Gower Landscape Partnership: Field Walking Report
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Gower Landscape Partnership: Field Walking Report April 2017 GGAT report no. 2016/064 Project no. P1816 A report for The Gower Landscape Partnership National Grid Reference: By Sarahjayne Clements BA MA PCIfA SS 46333 88200 The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust Ltd Heathfield House Heathfield Swansea SA1 6EL Gower Landscape Partnership: Field Walking Contents Page Summary ................................................................................................................................. 2 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................. 2 Copyright notice...................................................................................................................... 3 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 4 1.1 Project background ......................................................................................................... 4 1.2 Archaeological background ............................................................................................ 4 2 Methodology .................................................................................................................................................. 8 2.1 Preliminary preparation .................................................................................................. 8 2.2 Fieldwork ........................................................................................................................ 8 2.3 Finds processing and identification .............................................................................. 10 3 Results/Finds analysis ................................................................................................................................. 11 4 Feedback ...................................................................................................................................................... 12 4.1 Legacy ........................................................................................................................... 13 5 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................................... 14 6 Bibliography ................................................................................................................................................ 15 7 Plates............................................................................................................................................................. 16 Appendix I: The finds summary .............................................................................................................................. 19 Appendix II: The finds specialist reports ................................................................................................................ 29 Appendix III: Catalogue of lithic finds .................................................................................................................... 39 Appendix IV: Volunteer feedback and analysis ...................................................................................................... 64 Appendix V: Report on fieldwalking at Scurlage farm submitted by Swansea Metal Detecting Club .............. 75 Figures Figure 1: Bank Farm fieldwalking (red) ..................................................................................................... 6 Figure 2: Monksland Farm fieldwalking (red)........................................................................................... 7 Plates Plate 1. Flint scraper found by volunteer at Bank Farm ....................................................................... 16 Plate 2. Volunteers fieldwalking at Bank Farm ...................................................................................... 16 Plate 3. Volunteer field walking at Monksland Farm ............................................................................. 17 Plate 4. Flint Blade found by a volunteer at Monksland Farm.............................................................. 17 Plate 5. Volunteers researching .............................................................................................................. 18 Tables Table 1: Finds recovered .......................................................................................................................... 19 Table 2: Summary of Archaeometallurgical Materials .......................................................................... 32 Table 3: Archaomatallurgical residues by classes ................................................................................ 32 Table 4: Animal bone recovered during Field walking at Monksland and Bank Farm ...................... 33 Table 5: Assessment of Lithics by Elizabeth Walker (National Museum of Wales) ........................... 39 Table 6: Analysis of flints for SMDC report by Elizabeth Walker ......................................................... 78 1 Gower Landscape Partnership: Field Walking Summary The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust Ltd together with partner organisations around Gower assisted the City and County of Swansea in its successful funding bid for a major four year project on Gower. The Gower Landscape Partnership (GLP) is managing a number of significant initiatives designed to preserve and repair distinctive landscape and heritage features and to assist in the interpretation and understanding of the rich cultural and ecological heritage on Gower. The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust is a key GLP partner, alongside seventeen other organisations that have come together in a collaborative agreement to protect, conserve, manage, understand and inform on Gower’s special qualities. The project used field walking as a way of connecting people with the landscape and raising awareness of the historic environment. Instruction was given in field walking and finds processing and further training sessions were carried out. Further sessions covered the responsible finding and reporting of archaeological objects, providing an introduction to the Portable Antiquities Scheme and the Treasure Act, map regression, Archwilio (Historic Environment Record), Cynefin (Tithe Maps) and how to use and interpret aerial photographs. The field walking events were attended by a large number of volunteers, as were the subsequent finds processing sessions. There were activities suitable for people of all ages and abilities. Having different activities accessible to all meant that GGAT could work with Knelston Primary School and Swansea Young Archaeologists Club. Future Community Heritage Wardens were chosen from the volunteer base, as people that showed both great interest and commitment to the history and archaeology of Gower. These community wardens were given additional background training in the legislation that is already in place to protect the historic environment assets and landscape of Gower. This information is essential for the long-term protection of the historic environment in general, as well as for the correct and responsible treatment and reporting of artefacts found during metal detecting, field walking, gardening or a stroll on the beach. The field walking events took place at Monksland Farm, Scurlage between the 27th to 28th February 2016 and at Bank Farm, Scurlage between the 1st and 2nd March 2016. The location of fields for the events were chosen by volunteers, with professional guidance, through the research carried out at the training sessions which showed that there was a high possibility for archaeological finds in both these areas. Members of the Swansea Heritage Metal Detecting Club and Swansea Metal Detecting Club took part in the project and worked closely with GGAT. Education regarding the correct procedures for detector use, and dealing responsibly and legally with the resulting finds will help to protect the archaeology of Gower in the future. The archaeological work will be undertaken to the professional standards laid down by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists. Acknowledgements The project was managed by Richard Lewis BA MCIfA (GGAT Head of Projects) and the fieldwork was undertaken by Sophie Lewis BA ACIfA (Archaeologist), Sarahjayne Clements BA MA PCIFA (Archaeologist), Rhodri Kemp BA (Archaeologist) and Charlotte Bellamy BA PGCert (Archaeologist). The report was compiled by Sophie Lewis and Sarahjayne Clements and illustrations produced by Paul Jones PCIfA (Senior Illustrator) and Charlotte James-Martin 2 Gower Landscape Partnership: Field Walking BA ACIFA (Project Officer). The specialist reports were provided by Charlotte James-Martin (GGAT) BA PG Cert ACIFA, Hannah Bowden (GGAT) BA, MSc, Daria Dabal (freelance) MA and Dr Elizabeth Walker (National Museum Wales) Thanks are extended to all the volunteers and heritage wardens who played a vital role in the project and collected much of the survey and research data and also to the landowners for making the project possible. The authors would also like to thank to Steve Sell for his continued support throughout the project and members of Swansea Metal Detecting Club and Swansea Heritage Metal Detecting Club for their valued input, and Knelston Primary School for continued close involvement. Copyright notice The copyright of this report is held by the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust Ltd and Gower Landscape