A Research Framework for the Archaeology of Wales
Southwest Wales – Later Prehistoric, key sites
22/12/2003
Partial excavation of a small hillfort. Artefacts include:
Glass and amber beads, metalworking (crucibles, slag, mould), spindle whorl.
Environmental evidence: plant macrofossils; pollen; soil studies; animal bone.
Austin, Bell, Burnham and
Young 1987, 1984-88; Davies 1994
(Collection: University of
Wales, Lampeter?)
Full excavation of a small
hillfort and annexe. Important material culture assemblage: pottery, diagnostic
metal artefacts (including iron involuted and penannular brooches, flesh hook,
spearheads, knives, sickle, bronze tankard handle), metalworking, amber bead.
Environmental evidence: plant macrofossils; animal bone; charcoal.
Mytum 1985, 1986a, 1989,
1991, 1996, 1999, unpublished
(Collection: NMGW 2000.45H;
University of York)
Partial excavation of a small
hillfort. Large and important material culture assemblage (IA & RB):
pottery, diagnostic metal artefacts (including a pair of La Tene bracelets
(350-250 BC) possibly associated with a burial, a La Tene decorated perforated
pendant and large ironwork assemblage), bone and antler artefacts, glass beads.
Environmental evidence: animal bone.
Wainwright 1967; Savory
1976b; Guido 1978; Williams 1978
(Collection: NMGW 67.514)
Complete excavation of
Woodside Camp, Dan-y-Coed Enclosure and Drim Camp and the partial excavation of
Broadway Enclosure, Holgan Camp, Pilcornswell Camp and Bodringallt Enclosure.
Artefacts include: pottery (LIA & RB), glass bead (Guido Group 6),
decorated spindle whorls, and a Bronze Age trunnion tool redeposited in
ramparts at Broadway. Environmental evidence: plant macrofossils; charcoal;
soil studies.
Williams and Mytum 1998
(Collection: Scoulton Manor)
Complete excavation of a
small defended enclosure/farmstead. Finds include: pottery, beehive querns,
glass beads (Guido Class 3 & 8 LIA/ERB). Radiocarbon dates. Environmental
evidence: plant macrofossils; insects.
Murphy 1985
(Collection: Carmarthen
Museum)
Partial excavation of a
coastal promontory fort. Finds include: Late Bronze Age socketed axe fragment,
metalworking (crucible), iron brooch pins, glass and amber beads, charred plant
remains. Environmental evidence: plant macrofossils; pollen.
Crane forthcoming; Murphy
2002
(Collection: Cambria
Archaeology)
Complete excavation of a
defended enclosure. Finds include: Pottery, metalworking (crucibles), glass
beads, wooden artefacts. Environmental evidence: charcoal; wood; soil studies.
Wainwright 1971b; Savory
1976b; Guido 1978
(Collection: NMGW 71.33H)
Mytum and Webster 1993
Dark 1987, 1988, 1990
Partial excavation of a defended
enclosure. Radiocarbon dates. Environmental evidence: plant macrofossils.
Williams forthcoming
Excavation of a small
enclosure, reused in Early Medieval Period for burials.
James 1987
Small-scale excavation of a small bivallate hillfort. Finds
include: Pottery (IA), iron spearhead (IA/RB).
Clawdd-y –Milwyr (St
David’s Head)
Nineteenth century partial excavation of a coastal
promontory fort. Finds include glass beads and decorated spindle whorls.
Baring Gould 1899; Guido
1978; Figgis 1999
(Collection: Tenby Museum)
Partial excavation of this enclosure revealed a RB
rectangular stone building. Finds include: Pottery (RB), quern (IA/RB), metal
artefacts (RB), spindle whorls (IA/RB).
Ward 1907; Williams 1978
(Collection: NMGW 63.373)
Extensive (unpublished)
research excavation, followed by salvage recording. LBA amongst finds.
Benson and Williams 1987;
Grimes unpublished
Small-scale excavation of a
coastal promontory fort. Environmental evidence: plant macrofossils; charcoal.
Crane 1999
Henllan,
Ceredigion
Medium area excavation of the
defences and interior of this inland multivallate promontory fort. Finds
include an amber bead. Environmental evidence: charcoal.
Williams 1944-5; Savory 1976
(Collection: NMGW 53.267)
Small-scale excavations of a defended enclosure. Finds
include: loom weight, spindle whorl, shale bracelet.
Mytum and Webster 1986
Excavation of a defended
enclosure. Environmental evidence: pollen.
Crossley 1965, 1979
Extensive excavation of a
small, rectilinear defended enclosure.
Avent 1973, 1975
Section across defences.
Guilbert and Schweiso 1972,
Guilbert 1974
Small-scale excavations
supported by radiocarbon dates.
Williams, Darke, Parry and
Isaac 1988
Small-scale excavation of a
defended enclosure. Environmental evidence: pollen.
Moel Trigarn
Baring Gould et al 1900;
Guido 1978; Figgis 1999
(Collection: Tenby Museum)
Parc Cynog,
Carmarthenshire
Small-scale excavations on an
inland promontory fort.
de Quincey 1969
Partial excavation of a small
defended enclosure, and survey of associated remains. Finds include: pottery
(IA & RB). Environmental evidence: plant macrofossils.
Williams 1981; Figgis 1999
(Collection: Carmarthen
Museum 86.09)
Small-scale excavations on a
large hillfort. Finds include pottery (inc. stamped Malvernian vessel), glass
bead (Meare type – Guido Class 10).
Browne and Driver 2001;
Davies 1994; Driver 1998; Forde et al 1963; Guido 1978; Peacock 1968; Savory
1976b
(Collection: NMGW 47.164/194
-vessel; lost (rest of assemblage)
Small-scale excavation within
a small coastal hillfort.
Scott and Murphy 1992
Partial excavation in
1950s-60s (unpublished) by W F Grimes. Records in NMR.
Small-scale excavation of a
coastal promontory fort.
Wainwright 1971a
Small-scale excavation of a
defended enclosure.
Thomas and Walker 1959
Partial excavation of a
defended enclosure
Vyner 1982, 1986
Cwrt, Llanfynydd
Possible burial with gold
torc in urn. A penannular gold armlet ‘with two balls at the ends’ was apparently
found in an urn under a big stone in 1876. Not certainly of Bronze Age date
(possibly Ewart Park).
Wheeler 1924; Fox & Bowen
1935; Burgess 1976
(Collection: lost)
Drawsdre Isaf Farm, Llanarthney
Cremation with looped
socketed spearhead (Acton Park to Ewart Park). A quantity of ashes and bones
were found in a limestone cave in a field called Cae-dan-y-cwarran in 1797.
Textile remains included in the deposit and the spearhead was found at the
bottom of the ashes.
Anon. 1893; R.C.A.H.M.W.
1917b; Fox & Bowen 1935; Burgess 1976
(Collection: Carmarthen
Museum No. 312)
Stackpole
Inhumation with Ewart Park
Type sword. Found digging out a fox in a marsh near Stackpole in 1800. The
bones of a human foot were also found, suggesting a disturbed inhumation.
Barnwell 1876; Burgess 1976;
Bruck 1995
(Collection: Tenby Museum -
sword)
Iron Age Burials
Castle
Bucket
Cremations in pits outside defended enclosure, radiocarbon
date of 2340±60 bp.
Williams 1985b
Drim Camp
Cist containing a cremation outside defended enclosure.
Williams and Mytum 1998
Plas
Gogerddan
Excavation of multi-period site with Iron Age inhumations
and cremations, including two La Tene III brooches, accompanying crouched
inhumation burial, and further possible La Tene III brooch accompanying another
crouched inhumation.
Davies 1994; Murphy 1992; Savory 1992
(Collection: Ceredigion Museum 1998.40.3)
Excavation around a standing
stone revealed a crouched inhumation and 3 child inhumations.
Benson et al 1990
Survey of possible
prehistoric field systems on small area of moorland.
Ward 1989
Skomer Island
Survey of field systems and
related monuments.
Evans 1990; Grimes 1951
Stackpole Warren
Excavation and survey of
field system and associated sites. Radiocarbon dates.
Benson et al 1990
Survey of field systems and
related monuments.
Murphy 2001
Acton
Park (1600-1400 BC cal)
Capel Isaf, Manordeilo, Carmarthenshire (SN 659 252)
Found in 1975 under the end
of a glacial erratic boulder during construction of a sewer trench. Comprises
four gold armlets of sheet form and the terminal of a ribbon torc.
Benson 1975; Savory 1976a;
1977; 1980; Northover 1993; in prep; Eogan 1994
(Collection: NMGW 76.7H/1-5)
Cemmaes
/ Penard (1400-1140 BC cal)
Priory Farm Cave, Monkton (SM 979 017)
(Collection: NMGW 09.18/1-3b)
Penard
(1275-1140 BC cal)
Tiers Cross,
Milford Haven (SM 87/8 10)
Metal detector find in 1991.
Some complication over precise provenance. Three gold torcs (1 flange twisted,
2 coiled wire).
Aldhouse-Green &
Northover 1994; Northover in prep
(Collection: NMGW 93.77H)
Wilburton
(1140-1020 BC cal)
Ewart
Park (& Blackmoor) (1020-800 BC cal)
Allt Gelli Felen, Myddfai (SN 7632 2864)
Discovered during
agricultural work, additional artefacts later discovered by metal detecting
over the locality, all during the early 1980s. Comprises nine socketed axes (5
South Welsh type, 1 South Welsh variant, 1 ribbed, 1 Type A / Type Wallingford
plain, 1 unseen).
Briggs & Benson 1986;
Briggs et al 1987; Briggs & Williams 1995; Northover in prep
(Collection: Carmarthen Museum)
Freshwater West, Castlemartin (SR 88 99)
Metal detector find circa
1991 on the beach at Freshwater West.
Comprises two South Wales Type socketed axes, one plain socketed axe,
one Ewart Park sword fragment, one Carp’s Tongue sword fragment, twenty three
copper ingot fragments.
DAT 1991; Northover in prep
(Collection: private
possession)
Kidwelly (SS
409 070)
Found near Kidwelly Castle.
Comprises a Late palstave and an unclassified socketed axe.
Anon. 1856; Evans 1881;
RCAHMW 1917; Fox & Bowen 1935; Northover in prep
(Collection: lost)
Pant-y-Maen,
Clydai, Pembrokeshire (SN 257 326)
Found probably circa 1859
during peat cutting on west bank of Afon Pedran. Comprises swords (8 frags from
Ewart Park type), spearheads (15 fragments – all diagnostic fragments from
plain pegged types), chape (diminutive, tongue type), ferrules (5 of which 2
tubular and 3 with expanded foot), rings (3 now lost). Possibly another three
spearheads and a sword fragment.
Jones 1861; Barnwell 1864;
Evans 1881; Wheeler 1922; Sansbury 1930; Bowen 1936; Griffiths 1957; Burgess et
al 1972; Colquhoun & Burgess 1988; Northover in prep.
(Collection: Carmarthen
Museum; University of Wales, Lampeter; lost)
Llyn
Fawr (800-700 BC cal)
Castle Hill, Aberystwyth (SN 579 816)
‘Five bronze celts, and
ancient glass bead and other antiquities’ donated to the University College
Museum, Aberystwyth. It is not clear whether the celts were associated.
Sansbury 1930; Northover in
prep
(Collection: lost)
Gilfach-goch, Llanwnda (SM 909 390)
From a cromlech. Comprises
‘two spearheads laid across each other and a knob of metal suspected to have
been gold’.
Fenton 1811; Barnwell 1872;
Northover in prep
(Collection: lost)
Tregaron (SN
68 60)
Possible hoard – though
doubtful. Found circa 1850 in a peat bog. Comprised ‘two celts, all bronze, and
a framea or light javelin’. The association of the celts with the spearhead is
not certain. It has been suggested that the objects making up the hoard are a
Group I palstave, an Irish unlooped palstave and a side looped spearhead.
Anon. 1850; Evans 1937;
Briggs 1994; Northover in prep.
(Collection: lost)
Nevern (SN )
Savory 1946-7
Castell Nadolig
(SN 298 503)
Found circa 1829 during
agricultural removal of stone heap within a hillfort. Pair of bronze spoons,
decorated with La Tene scroll decoration (2nd BC-1st AD).
Possibly associated with a burial.
Way 1869; Craw 1923-4; Fox
1958; Savory 1976b; Wait 1985; Murphy 1992; Davies 1994; Jope 2000.
(Collection: Ashmolean
Museum; NMGW replicas 22.326/2-3)
Pen-coed-foel, Gellifaharan Farm, Llandysul (SN 425 427)
Found circa 1895 during
ploughing within a small hillfort. Bronze half-collar decorated with La Tene
Stage 5 scroll decoration.
Barker 1896; Fox 1958; Savory
1976b; Macgregor 1976; Davies 1994
(Collection: Bristol Museum; NMGW replica 37.226)
Gold Corieltauvian Stater (Mack 50) found before 1722. Dated
to 70-55 BC.
Gibson 1722; Evans 1890;
Allen 1960; Boon 1988; Davies 1994
Llanwnda, Fishguard
Found in 1826, when removing
a cairn in advance of road construction. Mirror handle with possible helmet
fragment. 1st century AD. Possible burial association.
Priory Street, Carmarthen
Silver trumpet brooch
(LIA/ERB) with relief decoration and parcel gilt. Found by workmen in Priory
Street, Carmarthen.
Boon & Savory 1975
(Collection: Carmarthen
Museum)
Priory Street, Carmarthen
Excavations in Moridunum
between 1978 and 1990. Curved vessel mount or escutcheon decorated with the La
Tene Stage 5 style and enamelled. Discovered in a third century AD context, but
made during the first century AD. Also a blue enamelled saucepan handle with
devolved La Tene motif, probably Romano-British.
James 1992
(Collection: Carmarthen
Museum)
Castlemartin Burrows
Found ‘above an accumulation
of clayey surface soil’. Glass bead necklace discovered at or before 1927, and
scattered within an area of 30cm diameter.
Made up of 29 blue annular beads (Guido Group 6(iva)), now dated as Iron
Age or Romano-British date.
Mathias 1927
(Collection: NMGW 29.370/1)
Llandovery
Found by the Rev Thomas
Lawrence, in the Roman fort at Llandovery during the early nineteenth century.
Silver coin of Cunobelinus (possibly Mack No. 227). Probably brought and used
by the pre-Flavian Roman garrison rather than an Iron Age community.
Rees 1873; Boon 1988
Borth,
Ceredigion
Alexandrian coin of Augustus.
Possible evidence of pre-Roman trading relations.
Milne 1948
(Collection: lost)
‘Celtic Heads’ (IA/RB)
Carmarthen (2) (Collection:
Carmarthen Museum)
Laugharne (Collection:
Carmarthen Museum 76.3531)
Llangynog (Collection:
Carmarthen Museum 88.73)
Fishguard (Collection:
Scolton Manor)
Llanycrwys (Collection:
private possession)
Llanfarian (Collection:
private possession)
Ross 1967; Megaw 1967; Savory
1973; Williams & Delaney 1982; Brewer 1986; Figgis 1999
Whitesands Bay,
Pembrokeshire (SM 731 266)
Small gold nugget of possible
Late Bronze Age date. Metal detector find.
Green & Northover 1996
(Collection: NMGW)
Llandysul
(SN 42 41)
British Type penannular gold
bracelet with solid body of rounded/square cross-section and elongated evenly
expanded solid terminals. Late Bronze Age.
Wheeler 1925a; Bowen 1936;
Briggs 1994; Eogan 1994
(Collection: British Museum M
W.G. 9)
Glan-rhos Farm, Llanychaiarn (SN 575 745)
Found in 1804 in a peat bog.
Late Bronze Age circular shield of Yetholm Type.
Meyrick 1831; Sansbury 1930;
Bowen 1936; Brailsford 1953; Coles 1962; Savory 1980; Briggs 1994
(Collection: British Museum)
Llanfair Clydogau (SN 67 51)
Found in 1886 in the Nant
Clywedog-ganol valley. Dirk of Middle Bronze Age date.
Davey 1891; Sansbury 1930;
Bowen 1936; Savory 1980; Burgess & Gerloff 1981; Briggs 1994
(Collection: NMGW 09.130)
Cynwyl Elfed
Said to have been found
during ploughing. Found prior to 1913. Sword of Ewart Park Type.
R.C.A.H.M.W. 1925b; Wheeler
1925b; Fox & Bowen 1935; Savory 1980;
(Collection: Private
possession - NMGW (replica) 23.414)
Llanrian (SM
825 328)
Found on the seabed in 10m
depth of water off Llanrian. Rapier in two pieces – Middle Bronze Age date.
unpublished
(Collection: NMGW 88.121H)
Newgale Sands
(SM 84 21)
Metal detector discovery
during 1999-2000 – beach find. Dirk (Group II) belonging to the Acton Park or
Taunton phases of the Middle Bronze Age.
Macdonald 2000
(Collection: private
possession)
Giltar
Point, Penall. (SS 125 983) (Collection:
NMGW 30.185)
Grassholm
Island
(SM 599 092) (Collection:
NMGW 91.75A/1-3)
Nanna’s
Cave Caldey Island (SS 146 969) (Collection:
NMGW 63.335/68)
Potters
Cave, Caldey Island (SS 142 971) (Collection:
NMGW 63.337/9-18)
All Savory 1976
The
Hoyle’s Mouth, Tenby (SS 112 003) (Collection:
Tenby Museum)
Savory 1973; Figgis 1999
Darren Hillfort (SN 678 830) (Collection:
Ceredigion Museum)
Driver 1996
Other key IA pottery texts: Spencer 1983
Davies and Hogg 1994; Lynch,
Aldhouse-Green and Davies 2000; Savory 1976, 1980
Iron Age quernstones key texts: Briggs 1986 a&b
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