Case Study: A477 to Red Roses Improvement

The Welsh Assembly Government proposed improvement works along the A477 between St Clears and Red Roses, in , southwest . Before the project could start, an assessment of archaeological Client: risk was essential along the entire stretch of road.

Welsh Assembly Government AB Heritage Limited was commissioned by Gifford to manage the Location: archaeological and heritage input into the 9.3km long road improvement works. Carmarthenshire, South-West Wales The initial works involved the production of a full Cultural Heritage Environmental Statement (ES) as part of the EIA. This identified AB Heritage Input: a number of known features of archaeological interest, along with Cultural Heritage other areas of archaeological potential. These included the scheduled Key Factors remains of the Dol Garn earthwork enclosure, believed to be of Iron Age or Environmental Statement Romano-British date. In addition, AB Heritage identified a number of • AB Heritage developed and and Mitigation listed structures (including the Grade II Listed Pont Newydd Bridge), managed an extensive suite an earthwork at Castell that was historically recorded as a of archaeological works, Date of AB Heritage Works: potential motte earthwork, and a large area of prehistoric potential successfully managing the May 2010 - ongoing associated with the nearby remains of a Neolithic Henge. project risk associated with the presence of significant The form, extent and significance of the areas meant AB Heritage led a archaeological remains along careful and phased approach to the investigation and management of the line of the 9.3km stretch the historic environment. Working closely with the client, AB Heritage of road. designed and implemented a suitable mitigation strategy, allowing the project to avoid, reduce and compensate for any adverse impact of the • Work included the production proposed development. of a Cultural Heritage ES and the management of the As part of the ES works AB Heritage designed a suite of outline archaeological investigation works on behalf of our client to manage the project risk mitigation strategy. associated with the presence of archaeology. The investigations included This included management progressing a programme of geophysical survey over c. 30 hectares of of geophysical survey, land, developing a strategy for archaeological evaluation trenching and development of a programme implementing archaeological strip, map and sample of intrusive of archaeological evaluation groundworks. trenching, agreement for areas of archaeological strip, AB Heritage also secured Scheduled Monument Consent for our client, map and sample, as well as associated with the development of the road within the limits of the Dol gaining Scheduled Monument Garn Scheduled Monument. Consent and various programmes of historic www.abheritage.co.uk building recording.