South Gas Pipeline Project Land at Cefn Drum

Earthwork Survey

for Rhead Group on behalf of National Grid CA Project: 9150 CA Report: 13298 Event: E004774/E004776

January 2014

South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Land at Cefn Drum

Earthwork Survey

CA Project: 9150 CA Report: 13298 Event: E004774/E004776

prepared by Christopher Leonard, Project Supervisor

date 13 January 2014

checked by Karen E Walker, Post-Excavation Manager

date 21 May 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.

© Cotswold Archaeology

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 Land at Cefn Drum: Earthwork Survey

CONTENTS

SUMMARY ...... 4

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 5

The site ...... 5 Archaeological background ...... 6 Archaeological objectives ...... 6 Methodology...... 6

2. RESULTS (FIGS 2–4) ...... 7

3. PROJECT TEAM ...... 9

4. REFERENCES ...... 10

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000) Fig. 2 Survey locations (1:2500) Fig. 3 Site 2.09 earthworks survey results (1:250) Fig. 4 Site 2.11 earthworks survey results (1:250)

GLOSSARY CA – Cotswold Archaeology CAP – Cambrian Archaeological Projects CPAT – Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust DAT – Dyfed Archaeological Trust GGAT - 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

3 © Cotswold Archaeology South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Land at Cefn Drum: Earthwork Survey

SUMMARY

Project Name: South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Location: Land at Cefn Drum, Pontarddulais, Swansea NGR: SN 6140 0400 Type: Earthwork Survey Date: April 2006 Site Code: MHA06

An earthwork survey was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in advance of 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.

The survey recorded features across the south-western slope of Cefn Drum, within an area of known archaeological activity. All of the surveyed remains were undated but have been tentatively interpreted as prehistoric or medieval cairns, possible medieval building platforms and post-medieval quarries. The location was subsequently investigated during the pipeline construction works (Sites 2.09 and 2.11).

4 © Cotswold Archaeology South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Land at Cefn Drum: Earthwork Survey

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 April 2006 CA carried out an earthwork survey at Land at Cefn Drum, Pontarddulais, Swansea (centred on NGR: SN 6140 0400; Fig. 1). The objective of the earthwork survey was to provide further data on the date, character, quality, survival and extent of the archaeological deposits within the pipeline construction working width.

1.3 The earthwork survey was carried out in accordance with professional codes, standards and guidance documents (EH 1991; IfA 1999a, 1999b, 2001 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 south-western slope of Cefn Drum, a 226m-high hill between the Dulais Valley to the south and the Camffrwd to the north (Fig. 1). The underlying solid geology of the area is mapped as the Swansea Member (Sandstone) of the Carboniferous Period overlain at the northern and southern ends of the site by superficial deposits of Quaternary Till (BGS 2013).

5 © Cotswold Archaeology South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Land at Cefn Drum: Earthwork Survey

Archaeological background 1.5 No archaeological remains were identified within the site during the preliminary Archaeology and Heritage Survey (CA 2006a). Numerous stone cairns are known on the slopes of Cefn Drum and form two discrete cairnfields (PRN 00367w; Fig. 2, inset), one situated 320m north-east and one 100m south-west of the pipeline route, which passes through the ‘gap’ between the two. Both cairnfields are associated with house platforms (PRNs 00368w and 00373w; Kissock 2000, 227). Following excavation of some of these house platforms and cairns, it was concluded that the house platforms probably date to the 13th and early 14th centuries, with occupation ending in the first half of the 14th century and that the cairns were contemporary features relating to stone clearance for pasture (Kissock 2000, 239).

1.6 A post-medieval or modern industrial site, recorded as an earthwork feature, lies adjacent to the pipeline route (CA 2006, ref. ID 6062).

1.7 A watching brief undertaken during the pipeline construction works investigated further features along Cefn Drum (Sites 02.09–02.14). In particular Sites 02.09 and 02.11 correspond to the two areas surveyed during the earthwork survey and the results of the watching brief should be read in conjunction with this report (CA 2013).

Archaeological objectives 1.8 The objectives of the archaeological works were:- • to identify, investigate and record all significant archaeological earthworks revealed on the site; 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 1.9 The field survey was carried out using a Leica TCR 705 Total Station with onboard data logging and coding. This was supported by manual site sketching and notation where necessary. A series of survey locations were identified at each site that provided sufficient coverage of the area to be surveyed, and were either inter-visible, or offered views to suitable mapped controls. The co-ordinates of control features such as buildings, pylons or other hard topological features were obtained from the digital base maps provided by RSK ENSR Environment Ltd, and the Ordnance Survey (OS) National Grid locations of the survey stations established using

6 © Cotswold Archaeology South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Land at Cefn Drum: Earthwork Survey

electronic re-section facilities available on the Total Station to log coded points. The site was initially reported on in advance of the pipeline construction (CA 2006b) and this report provides a summary of that report, along with any additional information that has since become available using the resources detailed below.

1.10 Once the survey fieldwork was complete, the data was downloaded from the Total Station into a CAD system, and a drawing plan produced. This is a composite of surveyed data, superimposed on detail obtained from the OS base-map, and supported by manually recorded information.

1.11 The post-survey work was undertaken following the production of the UPD (GA 2012) 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); • Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust Historic Environment Record (GGAT HER) data (received July 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.

2. RESULTS (FIGS 2–4)

2.1 Two groups of features were surveyed across the south-western slopes of Cefn Drum. The north-westernmost group correspond with the site of a subsequent watching brief (Site 02.11) undertaken during the pipeline construction works, whilst the south-western group corresponds with watching brief Site 02.09 (Fig. 2). These watching brief sites are reported on in a separate report (CA 2013); although no direct correlation between the features identified during the two stages of work was established due to a lack of georeferencing data from the watching brief, the site numbers used in the watching brief are shown in the figures accompanying this report to aid cross-referencing between these reports. The surveyed features survived as earthwork hollows, platforms or stone cairns. All were undated by finds

7 © Cotswold Archaeology South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Land at Cefn Drum: Earthwork Survey

but the features have been interpreted and ascribed to periods on morphological grounds. However, given the absence of any dateable materials and excavation, the interpretations and phasing suggested below must be regarded with caution. One feature, 6441, proved to be of natural origin.

Prehistoric or medieval 2.2 The north-westernmost cluster of features included six small stone cairns (Features 6444 and 6446–50; Fig. 4). All survived as low mounds of stone and turf. They were sub-rectangular to sub-circular in plan and all were comparable to cairns previously identified on Cefn Drum (NPRN refs 409345, 91822, 91823 and 91825), interpreted as prehistoric or medieval features.

Medieval 2.3 Feature 6445, found within the north-westernmost cluster of features, comprised a low oval bank of stone and turf, 9m long and 7.5m wide (Fig. 4). The bank surrounded a spread of stone rubble and a single upright stone was present inside the eastern edge of the bank. This feature is provisionally identified as a building platform.

2.4 Two further low banks (Feature 6443; Fig. 3) were found within the south- easternmost cluster of features. These consisted of two irregular, broadly parallel earth banks. The northern bank was c. 11m long and the southern bank c. 5m long. Both were up to 0.5m high. Neither bank contained visible stones but the area between them was relatively level and it is possible that they represent part of another building platform.

Post-medieval 2.5 The south-easternmost cluster of features included six groups of hollows cut into the hillside (Features 6431–6440; Fig. 3). The majority had a low bank of spoil on their down slope sides and may have related to post-medieval quarrying.

Modern 2.6 Feature 6442 (Fig. 3) survived as a low sub-circular stone mound approximately 2m in diameter. These stones were not overgrown with turf or covered in lichen and the feature is therefore likely to have been a modern dump.

8 © Cotswold Archaeology South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Land at Cefn Drum: Earthwork Survey

3. PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Richard Young and Jonathan Hart. This report was written by Christopher Leonard 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 Richard Young and the post-excavation work was managed for CA by Karen Walker.

9 © Cotswold Archaeology South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Land at Cefn Drum: Earthwork Survey

4. REFERENCES

BGS (British Geological Survey) 2013 Geology of Britain Viewer. Online resource at http://mapapps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyofbritain/home.html accessed 20 November 2013 CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2006a Felindre to Tirley Gas Pipeline: Archaeology and Heritage Survey. CA typescript report 05140 CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2006b Felindre to Tirley Gas Pipeline: Earthwork Survey. CA typescript report 06029 CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2013 South Wales Pipeline Project Sites 2.09–2.14, Land at Cefn Drum, Pontarddulais, Swansea: Archaeological Watching Brief. CA typescript report 13286 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 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) 2001 Standard and Guidance for the Collection, Documentation, Conservation and Research of Archaeological Materials. IfA, Reading 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 Kissock, J. 2000. ‘Farmsteads of a presumed Medieval date on Cefn Drum, Gower: an interim review’, Studia Celtica, 34, 223-248 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 RSK (RSKENSR) 2007 Felindre to Tirley Natural Gas Pipeline: Archaeological Framework Document, v7. Nacap Land and Marine Final, RSKENSR Environmental Ltd

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Site 2.13

Site 2.14 Site 2.12 Site 2.11 Land at Cefn Drum

Fig 2 Inset Site 2.10 Site 2.09

Site 1.26

Site 1.25 Site 1.24

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. Land at Cefn Drum 75m contour Pontarddulais, Swansea 200m contour FIGURE TITLE Site location plan 400m contour 600m contour 0 1km FIGURE NO. Reproduced from the 2005 Ordnance Survey Explorer map with PROJECT NO. 9150 DATE 18-12-2013 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 2.13 614

Fig. 4 6450

6449

6445

Site 2.11

6448 6446 6444 6447

Site 2.10

040 210007

SN

Fig. 3 6441

Site 2.09

6442 6443 6439 6440 6438 6437 6436 6433 6432 6435 6431 6434

0100m

pipeline centreline Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Milton Keynes 01908 218320 prehistoric or Archaeology w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk medieval e [email protected] cairn PROJECT TITLE Land at medieval house South Wales Pipeline. Land at Cefn Drum Cefn Drum platform Pontarddulais, Swansea 040 FIGURE TITLE post-medieval quarry Survey locations

clearance cairn modern dump

FIGURE NO. SN 610 cairns natural feature PROJECT NO. 9150 DATE 18-12-2013 DRAWN BY DJB REVISION 00 Reproduced from the digital Ordnance Survey Explorer map with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of APPROVED BY SCALE@A4 The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeology Ltd 100002109 LM 1:2500 2 6433

6437

6436

6431 6432

cairn location 6441 N

6435

6442 6443 6439 6440 6438 6437 6436 6433 6434 6432 6435 6431 01:2,500 50m 6434

N

cairns

Land at Cefn Drum

040

6439

6438 01:10,000 200m 6440 SN 612

pipeline centreline archaeological feature natural topography

prehistoric or medieval cairn medieval house platform post-medieval quarry modern dump natural feature

stream Reproduced from the digital Ordnance Survey Explorer map with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office 6442 c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeology Ltd 100002109 6441

Cirencester 01285 771022 Milton Keynes 01908 218320 Cotswold Andover 01264 326549 Archaeology w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected] 6443 PROJECT TITLE South Wales Pipeline. Land at Cefn Drum Pontarddulais, Swansea

FIGURE TITLE Site 2.09 earthworks survey results 0 10m

PROJECT NO. 9150 DATE 18-12-2013 FIGURE NO. DRAWN BY DJB REVISION 00 APPROVED BY LM SCALE@A3 1:250 3 cairn location N 6450

6449

6445 upright 6444 stone 6445

6446 Site 2.11

6448 6446

01:2,500 50m 6447 6444 N

cairns

Land at Cefn Drum

040

01:10,000 200m SN 612

pipeline centreline archaeological feature natural topography 6447 6450 prehistoric or medieval cairn 6448 6449 medieval house platform post-medieval quarry modern dump natural feature

Reproduced from the digital Ordnance Survey Explorer map with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeology Ltd 100002109

Cirencester 01285 771022 Milton Keynes 01908 218320 Cotswold Andover 01264 326549 Archaeology w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk 0 10m e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE South Wales Pipeline. Land at Cefn Drum Pontarddulais, Swansea

FIGURE TITLE Site 2.11 earthworks survey results

PROJECT NO. 9150 DATE 18-12-2013 FIGURE NO. DRAWN BY DJB REVISION 00 APPROVED BY LM SCALE@A3 1:250 4