnonwen had been examined. Ffynnonwen was discovered from the air by Chris Musson, then of the RCAHMW, in the 1980s and is defined by an oval cropmarked ditched enclosure 160m by 90m within which lies a 40m diameter circular enclosure. It was anticipated that information from Ffynnonwen would both compare and contrast with that obtained from Troedyrhiw.

The combined 2005 and 2006 Ffynnonwen geophysical survey. North to the top. The survey squares are 20m square

A geophysical survey of the inner circular enclosure in 2005 indicated an entrance on the north side (as did the aerial photographs) and at least four roundhouses within it. The strategy in 2005 had been to excavate the entrance ditch terminals and a portion of the interior. This had proved successful at Troedyrhiw as most of the artefacts were found in the upper ditch fills. Numerous pits and post-holes were also discovered within the interior. The same approach was employed at Ffynnonwen and topsoil was machine stripped from over the ditch at the supposed entrance and from part of the interior sufficient to reveal at least one complete roundhouse.

It was immediately clear that the entrance was not where the aerial photographs and geophysical survey had indicated. There was a ditch, but the builders had only been able to penetrate 10cm-20cm into the very hard bedrock that characterised this part of the site. However, a section cut through the ditch on the west side of the enclosure where bedrock was more shattered revealed a steep, V-shaped ditch 4m wide and 2.2m deep. Two of the very few finds came from the upper fill of this ditch: a piece of slag and a spindle whorl made from a reused sherd of Roman Severn Valley Ware pottery. The large oval enclosure ditch was found be less substantial, 4m wide and 1m deep, with an open V-shaped profile.

Within the interior a suite of buildings and structures was discovered characteristic of a late Iron Age settlement. A completely excavated roundhouse was defined by a wide drainage gully encircling an insubstantial wall line of a house 8.3m diameter. Evidence from the post-holes of the east-facing entrance indicates at least three rebuilds. The drainage gully and wall-line of part of a second roundhouse 6.2m diameter lay on the southeast side of the excavation. Arcs of three gullies, indicating at least three phases of a third roundhouse of perhaps 10m diameter lay on the south side of the excavation. A four-post structure lay in the open area between the houses, and a six-post structure pre- or post-dated the completely excavated roundhouse. The overall impression is of an intensively used internal space, occupied, perhaps, over several generations.

Ffynnonwen showing the excavation of two of the roundhouses.

There was evidence for occupation of the site prior to the construction of the circular enclosure, revealed by both the excavation and by a geophysical survey of the complete site completed in 2006. A curving palisade trench predated the enclosure ditch and the completely excavated roundhouse. The geophysical survey suggested that this feature formed a circular enclosure. A fragment of a glass bead was found in the trench. This palisaded enclosure lay close to the centre of the large oval enclosure and has a centrally located roundhouse. The 2006 survey also detected a small rectangular enclosure, with roundhouse, attached to the south side of the oval, outer enclosure.

Ken Murphy
Cambria Archaeology

Excavation and Survey at the Dyffryn Lane Ritual Complex

An important complex of prehistoric ritual monuments occupies the fields to either side of Dyffryn Lane, Berriew, about 4 miles south of Welshpool in the Severn valley. The earliest sites appear to be a Neolithic long barrow and a nearby enclosure, both of which are known to date to about 3,500 BC. Two possible rectangular timber house sites might be of either Neolithic or early medieval date and the complex also includes a possible Neolithic cursus monument which, like many of the other sites, has been identified by aerial photography. The remainder of the complex appears to be focused on a Neolithic or Early Bronze Age henge monument dating to c.3000-2000 BC. Clustered around the henge are ring-ditches and round burial mounds which are probably also of Neolithic to early Bronze Age date. The Maen Beuno standing stone which lies in the roadside verge near the henge was probably also part of the complex.

Dyffryn Lane henge during the course of excavation viewed from the south-west. The entrance to the henge is towards the left. Photographed by Chris Musson

The henge itself appears to have had a long and complex history. Aerial photographs show it to be enclosed by a broad ditch with a single narrow entrance to the NW and a low external bank A low round barrow lies inside the ditch. A mid 19th century antiquarian account records the intent to bury or remove a number of large stones from ithe mound which were interfering with ploughing: this suggested that the henge might also have enclosed a stone circle. Light parchmarks seen on aerial photographs indicated that some of these stones might still survive. The mound was investigated by trenching in 1857 by local antiquarian D. Phillips Lewis.

This year’s fieldwork project, directed by Dr Alex Gibson of the Department of Archaeological Sciences, University of Bradford, was run jointly by the University of Bradford and the Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust with funds from Cadw and the University of Bradford. Excavation on the henge monument and wider topographical and geophysical survey, were designed respectively to elucidate the form and condition of the henge (including the extend of its erosion by ploughing) and to give further information about other monuments within the complex.

The very dry hot weather in early July made both digging and interpretation difficult at first, but the stone circle was found, with some of the stones indeed broken, lain down or removed. The Phillips Lewis trench was located and emptied of its 19th century fill so that a section through the mound and into the underlying subsoil could be examined. Turf and topsoil were removed from a quarter of the henge and mound to beyond the outer edge of the henge ditch, a section of which was excavated showing it to have been just over 2m deep. Finds have included some fine pieces of flint including a barbed and tanged arrowhead, a good collection of Neolithic pottery including Peterborough Ware, and well-stratified twig and hazelnut shell charcoal.

Post-excavation work now continues in Bradford and crucial to our understanding of the monument will be the radiocarbon dating of key contexts and features. It is already apparent that the stone circle was ruined before the central mound was constructed. What is less certain is the relationship of the henge to these central features.

Dr Alex Gibson & Jenny Britnell
Dept of Archaeological Sciences, University of Bradford & Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust

A Tribute to the Work of Aileen Fox 1907-2005

THE ROMAN PERIOD IN WALES & SOUTH WEST BRITAIN

Saturday 18 November 2006 at Streatham Court Lecture Theatre A, Main Campus, University of Exeter

Aileen Fox made major contributions to the archaeology of Wales, South West Britain and New Zealand over some seven decades. The Devon Archaeological Society offers this up-to-date review of one of the areas which most engaged her interest in an affectionate tribute to her memory.

The tribute day will start at 10.45 am, with registration and coffee from 10.15, and will finish at 5.30 pm. The cost is £17 for members and £19 for non-members: this includes tea and coffee. Lunch at the XF1 Building opposite Streatham Court (ploughman¹s with tea or coffee) is available if booked: tickets are £6 per person to be collected on registration. Other facilities should be open on the Campus. There will be bookstalls and poster displays. There is ample free parking at and adjacent to Streatham Court. Bookings should be sent to Mrs Jill Cobley, Brookdene, Metcombe, Ottery St Mary EX11 1RU, jill@cobley1.fsbusiness.co.uk, 01404 814406, by November 4th: those booking should send sae for confirmation that places have been reserved.

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Maritime Archaeology courses in Wales

The Nautical Archaeology Society, supported by Cadw, is organising a series of 'Introduction to Foreshore and Maritime Archaeology' courses in Wales. This is a one-day course, normally held on a Saturday, and is open to non-divers as well as divers.

In fact the Society is very keen to strengthen it's links with terrestrial avocational archaeologists - after all, few of us live very far from examples of our maritime archaeology and heritage, be that under water, on the foreshore or on our lakes, rivers and canals.

Currently courses are scheduled for 30 Sep 2006 at Howells School, Cardiff, and 2 December at Plas Menai Outward Bound School in North Wales. Two further courses, one in west Wales and the other in north Wales, are in the planning stage.

Further to the courses, we are planning a series of evening seminars throughout the principality - at Cardiff, Aberystwyth and Bangor - hoping to meet as many people as possible who are interested in the genre.

Initially, contact should be made through Ian Barefoot, either by e-mail or by post to:

The Nautical Archaeology Society
Fort Cumberland
Fort Cumberland Road
Portsmouth PO4 9LD

For the attention of 'Ian Barefoot'

2006 Autumn Meeting and Symposium

The Autumn Business Meeting, the Annual General Meeting and the Autumn Symposium will be at the Old College, King Street, Aberystwyth on Saturday October 21st 2006. A map showing the location is available here.

The Business Meeting will be held in the Seddon Room starting at 11:00am and it will be followed by the Annual General Meeting at 12:30pm.

The symposium will be in the Old Hall starting at 14:00.

Non-members are welcome to attend the symposium.