Ysgol Bro Dinefwr - A Community Through The Millennia Carmarthenshire Archaeology Day 7th March 2015 Colm Moloney (Rubicon Heritage) & Andy Buckley (AB Heritage)

Overview Background to the Site The Archaeology Mesolithic Neolithic Bronze Age Roman Medieval Post Medieval Community Engagement What's Next?

The Ffairfach Site The site prior to archaeological excavation

Site Location Aerial view prior to excavation Site Location

History & Development Ordnance Survey Mapping 1884

History & Development Development Site Boundaries

Geophysics & Excavation Geophysical Survey Plot Plan following excavation

The Mesolithic

The Mesolithic Earliest activity on site No cut features; lithic scatters identified in field walking and test pitting Adds to the relatively small number of lithic scatters known in Carmarthenshire Mesolithic lithics from Field 3 Field Walking

The Neolithic

The Neolithic Late Neolithic Flat Cemetery 2 Late Neolithic Flat Cemeteries Contained Late Neolithic Pottery including Grooved Ware Cemeteries have cremations with associated pits/postholes 9 features contained confirmed cremated human bone Late Neolithic Flat Cemetery

The Neolithic Cremation Burial with burnt bone under excavation 2 Late Neolithic Flat Cemeteries Contained Late Neolithic Pottery including Grooved Ware Cemeteries have cremations with associated pits/postholes 9 features contained confirmed cremated human bone 18 deposits contained burnt bone Cremation Burial with burnt bone under excavation

The Human Remains Analysis of human remains at Rubicon Effective cremation requires burning of the body at high temperature At Ffairfach the vast majority of bone was completely oxidised, indicating it was well burnt Cremation burials (1067) and (1281) were both adults, though sex and more precise ageing was not possible Analysis of human remains at Rubicon

The Bronze Age

The Bronze Age Irregular rectangular structure of 9 post-holes produced date of 1608-1434 BC Lithics and pottery centred on a large natural depression Concentration of activity in the form of stake/post-holes and pits, one of the latter dated to 2288-2036 BC Rectangular Structure dated to 1608-1434 BC

The Bronze Age Irregular rectangular structure of 9 post-holes produced date of 1608-1434 BC Lithics and pottery centred on a large natural depression Concentration of activity in the form of stake/post-holes and pits, one of the latter dated to 2288-2036 BC Roasting Pit (1553), surrounded by 40 stakeholes & dated to 2288-2036 BC

The Iron Age

The Iron Age- Ring Ditches 4 ring ditches dated to the Iron Age with continued funerary activity throughout the period One produced an earlier date Only 2 of the Ffairfach examples had entrances Only one had a confirmed associated human cremation Aerial view of all five ring ditches at Ysgol Bro Dinefwr

The Iron Age- Ring Ditches 4 ring ditches dated to the Iron Age with continued funerary activity throughout the period One produced an earlier date Only 2 of the Ffairfach examples had entrances Only one had a confirmed associated human cremation Iron Age Ring Ditches (1281) and (1191)

The Iron Age- House Middle Iron Age Structure under excavation D-Shaped Slot trench dated to 384-197 BC Stake-holes at base of trench Post-holes and pits in the interior, forming possible internal division and support Middle Iron Age Structure under excavation

The Iron Age- House D-Shaped Slot trench dated to 384-197 BC Stake-holes at base of trench Post-holes and pits in the interior, forming possible internal division and support Associated Cobbled area Cobbled area associated with structure being planned

The Romans

The Romans Ring ditch 1010 which contained a possible hearth Ring ditch (1010) dated to 108 BC- 65 AD produced 2nd Century Roman Pottery Ring ditch 1010 which contained a possible hearth

The Romans Ring ditch 1010 (left) produced Roman pottery Ring ditch (1010) dated to 108 BC- 65 AD produced 2nd Century Roman Pottery Likely associated with a later hearth cut into the fills of the ditch, indicating use during the Roman period Ring ditch 1010 (left) produced Roman pottery

The Romans Remains of a Roman Road traversing the site

The Romans Remains of a Roman Road traversing the site Remained in use into the post medieval period Part of the network that connected Llandovery and Carmarthen

The Romans Remains of a Roman Road traversing the site Remained in use into the post medieval period Part of the network that connected Llandovery and Carmarthen Llandeilo was a day’s march between Carmarthen and Llandovery Has been speculated that Llandeilo was also the site of a Roman Fort

The Romans

The Medieval Period

The Medieval Period Cereal drying kiln (2008) produced a date of AD 668-770 Mid excavation photo of Kiln (1265) Post excavation photo of Kiln (2008)

The Medieval Period Cereal drying kiln (2008) produced a date of AD 668-770 Another cereal drying kiln (1265) showed continued production throughout the period, dating to AD 1024-1181

The Medieval Period Cereal drying kiln (2008) produced a date of AD 668-770 Another cereal drying kiln (1265) showed continued production throughout the period, dating to AD 1024-1181 How did they work?

The Medieval Period An isolated charcoal production pit was also discovered, with 21 associated stakeholes. It produced a date of AD 1050-1254 Charcoal production pit (093)

The Medieval Period An isolated charcoal production pit was also discovered, with 21 associated stakeholes. It produced a date of AD 1050-1254 How did it work?

Post Medieval?

Post Medieval Dominated by 2 large rectangular structures Possible association with WW1 Training Camp? Early Bronze Age date from ditch Gravel extraction pits

Community Engagement Field-walking and processing programme Social media programme including blog posts Creation of site video made available on YouTube Setting up for the aerial photographs and video Local Volunteers wet-sieving for lithics

THANKS FOR LISTENING! Colm Moloney – 07725 208616 colm.moloney@rubiconheritage.com www.rubiconheritage.com