Pwllheli to Blaenau Ffestiniog Gas Pipeline

Home , Abererch, Afon Glaslyn, Afon Wen, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Chwilog, Criccieth

Archaeological excavations carried out by Gwynedd Archaeological Trust for Wales & West Utilities

Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Gwynedd Gwynedd Archaeological Trust

Wales & West Utilities Pwllheli to Blaenau Ffestiniog Gas Pipeline

Introduction In 2011 Wales & West Utilities replaced a major gas pipeline from Pwllheli to Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, North Wales. As well as being an engineering project Wales & West Utilities had to mitigate any potential damage to archaeological sites along the route so it also became a VLJQL¿FDQWDUFKDHRORJLFDOSURMHFWZLWK*Z\QHGG$UFKDHRORJLFDO7UXVWFRPPLVVLRQHGWRFDUU\ RXWWKHDUFKDHRORJLFDOZRUN7KHSURMHFWUHYHDOHGVHYHUDOEXUQW PRXQGV GDWLQJ IURP WKH ODWH 1HROLWKLFWRWKHHDUO\PHGLHYDOSHULRGV2WKHUGLVFRYHULHVLQFOXGHG D %URQ]H $JH FUHPDWLRQ EXULDO,URQ$JHSLWVDQGDQ,URQ$JHVKHOOPLGGHQDPHGLHYDOFRUQGULHUDVPLWKLQJVLWHDQGD SRVVLEOHPHGLHYDOFDXVHZD\ 7KHZHVWHUQHQGRIWKHURXWHUDQDORQJWKHJHQWO\XQGXODWLQJODQGRQWKHVRXWKHUQVLGHRIWKH /OǔQ3HQLQVXOD7KHQWKHURXWHUDQLQODQGWRWKHKHDGRIWKHZHVWHUQEUDQFKRI7UDHWK0DZU ZKLFKZDVIRUPHUO\WKHWLGDOHVWXDU\RIWKH$IRQ*ODVO\Q7KHPRXWKRIWKLVHVWXDU\ZDVEORFNHG in 1813 by an embankment, known as the Cob, so that the land behind the barrier could be drained and claimed for agriculture. $IWHUWKHWRZQRI3RUWKPDGRJWKHSLSHURXWHFURVVHGWKH$IRQ*ODVO\QDQGRYHUWKHVSXURI ODQGRQZKLFK3HQUK\QGHXGUDHWKZDVEXLOW7KHURXWHGHVFHQGHGRQWRWKHÀRRGSODLQRIWKH$IRQ 'Z\U\GDQGIROORZHGWKHÀDWUHFODLPHGIDUPODQGXSWKHULYHUYDOOH\SDVW0DHQWZURJ:KHUH WKHYDOOH\QDUURZVWRWKDWRIDPRXQWDLQVWUHDPWKHSLSHURXWHKHDGHGQRUWKDFURVVTXLWHVWHHSO\ undulating upland country to Blaenau Ffestiniog, set in the heart of the mountains of Snowdonia.

40 50 60 70

50 50

Blaenau Ffestiniog

40 40

Porthmadog Criccieth

Pwllheli

Cardigan Bay Harlech 30 SH 40 50 60

Map of the pipe route (in red) with land over 200m in brown

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0ethodology 'XULQJWKHZRUNV*$7DUFKDHRORJLVWVPRQLWRUHGWRSVRLOVWULSSLQJDORQJWKHSLSHOLQHHDVHPHQW DQGWKHH[FDYDWLRQRIWKHSLSHWUHQFK$Q\SRWHQWLDODUFKDHRORJLFDOIHDWXUHVRUGHSRVLWVZHUH LGHQWL¿HGDQGHYDOXDWHG:KHUHWKHVHZHUHVLJQL¿FDQWWKH\ZHUHIXOO\H[FDYDWHGDQGUHFRUGHG Recording included photographs, scaled plans and detailed notes.

Monitoring topsoil stripping

Initial investigation of potential archaeology

Excavation and recording

02&RS\ULJKW*Z\QHGG$UFKDHRORJLFDO7UXVW Wales & West Utilities Pwllheli to Blaenau Ffestiniog Gas Pipeline

2QFHWKH¿HOGZRUNZDVFRPSOHWHGWKHVLWHUHFRUGVDQG¿QGVZHUHVWXGLHGDQGDUHSRUWZULWWHQ 7KHSRVWH[FDYDWLRQVWXG\LQFOXGHGDQDO\VLVRIFKDUUHGSODQWUHPDLQVZRRGVWRQHDUWHIDFWVDQG obtaining radiocarbon dates.

Worked wood from a burnt mound near Pentrefelin

A full report has been produced with detailed descriptions and specialist reports and this is DYDLODEOHIRUFRQVXOWDWLRQDWWKH*Z\QHGG+LVWRULF(QYLURQPHQW5HFRUGDQGFDQEHGRZQORDGHG IURPWKH*$7ZHEVLWH ZZZKHQHEFRXN 7KH¿QGVDUHKHOGDW*Z\QHGG$UW*DOOHU\DQG0XVHXP%DQJRUDQGWKHGLJLWDODQGSDSHU UHFRUGVDUHKHOGE\WKH5R\DO&RPPLVVLRQRQWKH$QFLHQWDQG+LVWRULF0RQXPHQWVRI:DOHV Aberystwyth.

Graph showing the calibration of a radiocarbon date

Two of the very few worked Àints found

SF22 Soil 0 50mm micromorphology samples Drawing of a utilized pebble

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BXUQW0RXQGV %XUQW PRXQGV DUH KHDSV RI EXUQW KHDWFUDFNHG VWRQH DVVRFLDWHG ZLWK SLWV IRU KROGLQJ ZDWHU 7KHVHVLWHVDUHYHU\FRPPRQLQQRUWK:DOHVEXWIHZZHUHH[FDYDWHGLQGHWDLOKHUHEHIRUHWKH SUHVHQWFHQWXU\([FDYDWLRQHOVHZKHUHKDVVKRZQWKDWWKH\ZHUHXVHGWRKHDWODUJHTXDQWLWLHVRI ZDWHUE\GURSSLQJKRWVWRQHVLQWRDSLWRIZDWHU7KHUHDVRQVIRUKHDWLQJZDWHULQWKLVZD\DUH not known, though suggested uses for the hot water pits include cooking, bathing, saunas, dying, fulling and beer making. Few burnt mounds were SUHYLRXVO\NQRZQIURPWKH/OǔQ 3HQLQVXODEHFDXVHWKH\KDYHEHHQ OHYHOOHGE\SORXJKLQJDQGFDQ RQO\EHIRXQGE\H[FDYDWLRQ7KLV project found 11 burnt mounds RU SRVVLEOH PRXQGV VHYHUDO concentrated around Pentrefelin. 7KHPRXQGVDUHRIWHQDVVXPHG WREH%URQ]H$JHLQGDWH %& EXWDV¿QGVDUHUDUHIURP these sites radiocarbon dates are needed. As more sites are dated it has become clear that they were XVHGRYHUDYHU\ORQJSHULRG $QH[WHQVLYHGDWLQJSURJUDPPH was carried out on the mounds found in this project and it was GLVFRYHUHG WKDW PDQ\ GDWHG IURP WKHHQGRIWKH1HROLWKLFSHULRGDERXW%&2QHZDVXVHGLQWKHPLG%URQ]H$JHLQDERXW %&EXWPRVWVXUSULVLQJO\RQHVLWHQHDU3HQWUHIHOLQZDVGDWHGWRWKHWKFHQWXU\$'(DUO\ PHGLHYDO'DUN$JHEXUQWPRXQGVDUHYHU\UDUH RUUDUHO\VXI¿FLHQWO\ZHOOGDWHGWREHLGHQWL¿HG DQGWKLVLVDUHPDUNDEOHSLHFHRIHYLGHQFHWKDWLQGLFDWHVWKHWUDGLWLRQFRQWLQXHGIRUPLOOHQQLD

A burnt mound exposed near Pentrefelin (right) with the pit that was excavated beneath it (above). This site dated to the 7th century AD but looks just like the late Neolithic and Bronze Age mounds

04&RS\ULJKW*Z\QHGG$UFKDHRORJLFDO7UXVW Wales & West Utilities Pwllheli to Blaenau Ffestiniog Gas Pipeline

Next to Pentrefelin was a large area FRYHUHGZLWKEXUQWVWRQHV8QGHUWKLV ZHUHVHYHUDOSLWV0RVWZHUHVLPSOH rounded pits dug into the clay, but one was DUHFWDQJXODUWURXJKWKDWPD\KDYHEHHQ lined with wood. All the pits are thought WRKDYHKHOGZDWHUWKDWZDVKHDWHGDVKRW VWRQHVZHUHDGGHG7ZRVKDOORZJXOOLHV PD\KDYHFDUULHGZDWHURYHUWKHVLWH/LNH many burnt mounds this site lay next to DVWUHDPZKHUHZDWHUFRXOGKDYHEHHQ obtained. 7KH ZRRG XVHG WR IXHO WKH VLWH ZDV collected nearby and included alder that VHHPVWRKDYHEHHQOHIWWRVHDVRQWRKHOS it burn better. 7KLVVLWHZDVXVHGLQWKHODWH1HROLWKLF from before 2500 BC, through to the HDUO\%URQ]H$JHXQWLODERXW%& ,WZRXOGSUREDEO\KDYHEHHQXVHGLQVKRUW N episodes, each related to digging and XVLQJDSLW7KHVLWHVHHPVWRKDYHEHHQ 05m abandoned for centuries then used again DURXQG%&ZKHQWKHUHFWDQJXODU trough was used.

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Site near Pentrefelin repeatedly used for burnt mounds. The grey represents the burnt mound spreads, which overlay natural channels (grey dashed lines); drains (black dashed lines) ran through the site.

It is not yet clear what the burnt mounds were XVHGIRU&HUWDLQO\DORWRIZDWHUPXVWKDYHEHHQ heated and probably kept boiling for some time. 2QHVXJJHVWLRQLVWKDWIRRGZDVFRRNHGLQWKHSLWV but there is rarely any bone or other rubbish left on the sites. Bathing, washing clothes or fulling cloth KDYH DOO EHHQ VXJJHVWHG EXW LW LV OLNHO\ WKDW WKH David Chapman of Ancient Arts ZDWHUZDVQRWYHU\FOHDQ%HHUPDNLQJKDVEHHQ reconstructing how beer might have been a recent suggestion and this has been tested by made in a burnt mound trough experimental archaeologists.

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Pollen Analysis A column of peat was taken from a marsh next to the large burnt mound at Pentrefelin. Pollen JUDLQVDUHSUHVHUYHGLQSHDWDQGFDQVKRZZKDWWKHYHJHWDWLRQZDVOLNHLQWKHSDVW%\VWXG\LQJ WKHVSHFLHVIRXQGLQGLIIHUHQWOD\HUVRIWKHSHDWLWLVSRVVLEOHWRVHHKRZWKHYHJHWDWLRQFKDQJHG RYHUWLPH7KHSROOHQJUDLQVRIHDFKVSHFLHVDUHFRXQWHGDQGSUHVHQWHG LQ D SROOHQ GLDJUDP EHORZ

Pollen diagram from Pentrefelin

Pwllheli M3 (%TLP-A lnus) Trees Shrubs Dwarf shrubs Herbs Spores Indet. Aquatics e t. e p e ff. inde t. yp e iff m-typ pe e) u yp type inde at t und ty ) led iff ana-ty um -t e es f ea - f a is a te p ate e ell ic ff r f s c e in sa it ype ff. di e if difste eqae undi ype l str -t iff. -typ ype en monolet tri rm n lia s nigra oi c a -Tr l un perfor elod undif e ga u lo aceae vati ( ( o pe us av s di un dl ius e- a-t a m -typeyp vi ype -unde- u n ll ac a arv m a a m d/ Cr u m llum-und m if rub utino type l rea und u ll a-typ u - -t ho ioca ula-todi ria sy ltu id ium d m iu l h s ae y a a type ea i c ia s d accan sa s um s u n lat a cu nus camor a undiff eae m till ea ypecr la od Indete it i o s s gl r ce C bucu nic un Avena ac eri uceaemisia dagoill ceaeiacealar hy phy rs idi op ceal eadedl is mogetog s rf s e ul a m ix ca- ll real- ten pe r ic u m si um-t a ica mpa m ropsihagnu a pha rub rbs lnu na orbus- arpi x ryo ri a lc heilipenduly yp te oli pi inapsit icia a henop nchucutel he ter ter olyp te p on egr qu par ee h Bet A Que Pi S UlmusC Ile Acer Sa HederB LoniceraSal E C Ce TotalPoac ce CyperaceaeRumexPlantagoRanuncRosA F Po H H LactAr Cir S AchA RubStelCaryophyS Ur ViciaV t C C CalystegiA S StacSy Ot P P P P S C D Tot MyriophyE PotaS Ty CharcTr S Dwa He Zon 0 5 10 M3 -vi 15 20 M3 -v 25 2140 ± 30 30 M3 -i v 35

Depth (cm) 40 45 M3 -i i i 3020 ± 30 50 55 M3 -i i 60 M3 -i 65 70 20 40 100 200 20 40 204060 2040 2040 20 40 20 20 20406080100

7KHHDUOLHVWSDUWRIWKHUHFRUGSUREDEO\GDWHGWRWKHODWH1HROLWKLFZKHQWKHEXUQWPRXQGZDV being used and this showed a largely wooded landscape, with alder carr woodland along the DGMDFHQWVWUHDPDQGDPL[HGGHFLGXRXVZRRGODQGJURZLQJRYHUWKHZLGHUDUHD2YHUWKHQH[W PLOOHQQLXPWKHUHZHUHRFFDVLRQDOHSLVRGHVRIZRRGODQGFOHDUDQFH7KHVHFOHDUDQFHVZHUHQRW ODUJHVRPHZHUHIRU¿HOGVZKHUHFHUHDOVZHUHJURZQDQGVRPHZHUHIRUSDVWXUH7KHZRRGODQG grew back after each of these short episodes. %\WKH,URQ$JHWKHZRRGODQGFOHDUDQFHEHFDPHPRUHH[WHQVLYHDQGSHUPDQHQWDQGFHUHDOV ZHUHEHLQJJURZQLQ¿HOGVLQWKHDUHD)URPWKLVWLPHWKHODQGVFDSHZDVGRPLQDWHGE\JUDVVODQG DQGDUDEOH¿HOGVUDWKHUWKDQZRRGODQGDQGWKHSUHVHQFHRIKHDWKHUSROOHQVKRZVWKDWPRRUODQG was also expanding. 7KHXSSHUPRVWSDUWRIWKHSROOHQGLDJUDPVKRZHGIXUWKHUH[SDQVLRQRIJUDVVODQGDQGKHDWK until woodland was only present in isolated stands, hedgerows and along streams, and the landscape was much as it is today. Some pine pollen represents the introduction of foreign trees in plantations from the 18th century onwards.

Pollen grains seen under the microscope (from the left: lime, alder, hazel, grass) (Department of Geography, Royal Holloway College)

06&RS\ULJKW*Z\QHGG$UFKDHRORJLFDO7UXVW Wales & West Utilities Pwllheli to Blaenau Ffestiniog Gas Pipeline

BURQ]H$JH&UHPDWLRQ%XULDO 7ZRVPDOOSLWVZHUHLGHQWL¿HGLQD¿HOGVRXWKRI/ODQ\VWXPGZ\7KHVHFRQWDLQHGIUDJPHQWVRI EXUQWERQHWKDWSURYHGWREHKXPDQ7KHVHZHUHWKHYHU\IUDJPHQWDU\UHPDLQVRIDQDGXOWZKR KDGEHHQFUHPDWHG2QHSLWZLWKPRVWERQHVHHPVWRKDYHEHHQWKHUHPDLQVRIWKHFUHPDWLRQDQG the other pit held some fragments from the pyre that the body was burnt on. 7KHFKDUFRDOUHFRYHUHGVKRZHGWKDWRQO\RDNPRVWO\IURPKHDUWZRRGZDVXVHGWRIXHOWKH S\UH5DGLRFDUERQGDWHVIURPWKHEXUQWERQHVKRZHGWKDWWKHFUHPDWLRQ ZDV PLGGOH %URQ]H $JH DERXW%& 0RVWEXULDOVRIWKLVSHULRGDUHLQSRWWHU\XUQVRUVWRQHOLQHGJUDYHV known as cists, but there was no sign that these had been used on this site, nor that the burial had HYHUEHHQPDUNHGZLWKDPRXQG $ERXWNPHDVWQHDU$IRQ:HQDQRWKHU%URQ]H$JHFUHPDWLRQVLWHZDVH[FDYDWHGLQ 2QWKLVVLWHWKHUHZHUHWZR cremations in urns within a circular ditched enclosure. 7KLV VLWH ZDV GDWHG UDWKHU Llanystumdwy earlier than the Gas Pipeline VLWHDWDERXW%&EXW they could represent different burials of different status PDGHE\WKHVDPH%URQ]H$JH FRPPXQLW\OLYLQJLQWKHDUHD A497

Above: site of cremation burial (black dot) (black dashed line N = pipe route) (© Crown copyright Ordnance Survey. All rights 01m reserved). Left: plan of the two small pits containing the cremation burial and pyre remains

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Iron Age Pits

Corn drier

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7KHSLWVZHUHIXOORIKHDWFUDFNHG VWRQHDQGDSSHDUHGWRKDYHEHHQXVHG DVRYHQV7KHUHZHUHQRRWKHUWUDFHV of settlement in the area but it seems likely that there was an Iron Age settlement somewhere nearby.

Above: plan of pits and corn drier

Left: pit with heat-cracked stones

08&RS\ULJKW*Z\QHGG$UFKDHRORJLFDO7UXVW Wales & West Utilities Pwllheli to Blaenau Ffestiniog Gas Pipeline

7KH ¿QGV IURP WKH SLWV LQFOXGHGTXHUQVWRQHVDQG 0 100mm rubbers for grinding grain. 7KHUXEEHU DVPDOOKDQGKHOG SF10 URXQGHG VWRQH ZRXOG KDYH EHHQ UXEEHG RYHU WKH JUDLQ placed on the surface of the ODUJHU TXHUQVWRQH WR JULQG LW GRZQWRÀRXU7KLVSURGXFHGD worn surface where the stones UXEEHGWRJHWKHU7KHVHVWRQHV had been broken by the heat RID¿UH7KH\PXVWKDYHEHHQ SF18.2 used in a nearby settlement.

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7KHFRUQGULHUZDVOLQHGZLWKVWRQHVZKLFKVKRZHGWUDFHVRIKHDWLQJDVD¿UHKDGEHHQOLWLQRQH HQG7KHKHDWZRXOGKDYHSDVVHGWKURXJKWKHVWRQHOLQHGÀXHWRWKHFKDPEHUDWWKHRWKHUHQGRYHU ZKLFKDOD\HURIEUDQFKHVZRXOGKDYHEHHQSODFHG2QWKLVZRXOGEHDFORWKFRQWDLQLQJWKHJUDLQWR EHGULHG7KHFKDUUHGJUDLQVUHFRYHUHGIURPWKHVRLOVDPSOHVVKRZHGWKDWPRVWO\RDWVZHUHGULHG 7KHVHZHUHRIWHQKDUYHVWHGVOLJKWO\XQGHUULSHDQGUHTXLUHGGU\LQJEHIRUHWKH\ZHUHJURXQGLQWR ÀRXU8QWLOZHOOLQWRWKHWKFHQWXU\PLOOVLQQRUWK:DOHVGULHGWKHFRUQEHIRUHPLOOLQJEXWWKH\ used specially designed EXLOGLQJVZLWKÀRRUVRI SHUIRUDWHG WLOHV 0RVW PHGLHYDO FRUQ GULHUV were like this one, dug into the ground and built in the corner of a ¿HOGRUQHDUWKHIDUP

Corn drier during excavation showing stone lining

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IURQ$JH6KHOO0LGGHQ :KHQKHDSVRIGLVFDUGHGVHDVKHOOVDUHIRXQGWKH\DUHXVXDOO\DVVXPHGWRGDWHWRWKH0HVROLWKLF SHULRG DERXWWR%& ZKHQSHRSOHLQ:DOHVOLYHGE\KXQWLQJJDPHDQGJDWKHULQJ SODQWVDQGVKHOO¿VK+RZHYHUWKURXJKRXWKLVWRU\VKHOO¿VKZRXOGKDYHEHHQXVHGDVIRRGRUEDLW DQGUDGLRFDUERQGDWLQJFDQUHYHDOWKLVVKHOOJDWKHULQJDFWLYLW\IURPRWKHUSHULRGV$VPDOOVKHOO PLGGHQ UXEELVKGXPS ZDVIRXQGQHDU3HQDPVHUVRXWKZHVWRI7UHPDGRJ,WZDVRQO\PORQJ EXWFRQWDLQHGDKLJKGHQVLW\RIPDULQHVKHOOV7KHVHZHUHPRVWO\FRFNOHVEXWDOVRSHULZLQNOHV R\VWHUDQGURXJKZLQNOH QHDUO\NLORJUDPPHVRIVKHOOZHUHVRUWHGIURPDOLWUHVRLOVDPSOH 7KHVHVKHOOVKDGEXLOWXSDJDLQVWDQRXWFURSRIEHGURFNDQGWKHQDWXUDOGHSRVLWVXQGHUQHDWKZHUH KHDWUHGGHQHGIURPD¿UH 7KLVZDVDVKHOOSURFHVVLQJVLWHZKHUHWKHVKHOOVZHUHSUREDEO\ERLOHG,WOD\RQWKHYHU\HGJH RIWKHIRUPHU7UDHWK0DZUHVWXDU\EXWSODQWUHPDLQVDQGWHUUHVWULDOVQDLOVUHFRYHUHGIURPDVRLO sample suggest that the site was within woodland. A charcoal sample and a cockle shell from the deposit were radiocarbon dated, showing that WKHPLGGHQZDVLQXVHLQWKHPLGGOH,URQ$JHDERXW%&$VPDOOPHGLHYDOVKHOOPLGGHQ ZDVGLVFRYHUHGUHFHQWO\QHDU0LQIIRUGGDQGWKHVHVLWHVVKRZWKDWHYHQZKHQDJULFXOWXUHZDVWKH PDLQIRUPRIVXEVLVWHQFH¿VKLQJDQGVKHOO¿VKZHUHVWLOOXVHGDVWKH\DUHWRGD\

Shell midden deposit built up against a rock outcrop

10&RS\ULJKW*Z\QHGG$UFKDHRORJLFDO7UXVW Wales & West Utilities Pwllheli to Blaenau Ffestiniog Gas Pipeline

0HGLHYDO6PLWK\ -XVW VRXWK RI WKH $ ZKHUH LW LV MRLQHG E\ WKH &KZLORJ URDG % WZRSLWVZHUHIRXQG 2QHPHDVXUHGPE\PDQGPGHHSEXWWKHRWKHUZDVDQLUUHJXODUKROORZRQO\P GHHS+RZHYHULWZDVIXOORIFKDUFRDODQGPHWDOZRUNLQJGHEULVLQFOXGLQJWKRXVDQGVRIÀDNHVRI KDPPHUVFDOHSURGXFHGZKHQLURQLVZRUNHGLQDVPLWK\7KLVVKDOORZSLWWKHUHIRUHVHHPVWRKDYH EHHQDOOWKDWLVOHIWRIWKHEDVHRIDVPDOOVPLWK\DQGWKHDGMDFHQWODUJHUSLWPXVWKDYHEHHQUHODWHG 7KHFKDUFRDOUHFRYHUHGIURPDVRLOVDPSOHZDVDOORDNRIZKLFKPRVWFDPHIURPKHDUWZRRG 7KLVZRXOGKDYHEHHQWKHEHVWZRRGWRPDNHFKDUFRDOQHFHVVDU\WRSURGXFHDKRWFRQWUROODEOH smithing hearth. Radiocarbon dates showed that the smithy was used in the late 12th or early 13th century AD. 7KHVLWHOLHVQRWIDUIURPWKHPHGLHYDOULQJZRUNRI7RPHQ)DZUSUREDEO\WKHKRPHRIWKH/RUG RI(L¿RQ\GGLQWKHWKFHQWXU\7KLVSDUWRIWKHWRZQVKLSZDVNQRZQLQPHGLHYDOGRFXPHQWV DV+HQ(IDLO ROGVPLWK\ DQGWKHUHLVVWLOODKRXVHQHDUE\ZLWKWKHVDPHQDPH7KHVLWHZRXOG KDYHEHHQQH[WWRWKHPDLQPHGLHYDOURDGDQGZRXOGKDYHEHHQZHOOSODFHGWRSURYLGHIRUERWK WKH/RUGRI(L¿RQ\GGDQGWKHSDVVLQJWUDGHLQFOXGLQJSLOJULPVWUDYHOOLQJWR

Above: site of smithy (black dot) shown on 1889 map (black dashed line = pipe route, N grey dashed line = route of A497). 01mLeft: plan of the smithy pit and adjacent larger pit

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0HGLHYDO&DXVHZD\ A layer of wood and branches was found under DERXWPRIULYHUVLOWQRUWKRI0DHQWZURJ0XFKRI WKHZRRGKDGEHHQZRUNHG7KHUHZHUHFXWEUDQFKHV DQGVSOLWODUJHUWLPEHUVPDQ\ZLWKWRROPDUNV7KH density of the deposit and the presence of smaller chips of wood suggests that this material had not ZDVKHGGRZQWKHULYHUEXWZDVODUJHO\LQSODFHDQGFRXOGUHSUHVHQW WKH UHPDLQV RI D WLPEHU structure. An attempt to date the wood by dendrochronology failed so two pieces of bark were radiocarbon dated and this showed that the possible structure dated to the second half of the WKFHQWXU\$',WVHHPVPRVWOLNHO\WKDWWKLVZDVWKHUHPDLQVRIDFDXVHZD\DFURVVWKHÀRRG SODLQOHDGLQJWRDEULGJHRYHUWKHULYHU$PLOLWDU\FDPSDLJQPLJKWEHWKHPRVWOLNHO\UHDVRQIRU EXLOGLQJDFDXVHZD\DQGEULGJHEXWWKHGDWHREWDLQHGLVWRRODWHIRUWKHFRQTXHVWRI:DOHVE\ (GZDUG,DQGWRRHDUO\IRUZDUVRI2ZDLQ*O\QGǒU3HUKDSVWKHFDXVHZD\UHODWHGWRWKHJHQHUDO FRQWURORIWKHFRXQWU\E\WKH(QJOLVKRUWKLVZDVWKHUHEXLOGLQJRIDVWUXFWXUHFRQVWUXFWHGE\WKH Princes of Gwynedd.

Maentwrog

Location of possible causeway (black dot) on 1889 map (dashed line = pipe route).

Examples of worked wood from the site (above and right)

12&RS\ULJKW*Z\QHGG$UFKDHRORJLFDO7UXVW Wales & West Utilities Pwllheli to Blaenau Ffestiniog Gas Pipeline

A Changing Landscape 'XULQJWKHH[FDYDWLRQVVDPSOHVRIVRLOZHUHFROOHFWHGIURPDUFKDHRORJLFDOIHDWXUHVDQGWKHVH ZHUH FDUHIXOO\ VLHYHG LQ D ÀRWDWLRQ WDQN WR UHFRYHU HYHQ WKH VPDOOHVW SLHFHV RI FKDUUHG SODQW UHPDLQV7KLVSURYLGHGHYLGHQFHDERXWWKHYHJHWDWLRQDQGLWVXVHLQGLIIHUHQWSHULRGVLQWKHSDVW 7KHZRRGFKDUFRDOIURPWKHEXUQWPRXQGVVXJJHVWHGWKHUHZDVQRVSHFL¿FVHOHFWLRQRIIXHO wood, just the closest wood being used, including species such as alder, which are generally not FRQVLGHUHGYHU\JRRGIRUIXHO+RZHYHULIDOGHULVOHIWWRVHDVRQLWLVPXFKPRUHHI¿FLHQWDVDIXHO DQGLWDSSHDUVWKDWWKHODWH1HROLWKLFSHRSOHPD\KDYHSODQQHGDKHDGDQGFXWWKHLUZRRGHDUO\ HQRXJKWROHDYHLWWRVHDVRQ,QVHFWKROHVLQVRPHRIWKHZRRGZRXOGRQO\KDYHEHHQPDGHLIWKH wood was left on the ground for a considerable time after cutting. 7KH VPLWKLQJ KHDUWK VKRZHG WKDW FKDUFRDO was being produced from oak woodlands LQWKHPHGLHYDOSHULRGDQGWKHVHPXVWKDYH EHHQFDUHIXOO\PDQDJHGIRUHI¿FLHQWFKDUFRDO SURGXFWLRQ 2DN ZRRGV PD\ DOVR KDYH EHHQ PDQDJHG LQ WKH %URQ]H $JH DV WKH FUHPDWLRQ burial showed that only oak was used for fuel RQWKHS\UHDQGLWZRXOGKDYHEHHQQHFHVVDU\WR ensure that there was enough wood of the right type to build the pyre. 2WKHU SODQW UHPDLQV VXUYLYH LI FKDUUHG 5HPDLQVRIFHUHDOVVKRZWKDWHPPHUZKHDW D SULPLWLYH YDULHW\ ZDV JURZQ LQ WKH ,URQ $JH DQGRDWVEHFDPHPRUHFRPPRQLQWKHPHGLHYDO SHULRG:HHGVHHGVFDQJLYHDQLGHDRIWKH type of land the cereals were grown on and the IDUPLQJ UHJLPH 7KH ,URQ $JH SLWV FRQWDLQHG seeds showing that both dry ground and wetter areas were used for cereal growing and that the crops were probably sown in the spring. ,Q WKH PHGLHYDO SHULRG FKDUUHG ZHHG VHHGV suggest that the oats were spring sown but some barley and wheat was also grown and other weeds suggest this was sown in autumn. Oak leaves (above)

Oats (right)

(public domain images from Pixabay)

&RS\ULJKW*Z\QHGG$UFKDHRORJLFDO7UXVW13 Wales & West Utilities Pwllheli to Blaenau Ffestiniog Gas Pipeline

7KHDUFKDHRORJLFDOZRUN funded by Wales & West Utilities has meant that DVZHOODVXSJUDGLQJWKH gas infrastructure the project has enabled us WR ¿QG RXW PXFK PRUH about our past.

14&RS\ULJKW*Z\QHGG$UFKDHRORJLFDO7UXVW Wales & West Utilities Pwllheli to Blaenau Ffestiniog Gas Pipeline

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