South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Site 50.06 Land West of Aberyscir Brecon Powys Archaeological Evaluation and Watching Brief

Home , Aberyscir, Brecknock Museum, South Wales Gas Pipeline, Y Gaer

for Rhead Group on behalf of National Grid CA Project: 9150 CA Report: 13327 Event: CPAT102846

October 2013

South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Site 50.06

Archaeological Evaluation and Watching Brief

CA Project: 9150 CA Report: 13327 Event: CPAT102846

Luke Brannlund, Project Supervisor prepared by and Peter Busby, Project Supervisor

date 7 October 2013

checked by Karen E Walker, Post-Excavation Manager

date 10 February 2015

approved by Martin Watts, Project Director, Head of Publications

signed

date

issue 01

This report is confidential to the client. Cotswold Archaeology accepts no responsibility or liability to any third party to whom this report, or any part of it, is made known. Any such party relies upon this report entirely at their own risk. No part of this report may be reproduced by any means without permission.

Cirencester Milton Keynes Andover Building 11 Unit 4 Office 49 Kemble Enterprise Park Cromwell Business Centre Basepoint Business Centre Kemble, Cirencester Howard Way, Newport Pagnell Caxton Close, Andover Gloucestershire, GL7 6BQ MK16 9QS Hampshire, SP10 3FG t. 01285 771022 t. 01908 218320 t. 01264 326549 f. 01285 771033 e. [email protected] © Cotswold Archaeology South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Site 50.06: Archaeological Watching Brief

CONTENTS

SUMMARY ...... 2

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 3

The site ...... 3 Archaeological background ...... 4 Archaeological objectives ...... 4 Methodology...... 4

2. RESULTS ...... 5

3. PROJECT TEAM ...... 7

4. REFERENCES ...... 8

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ...... 10

APPENDIX B: THE FINDS ...... 11

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000)

GLOSSARY CA – Cotswold Archaeology CAP – Cambrian Archaeological Projects CPAT – Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust DAT – Dyfed Archaeological Trust GGAT - Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust FTP – Felindre to Brecon gas pipeline HER – Historic Environment Record MHA – Milford Haven to Aberdulais gas pipeline NAL – Network Archaeology Ltd NLMJV – Nacap Land & Marine Joint Venture UPD – Updated Project Design

1 © Cotswold Archaeology South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Site 50.06: Archaeological Watching Brief

SUMMARY

Project Name: South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Location: Site 50.06, Land West of Aberyscir, Brecon, Powys NGR: SN 99 29 Type: Evaluation and Watching Brief Date: 27 August 2007 Location of Archive: To be deposited with RCAHMW (original paper archive) and Brecknock Museum (material archive and digital copy of paper archive; accession number BRCNM 2013.19.39) Site Code: MHA06

An archaeological evaluation and watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during groundworks associated with construction of gas pipelines (part of the South Wales high pressure gas pipeline scheme) between Milford Haven and Aberdulais, and Felindre and Brecon, which were conducted between 2005 and 2007.

A small undated pit was identified during the evaluation. During the watching brief, several probable alluvial deposits were found, one of which contained two Mesolithic worked flints, one Neolithic worked flint and a small sherd of pottery, possibly from an Early Neolithic bowl. The provenance of this prehistoric material is not known.

2 © Cotswold Archaeology South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Site 50.06: Archaeological Watching Brief

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 NACAP Land and Marine Joint Venture (NLMJV), on behalf of National Grid, commissioned RSK Environment (part of the RSK Group) to manage the archaeological works (non-invasive surveys, desk based assessment, evaluation, watching brief, and open area excavation) on a 216km-long section of pipeline from Milford Haven (Pembrokeshire) to Brecon (in Powys). The high pressure gas pipeline (part of the 316km-long pipeline route from Milford Haven to Tirley in Gloucestershire) was required to reinforce the gas transmission network. The archaeological work performed in advance of this pipeline was undertaken in a number of sections by a number of archaeological companies. The westernmost section of 122km, from Milford Haven to Aberdulais, was investigated by CA (then Cotswold Archaeological Trust) during 2005–2007 with some additional excavation work carried out by CAP. The section of 89km, from Felindre to Brecon was investigated by CA during 2006–2007 and CAP during 2007. Assessment reports on the works were completed in January 2012 (NLM 2012a, 2012b) and the current reporting stage was commissioned in February 2013.

1.2 In August 2007 CA carried out an archaeological evaluation and watching brief at Site 50.06, Land West of Aberyscir, Brecon, Powys (centred on NGR: SN 99 29; Fig. 1). The objective of the watching brief was to record all archaeological remains exposed during the pipeline construction.

1.3 The evaluation and watching brief was carried out in accordance with professional codes, standards and guidance documents (EH 1991; IfA 1999a, 1999b, 2001a, 2001b and IfA Wales 2008). The methodologies were laid out in an Archaeological Framework Document (RSK 2007) and associated Written Statements of Investigation (WSIs) and Method Statements.

The site 1.4 The site is located on the floor of the River Usk valley, 100m north of the river (Fig. 1). At this point, the valley floor is broad and flat and the site lies at approximately 155m AOD. It is overlooked by the hills Twyn-y-Gaer to the south and Coed Fenni- Fach to the east.

3 © Cotswold Archaeology South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Site 50.06: Archaeological Watching Brief

1.5 The underlying solid geology of the area is mapped as the St Maughans Formation of the Devonian Period overlain by superficial deposits of Quaternary Alluvium (BGS 2013).

Archaeological background 1.6 No archaeological remains were identified within the site during the preliminary Archaeology and Heritage Survey (CA 2006). Roman road 62b, running between Neath and Brecon, passes along the southern boundary of the field containing the site (Margary 1979; PRN 14102). Brecon Gaer Roman fort (PRN 92001; Scheduled Monument BR001) and Aberyscir Roman practice camp (PRN 6039) are located 700m east of the site. The medieval castle at Aberyscir is 550m east of the site (PRN 597, Scheduled Monument BR 002) and is associated with a deserted medieval settlement (PRN 15946).

1.7 In the wider landscape Bronze Age barrows are present 1.2km north-west of the site and a number of Iron Age hill forts are located on the hill tops overlooking the site, including Twyn-y-Gaer to the north-west (PRN583) and Coed Fenni-Fach to the east (PRN300895).

1.8 Archaeological remains were exposed close to Site 50.06 during the pipeline construction works, of which the closest were at Site 50.05 comprising several undated crop processing ovens (CA 2014). An evaluation of the current site undertaken in advance of the pipeline construction works identified an undated pit. The results of this evaluation are detailed below.

Archaeological objectives 1.9 The objectives of the archaeological watching brief were:- • to monitor groundworks, and to identify, investigate and record all significant buried archaeological deposits revealed on the site during the course of the development groundworks; and • at the conclusion of the project, to produce an integrated archive for the project work and a report setting out the results of the project and the archaeological conclusions that can be drawn from the recorded data.

Methodology 1.10 The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (RSK 2007 Appendix B). An archaeologist was present during intrusive groundworks comprising stripping

4 © Cotswold Archaeology South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Site 50.06: Archaeological Watching Brief

of the pipeline easement to the natural substrate (Fig. 1). The archaeological features recorded on this site were not georeferenced. A nominal location for the site has been indicated along the pipeline centre line within field 50.06. No site plans were drawn and the identified features are therefore not illustrated.

1.11 Where archaeological deposits were encountered written records were compiled in accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual (2005).

1.12 The post-excavation analysis and reporting was undertaken following the production of the UPD (GA 2012) and included re-examination of the original site records and finds, evidence was taken from the assessment reports (NLM 2012b) except where the UPD recommended further work, in which case the updated reports were used. The archaeological background to the site was assessed using the following resources:- • the Archaeology and Heritage Survey which was undertaken in advance of the pipeline construction and which examined a 1km-wide corridor centred on the pipeline centre line, including the then existing HER record (CA 2006); • Clwyd- Powys Archaeological Trust HER data (received May 2014); and • other online resources, such as Google Earth and Ordnance Survey maps available at http://www.old-maps.co.uk/index.html. All monuments thus identified that were relevant to the site were taken into account when considering the results of the fieldwork.

1.13 The archive and artefacts from the watching brief are currently held by CA at their offices in Kemble. Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner the artefacts will be deposited with Brecknock Museum under accession number BRCNM 2013.19.39 along with a digital copy of the paper archive. The original paper archive will be deposited with the RCAHMW.

2. RESULTS

2.1 This section provides an overview of the evaluation and watching brief results; detailed summaries of the recorded contexts and finds are to be found in Appendices A and B. Full, original versions of the specialist reports are contained within the archive.

5 © Cotswold Archaeology South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Site 50.06: Archaeological Watching Brief

Evaluation trenches 50.06.T1, 50.06.T1A, 50.06.T1B, and 50.06.T2 2.2 The natural geological substrate, comprising pale silty clay, was cut by a small undated pit (50.06.T1.4). This pit was circular in plan with steep sides and a flat base and was 0.5m in diameter and 0.25m deep. It contained two silty clay fills with charcoal flecks and was undated. No further archaeological features were found during the evaluation.

Watching brief 2.3 Two areas of archaeological deposits were exposed, although little relationship between them was established. In the first, a layer of silty clay with gravel, 50.06.002, was partially exposed. It was butted by layer 50.06.001, an orange sand with charcoal flecks, which was 0.05m deep. The relationship between these two deposits was unclear, although in the field the gravel was thought to have been the later deposit. These layers were overlain by layer 50.06.003, recorded in the field as subsoil, but possibly in fact an alluvial deposit. This layer was up to 0.7m thick and within the second area exposed sealed yellow sandy clay alluvium 50.06.005, which itself sealed a layer of orange silty clay, 50.06.004 which in turn sealed layer 50.06.006, a deposit of charcoal within a dark sandy clay matrix. All of these deposits were irregular in shape but were cumulatively up to 0.4m deep.

2.4 Layer 50.06.002 contained a small sherd of pottery, possibly from an Early Neolithic Carinated Bowl or Developed/Modified Carinated Bowl. Dates for this material in Wales span the whole of the earlier Neolithic from c. 4000–3400 cal. BC (Appendix B). Worked lithics were found within the same deposit and included two Mesolithic worked flints and one Neolithic worked flint as well as flints more broadly dateable as prehistoric.

Discussion 2.5 The layers were all partially exposed and are therefore difficult to interpret. There was no indication that cut features were present, although this cannot be stated for certain, given the limits of the available data. However, given the site’s location, the deposits are tentatively interpreted here as alluvial layers, one of which includes prehistoric material, although the provenance of this is not known.

6 © Cotswold Archaeology South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Site 50.06: Archaeological Watching Brief

3. PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Kelly Saunders, assisted by Sian Reynish, Carina Summerfield and Richard Watts. This report was written by Luke Brannlund and Peter Busby with comments by Jonathan Hart and illustrations prepared by Daniel Bashford. The archive has been compiled by Jonathan Hart, and prepared for deposition by Hazel O’Neill. The fieldwork was managed for CA by Clifford Bateman and the post-excavation work was managed for CA by Karen Walker.

7 © Cotswold Archaeology South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Site 50.06: Archaeological Watching Brief

4. REFERENCES

BGS (British Geological Survey) 2013 Geology of Britain Viewer. Online resource at http://mapapps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyofbritain/home.html accessed 20 September 2013 CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2006 Felindre to Tirley Gas Pipeline: Archaeology and Heritage Survey. CA typescript report 05140 CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2009 Felindre to Brecon High Pressure Gas Pipeline: Swansea, Carmarthenshire and Powys: Archaeological Fieldwork Preliminary Report. CA typescript report 08185 CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2014 South Wales Gas Pipeline Project: Site 50.05 Land West of Aberyscir Court, Yscir, Powys: Archaeological Evaluation and Excavations. CA typescript report 13256 EH (English Heritage) 1991 The Management of Archaeological Projects 2 GA (Groundwork Archaeology) 2012 Milford Haven to Aberdulais and Felindre to Brecon High Pressure Gas Pipelines: Updated Project Design Gibson, A. 2013 Milford Haven to Aberdulais and Felindre to Brecon Gas Pipeline: The Neolithic and Bronze Age Pottery from the Archaeological Investigations, Gibson typescript report no. 121 IfA (Institute for Archaeologists) 1999a Guidelines for Finds Work. IfA, Birmingham IfA (Institute for Archaeologists) 1999b Standard and Guidance for Finds and Ecofact Studies and Curation. IfA, Reading IfA (Institute for Archaeologists) 2001a Standard and Guidance for the Collection, Documentation, Conservation and Research of Archaeological Materials. IfA, Reading IfA (Institute for Archaeologists) 2001b, Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Excavation IfA Wales (Institute for Archaeologists of Wales/Cymru) 2008 Introducing a Research Framework for the Archaeology of Wales, online resource at http://www.archaeoleg.org.uk/intro.html accessed December 2008 Margary, I. 1979 Roman Roads in Britain. London, John Barker NLM (Nacap Land and Marine) 2006 Milford Haven to Aberdulais Natural Gas Pipeline: Scheme of investigation for a programme of archaeological works NLM (Nacap Land and Marine) 2012a Milford Haven to Aberdulais High Pressure Gas Pipeline: Archaeology Assessment of Potential for Analysis NLM (Nacap Land and Marine) 2012b Felindre to Brecon High Pressure Gas Pipeline: Archaeology Assessment of Potential for Analysis

8 © Cotswold Archaeology South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Site 50.06: Archaeological Watching Brief

Sheridan J. A. 2007 ‘From Picardie to Pickering and Pencraig Hill? New Information on the ‘Carinated Bowl Neolithic’ in northern Britain’. In A. W. R. Whittle and V. Cummings (eds.) Going Over: the Mesolithic – Neolithic Transition in North-West Europe, 441- 92. Oxford, Oxford University Press Pannett, A. 2009 ‘Assessment Report for Lithics’, in NLM 2012b RSK (RSKENSR) 2007 Felindre to Tirley Natural Gas Pipeline: Archaeological Framework Document, v7. Nacap Land and Marine Final, RSKENSR Environmental Ltd Whittle, A., Healy, F. and Bayliss, A. 2011 Gathering Time. Dating the Early Neolithic Enclosures of Southern Britain and Ireland. Oxford, Oxbow Books

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench 50.06.T1 Context Fill of Interpretation Description L W Depth Spot No. (m) (m) (m) date 50.06.T1.1 Topsoil Dark red-brown clay silt 0.1 50.06.T1.2 Alluvium Red-brown clay silt 0.5 50.06.T1.3 Natural Light orange-red silty clay 50.06.T1.4 Pit Circular in plan with steep sides 0.5 0.25 and a flat base 50.06.T1.5 50.06.T1.4 Pit fill Lower fill; Dark grey-black silty 0.5 0.1 clay with large flecks of charcoal 50.06.T1.6 50.06.T1.4 Pit fill Upper fill; grey-brown clay silt 0.5 0.15 with frequent charcoal flecks

Trench 50.06.T1A Context No. Fill of Interpretation Description L W Depth Spot (m) (m) (m) date 50.06.T1A.1 Topsoil Dark red-brown clay silt 0.1 50.06.T1A.2 Alluvium Red-brown clay silt 0.7 50.06.T1A.3 Natural Light orange-red silty clay

Trench 50.06.T1B Context No. Fill of Interpretation Description L W Depth Spot (m) (m) (m) date 50.06.T1B.1 Topsoil Dark red-brown clay silt 0.1 50.06.T1B.2 Alluvium Red-brown clay silt 0.7 50.06.T1B.3 Natural Light orange-red silty clay with gravel

Trench 50.06.T2 Context No. Fill of Interpretation Description L W Depth Spot (m) (m) (m) date 50.06.T2.1 Topsoil Dark red-brown clay silt 0.1 50.06.T2.2 Alluvium Red-brown clay silt 0.65 50.06.T2.3 Natural Light red-brown silt clay with gravel

Watching brief Context Fill of Interpretation Description L W Depth Spot No. (m) (m) (m) date 50.06.001 Layer Orange sand clay with moderate 0.05 charcoal flecks 50.06.002 Natural Light red-brown silty clay with Neo gravel 50.06.003 Layer Subsoil (Alluvium ?) 0.7m 50.06.004 Layer Orange silty clay 0.07 0.03 50.06.005 Layer Yellow sandy clay 0.75 0.1 50.06.006 Layer Charcoal within dark brown 1.25 0.15 sandy clay matrix

APPENDIX B: THE FINDS

Ceramics (Gibson 2013)

Summary Weight (g) No of Contexts Periods Represented

4 1 Early Neolithic?

Catalogue 50.6.002 2 conjoining sherds (4g) Sherds with a grey outer surface, dark grey inner surface and black core. The fabric averages 7mm thick and contains crushed quartz inclusions up to 3mm across. The inclusions are visible but lie flush with the inner surface. Early Neolithic?

Discussion It is only the fineness of the fabric and the crushed quartz inclusions that suggest that this sherd may be Early Neolithic. The absence of rim or other diagnostic formal or decorative traits do not allow the vessel to be further classified. It must suffice to identify the sherd as coming from Carinated Bowl or Developed/Modified Carinated Bowl as discussed by Sheridan (2007). Dates for this material in Wales span the whole of the earlier Neolithic from c. 4000-3400 cal BC (Whittle et al. 2011).

Lithics (Pannett 2009) Context Material Classification Date 50.06.002 Fresh flint Flake with proximal end retouched Neo 50.06.002 Fresh flint Flake u/n 50.06.002 Fresh flint Cortical flake u/n 50.06.002 Fresh flint Microscaper Meso 50.06.002 Fresh flint Blade Meso 50.06.002 Burnt flint Flake U/n

Animal Bone by James Rackham A single bone unstratified sub-adult sheep sheep tibia was recovered (55g) with both epiphyses fused, although the proximal epiphysis fused not long before death. The greatest length of the bone is 204mm.

11 A NNyferyfer

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T h / A Nedd R Tawel AAberdulais TaweTaw Rhy R Neath / A Nedd

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0 25km SSWSWANSSWANSEAWWAANANSEEAA

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300 Site 50.06 Site 50.11 Site 50.10 Site 50.05

Site 50.01 Site 50.02

N pipeline centreline

evaluation trench Site 49.05

Site 50.06 297

280

980 000 xxx SN SN 996 0 1:5000 100m N Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Milton Keynes 01908 218320 Milford Haven to Aberdulais pipeline Andover 01264 326549 Archaeology w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk Felindre to Brecon pipeline e [email protected] PROJECT TITLE 0-75m contour South Wales Pipeline. Site 50.06, Land West 75m contour of Aberyscir, Brecon 200m contour FIGURE TITLE Site location plan 400m contour 600m contour 0 1km FIGURE NO. Reproduced from the 2009 Ordnance Survey Explorer map with PROJECT NO. 9150 DATE 09-10-2013 the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller DRAWN BY DJB REVISION 00 of Her Majesty's Stationery Office c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeology Ltd 100002109 APPROVED BY LM SCALE@A4 1:25,000 1