DYFED ARCHAEOLOGICAL TRUST NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2014 NEWYDDLEN HAF 2014 YMDDIRIEDOLAETH ARCHAEOLEGOL DYFED

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1 DYFED ARCHAEOLOGICAL TRUST NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2014 NEWYDDLEN HAF 2014 YMDDIRIEDOLAETH ARCHAEOLEGOL DYFED

Dyfed Archaeological Trust is an independent organisation dedicated to the effective protection, investigation, recording and promotion of the historic environment.

2 Dyfed Archaeological Trust is an independent organisation dedicated to the effective protection, investigation, recording and promotion of the historic environment. Dyfed has a highly motivated professional workforce with a wide range of skills and experience. This is complemented by long established contacts and partnerships with external specialists enabling Dyfed to offer extensive consultancy and other archaeological services. The Shire Hall, Carmarthen Street, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire SA19 6AF Sarah Rees s.rees@dyfedarchaeology.org.uk (Limited Company No Registered Charity No ) Production of this newsletter was grantaided by Cadw Cynhyrchwyd y newyddlen hon gyda chymorth grant gan Cadw Cover. Excavating early medieval cist graves at St Patrick s Chapel, St Davids. Clawr. Datgloddio cistfeddau o r oesoedd canol cynnar yng Nghapel Sant Padrig, Tyddewi. Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Dyfed yw corff annibynnol sy n ymroi i ddiogelu, ymchwilio, cofnodi a hybu r amgylchedd hanesyddol yn effeithiol. Mae gan Dyfed weithlu proffesiynol ac uchel eu cymhelliant syd ag amrywiaeth mawr o sgiliau of phrofiad. Ategir hynny â chysylltiadau a phartneriaethau sy n bod ers tro byd ag arbenigwyr allanol sy s fodd i Dyfed gynnig gwasanaethau ymgynhori a gwasanaethau archaeolegol eraill. Neuadd y Sir, Stryd Caerfyrddin, Llandeilo, Sir Gaerfyrddin SA19 6AF Ebost Sarah Rees s.rees@dyfedarchaeology.org.uk (Cwmni Cyfyngedig Elusen Gofrestredig )

CARMARTHEN CASTLE A MAJOR NEW PUBLICATON Over twenty years of excavation and research by Dyfed Archaeological Trust have been published in a handsome volume by the University of Wales Press, under

This book puts the Castle back at the heart of the history of medieval Wales, and in its proper place in castle studies and architectural history, the whole study combining to make a major

3 CARMARTHEN CASTLE A MAJOR NEW PUBLICATON Over twenty years of excavation and research by Dyfed Archaeological Trust have been published in a handsome volume by the University of Wales Press, under the authorship of Neil Ludlow. An English language and a Welsh language version of the book is available at This book puts the Castle back at the heart of the history of medieval Wales, and in its proper place in castle studies and architectural history, the whole study combining to make a major contribution to the history of one of Wales's great towns. CASTELL CAERFYRDDIN CYHOEDDIAD NEWYDD PWYSIG Cafodd dros ugain mlynedd o gloddio ac ymchwil gan Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Dyfed ei gyhoeddi mewn cyfrol hardd gan Wasg Prifysgol Cymru, a Neil Ludlow yw r awdur. Mae fersiynau Cymraeg a Saesneg o r llyfr ar gael am Mae r llyfr hwn yn rhoi r Castell yn ôl wrth ganol hanes Cymru ganoloesol, ac yn ei le priodol mewn astudiaethau o gestyll a hanes pensaernïol. Mae r astudiaeth gyfan yn cyfuno i wneud cyfraniad pwysig at hanes un o drefi mawr Cymru.

EARLY MEDIEVAL GRAVES FOUND AT ST PATRICK S CHAPEL, ST DAVIDS During the winter storms of 2013-14 graves were exposed in sand dunes at Whitesands Beach, St Davids.

Although the site is well known, very little is actually known about it; the only historical reference comes from around the year 1600 when the chapel was described as wholly decayed.

4 EARLY MEDIEVAL GRAVES FOUND AT ST PATRICK S CHAPEL, ST DAVIDS During the winter storms of graves were exposed in sand dunes at Whitesands Beach, St Davids. These graves are part of a cemetery surrounding St Patrick s Chapel. Although the site is well known, very little is actually known about it; the only historical reference comes from around the year 1600 when the chapel was described as wholly decayed. Excavations in 1924 uncovered the foundations of the small, stone-built chapel. As the site was continuing to be eroded the decision was made to excavate the most vulnerable part of the cemetery. Numerous graves were excavated, most with wellpreserved skeletons, including many long cist graves graves lined and capped with stone slabs and dating to the sixth to the eleventh century AD. A small stone cross had been set up at the head of one of graves the first time in Britain such a grave marker has been found with a cist grave. Following excavation the site was carefully back-filled and restored. However, this will not stop the relentless erosion, and the decision will have to be made soon whether to carry out further excavation on this very important site. Dyfed Archaeological Trust and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority carried out the excavation in May 2014 General view of the site, left, and below excavating some of the cist graves. Golwg gyffredinol o r safle, i r chwith, ac isod, datgloddio rhai o r cistfeddau.

An unusual find - this car was buried in the 1970s in an attempt to halt sand dune erosion, above. Right, a well preserved skeleton in a cist grave. The skull was lost during the winter storms.

DOD O HYD I FEDDAU CANOLOESOL CYNNAR GER CAPEL SANT PADRIG, TYDDEWI Yn ystod y stormydd yng ngaeaf 2013-14, cafodd beddau eu dinoethi mewn twyni tywod ar draeth Whitesands, Tyddewi.

5 An unusual find - this car was buried in the 1970s in an attempt to halt sand dune erosion, above. Right, a well preserved skeleton in a cist grave. The skull was lost during the winter storms. Darganfyddiad anarferol cafodd y car hwn ei gladdu yn y 1970au mewn ymdrech i atal erydiad twyni tywod. I r dde, sgerbwd wedi i gadw n dda mewn cistfedd. Collwyd y penglog yn ystod stormydd y gaeaf. DOD O HYD I FEDDAU CANOLOESOL CYNNAR GER CAPEL SANT PADRIG, TYDDEWI Yn ystod y stormydd yng ngaeaf , cafodd beddau eu dinoethi mewn twyni tywod ar draeth Whitesands, Tyddewi. Mae r beddau hyn yn rhan o fynwent sy n amgylchynu Capel Sant Padrig. Er bod y safle n adnabyddus, ychydig iawn y gwyddys amdano mewn gwirionedd; mae r unig gyfeiriad hanesyddol yn dod o tua r flwyddyn 1600 pan gafodd y capel ei ddisgrifio n hollol ddarfodus. Datguddiodd cloddio ym 1924 sylfeini r capel bach carreg. Gan fod y safle n parhau i gael ei erydu, gwnaed y penderfyniad i gloddio rhan y fynwent oedd fwyaf agored i niwed. Cafodd nifer fawr o feddau eu datgloddio; roedd yn y rhan fwyaf ohonynt sgerbydau oedd wedi u cadw n dda, gan gynnwys llawer o gistfeddau hir - beddau wedi u leinio a u capio gyda slabiau carreg a oedd yn dyddio o r chweched i r unfed ganrif ar ddeg OC. Cafodd croes fach garreg ei gosod wrth ben un o r beddau - y tro cyntaf ym Mhrydain y daethpwyd o hyd i nodwr bedd o r fath gyda chistfedd. Ar ôl y datgloddio, cafodd y safle ei gladdu a i adfer yn ofalus. Fodd bynnag, ni fydd hyn yn rhoi terfyn ar yr erydu diderfyn, a bydd rhaid gwneud y penderfyniad yn fuan a ddylid ymgymryd â rhagor o gloddio ar y safle pwysig iawn hwn. Ymgymerodd Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Dyfed a Pharc Cenedlaethol Arfordir Penfro â r cloddio ym mis Mai 2014

Dyfed Archaeological Trust in partnership with the University of Wales Trinity St David undertook an excavation in June 2014 with the aim of locating the site of the nunnery and the first mansion.

6 LLANLLYR NUNNERY AND MANSION Rhys ap Gruffudd founded a nunnery at Llanllyr in 1180, possibly on a site with earlier ecclesiastical origins. A mansion was built on the site following dissolution in This mansion with its gardens was replaced by the current mansion in the late eighteenth century. Dyfed Archaeological Trust in partnership with the University of Wales Trinity St David undertook an excavation in June 2014 with the aim of locating the site of the nunnery and the first mansion. The nunnery proved to be elusive; no definite evidence for it was found. However, extensive cobbled surfaces associated with wall foundations and other remains were discovered. These remains corresponded with gardens and buildings shown on a 1768 estate map, but whether they are the remains of the first mansion or of gardens and buildings not recorded in documents or on maps is open to debate. Thomas Dineley s drawing of 1684, thought to be of Llanllyr, and the 1768 estate map. Does Dineley s drawing show domestic buildings reusing earlier nunnery buildings, and do Dineley s drawing and the estate map show the same buildings and gardens, or are they unconnected? Lluniad Thomas Dineley o 1684, y credir mai Llanllŷr yw, a map yr ystâd o A yw lluniad Dineley yn dangos adeiladau domestig sy n ailddefnyddio adeiladau cynharach y lleiandy ac a yw lluniad Dineley a r map o r ystâd yn dangos yr un adeiladau a gerddi, neu a ydynt heb fod yn gysylltiedig?

LLEIANDY A PHLASTY LLANLLŶR Sefydlodd Rhys ap Gruffudd leiandy yn Llanllŷr ym 1180, o bosibl ar safle sydd â gwreiddiau eglwysig cynharach.

7 Two photographs showing the extensive cobbled surfaces and wall foundations of eighteenth century gardens and buildings. Dau ffotograff yn dangos yr arwynebau helaeth a sylfeini waliau gerddi ac adeiladau r ddeunawfed ganrif. LLEIANDY A PHLASTY LLANLLŶR Sefydlodd Rhys ap Gruffudd leiandy yn Llanllŷr ym 1180, o bosibl ar safle sydd â gwreiddiau eglwysig cynharach. Cafodd plasty ei adeiladu ar y safle ar ôl y Diddymiad ym Cafodd y plasty hwn gyda i erddi ei ddisodli gan y plasty presennol ar ddiwedd y ddeunawfed ganrif. Ymgymerodd Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Dyfed, mewn partneriaeth â Phrifysgol Cymru y Drindod Dewi Sant, â chloddiad ym mis Mehefin 2014 gyda r nod o ddod o hyd i safle r lleiandy a r plasty cyntaf. Bu n adnodd dod o hyd i r lleiandy; ni ddaethpwyd o hyd i unrhyw dystiolaeth bendant ohono. Fodd bynnag, darganfuwyd arwynebau cobl helaeth sy n gysylltiedig â sylfeini waliau a gweddillion eraill. Roedd y gweddillion hyn yn cyfateb i erddi ac adeiladau a ddangosir ar fap ystâd o 1768 ond mae p un a ydynt yn weddillion y plasty cyntaf neu o erddi ac adeiladau nas cofnodwyd mewn dogfennau neu ar fapiau yn ddadleuol.

8 COME AN VISIT US AT THE NATIONAL EISTEDDFOD LLANELLI 2nd 9th AUGUST Dyfed Archaeological Trust will be sharing a stall with the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust at the National Eisteddfod. Come and see our exhibitions and displays, or just drop in for a chat. DEWCH I YMWELD Â NI YN YR EISTEDDFOD GENEDLAETHOL LLANELLI 2 9 AWST Bydd Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Dyfed yn rhannu stondin gydag Ymddiriedolaeth Morgannwg-Gwent yn yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol. Dewch i weld ein harddangosfeydd, neu galwch heibio am sgwrs. Dyfed Archaeological Trust is now on Facebook and Twitter. Like us on Facebook; Search for Dyfed Archaeology Follow us on Twitter; Search Mae Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Dyfed ar Facebook a Twitter yn awr. Hoffwch ni ar Facebook; Chwiliwch am Dyfed Archaeology Dilynwch ni ar Twitter; Chwiliwch

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