Cynffig, Rhan 1

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0:00:06 > 0:00:10- My name's Dr Iestyn Jones. Some - of you might know me as an actor.

0:00:10 > 0:00:14- I'm passionate - about archaeology and history...

0:00:14 > 0:00:17- ..which has led me - to obtain a doctorate in the field.

0:00:18 > 0:00:22- For more than 10 years, I've worked - as a professional archaeologist.

0:00:22 > 0:00:27- Throughout this series, I'll visit - sites up and down the country...

0:00:27 > 0:00:32- ..that have never been excavated - before to uncover Wales' history.

0:00:36 > 0:00:39- Hello. This week - we're excavating this site.

0:00:39 > 0:00:42- Well, not exactly the road.

0:00:42 > 0:00:47- Port Talbot is in the distance and - Kenfig dunes are in the background.

0:00:47 > 0:00:51- There's a small hill to the side - called Twmpath Y Felin Wynt.

0:00:51 > 0:00:56- We won't be searching for - a windmill, which is fortunate...

0:00:56 > 0:01:00- ..because we'd be lucky - to find anything in this vegetation.

0:01:00 > 0:01:03- Before we can excavate, - we must first clear the site.

0:01:04 > 0:01:06- All this vegetation is a pain.

0:01:06 > 0:01:11- Luckily, a group of keen volunteers - from The Kenfig Society...

0:01:12 > 0:01:15- ..is going to help clear the site.

0:01:19 > 0:01:23- Close to the coast, - between Porthcawl and Swansea...

0:01:23 > 0:01:26- ..this location - will be familiar to those of you...

0:01:26 > 0:01:28- ..who travel along - the M4 corridor...

0:01:29 > 0:01:32- ..though our excavation site - might be less familiar.

0:01:36 > 0:01:40- In the shadow of Port Talbot - steelworks, among the sand dunes...

0:01:40 > 0:01:44- ..near the village of Kenfig, - is Twmpath y Felin Wynt.

0:01:48 > 0:01:52- The difficult task - of clearing the site has begun.

0:01:53 > 0:01:56- It's necessary - to clear as much as possible...

0:01:57 > 0:02:01- ..so that our geophysics team - can inspect the site before our dig.

0:02:01 > 0:02:07- Having removed the vegetation, the - enormity of the task reveals itself.

0:02:07 > 0:02:10- In 1946, - this aerial photograph was taken...

0:02:10 > 0:02:13- ..outlining - a circular shape beneath the sand.

0:02:14 > 0:02:17- The shape - is impossible to see nowadays...

0:02:17 > 0:02:21- ..but the geophysical survey - confirms there is something here.

0:02:22 > 0:02:24- There's an enclosed site here.

0:02:25 > 0:02:30- There could be an entrance and dykes - dating back to the Iron Age.

0:02:30 > 0:02:35- I'm going to dig a trench here, - across what might be an entrance...

0:02:35 > 0:02:38- ..where there's a clear sign - of a stone structure.

0:02:39 > 0:02:42- There's - an obvious embankment here...

0:02:42 > 0:02:44- ..and a ditch on that side...

0:02:45 > 0:02:47- ..as well as behind me.

0:02:47 > 0:02:50- We'll dig - an archaeological trench...

0:02:51 > 0:02:54- ..across these dykes - to establish a date.

0:02:55 > 0:02:58- There's an interesting feature - up here too.

0:03:01 > 0:03:03- A small hollow.

0:03:03 > 0:03:07- I believe there are stones in - a circular shape beneath the sand.

0:03:07 > 0:03:12- The hollow might indicate a mill - or a tower. We're not quite sure.

0:03:13 > 0:03:16- This is also obvious - in the geophysical survey.

0:03:16 > 0:03:20- We're digging a third trench too, - so we're going to need help.

0:03:21 > 0:03:23- We'll need a lot of help, - to he honest.

0:03:24 > 0:03:29- Volunteers from The Kenfig Society - have come to our aid.

0:03:30 > 0:03:34- I'm happy they're here, not only - for the extra pairs of hands...

0:03:34 > 0:03:40- ..but for their local knowledge - of this area.

0:03:42 > 0:03:45- Historian and archaeologist - Rhys Mwyn...

0:03:45 > 0:03:48- ..is also joining us on the dig.

0:03:50 > 0:03:52- The first trench...

0:03:52 > 0:03:55- ..will be dug across - the small hollow to the north.

0:03:55 > 0:04:00- The geophysical survey - found a circular shape in this area.

0:04:00 > 0:04:05- A possible tower or windmill - that people claim once stood here.

0:04:08 > 0:04:09- There are stones there...

0:04:10 > 0:04:13- ..so there's obviously - some sort of structure.

0:04:14 > 0:04:17- The colour of the mortar - surrounding the stones...

0:04:18 > 0:04:19- ..looks medieval to me...

0:04:20 > 0:04:25- ..compared to other things we've - excavated, but we'll find out later.

0:04:25 > 0:04:30- We'll expose the site and then get - volunteers to excavate more closely.

0:04:32 > 0:04:35- Stones and mortar - are beginning to emerge.

0:04:35 > 0:04:40- Colin will carefully scrape away - the sand with the digger...

0:04:40 > 0:04:44- ..before we can begin clearing - and sifting with a trowel.

0:04:46 > 0:04:51- On the geophysical survey, - this looks like a circular shape...

0:04:51 > 0:04:55- ..constructed from stone, - but we're not completely sure.

0:04:55 > 0:05:01- We've dug down quite far and there's - nothing but sand in the middle.

0:05:01 > 0:05:03- There are stones and mortar...

0:05:04 > 0:05:07- ..along that side - and it finishes over there.

0:05:07 > 0:05:10- It's finally time - to ask for the volunteers' help.

0:05:11 > 0:05:13- There are tonnes of sand to move.

0:05:13 > 0:05:17- We must be careful not to damage the - remains that are starting to emerge.

0:05:18 > 0:05:20- There are - numerous societies in Wales.

0:05:20 > 0:05:24- If this kind of work - interests you, why not contact them?

0:05:25 > 0:05:29- Rhys Mwyn and Jerry Bond are - supervising this evolving trench.

0:05:31 > 0:05:36- I've found a small fragment - of pottery, which is encouraging.

0:05:36 > 0:05:40- It looks medieval to me. - It has a glaze on it.

0:05:40 > 0:05:42- This is the inside...

0:05:42 > 0:05:44- ..without the green glaze.

0:05:45 > 0:05:50- It's possible this might be - a building from the Middle Ages.

0:05:50 > 0:05:52- Only time will tell.

0:05:52 > 0:05:55- I'd better - put it back before I lose it.

0:05:55 > 0:06:00- Finding one fragment of pottery - isn't enough to date the site...

0:06:00 > 0:06:02- ..but it's a start.

0:06:03 > 0:06:06- While the team continues cleaning - the first trench...

0:06:06 > 0:06:09- ..Colin excavates a second trench.

0:06:13 > 0:06:18- We're opening a long trench - across the ancient ditch...

0:06:19 > 0:06:21- ..and the dyke behind it.

0:06:21 > 0:06:25- We've dug beneath the topsoil.

0:06:25 > 0:06:29- Underneath that soil - is much cleaner sand.

0:06:30 > 0:06:32- It hasn't seen daylight - in a long while.

0:06:32 > 0:06:35- Since the Middle Ages, perhaps.

0:06:35 > 0:06:40- I hope it doesn't go too deep - because it could cause problems.

0:06:44 > 0:06:46- While I monitored the excavation...

0:06:47 > 0:06:50- ..I was reminded - of the dangers of working with sand.

0:06:51 > 0:06:54- I'm measuring - the depth of the sand here.

0:06:57 > 0:06:59- That's why we have to be so careful.

0:07:00 > 0:07:03- The obvious danger - of digging in deep sand....

0:07:04 > 0:07:07- ..is that the sand itself - is unstable and prone to collapse.

0:07:08 > 0:07:11- The solution - is to widen the trench gradually...

0:07:11 > 0:07:13- ..to make it safe.

0:07:14 > 0:07:17- It's a process - which reinforces the trench's sides.

0:07:17 > 0:07:20- It means - removing numerous tonnes of sand.

0:07:21 > 0:07:23- Objects of interest begin to emerge.

0:07:23 > 0:07:26- Where did that come from? There?

0:07:29 > 0:07:31- And more bits.

0:07:36 > 0:07:41- Small bone fragments on the surface - of the earth down there.

0:07:41 > 0:07:45- There are additional - fragments of interest too.

0:07:45 > 0:07:50- I'm not sure - if we're in the ditch yet.

0:07:50 > 0:07:53- We'll find out - once we clean this area.

0:07:53 > 0:07:56- It's unusual - finding these right on the surface.

0:07:56 > 0:07:58- We'll keep those safe.

0:07:59 > 0:08:02- Now that the trench - is wide enough, it's safe.

0:08:02 > 0:08:05- I've enlisted the help - of the volunteers.

0:08:05 > 0:08:10- The sand wouldn't have been here - originally, of course.

0:08:11 > 0:08:13- This area has a murky history.

0:08:14 > 0:08:18- Founded by the Normans, - on the border between Morgannwg...

0:08:18 > 0:08:20- ..and the Welsh barony - of Avan Wallia...

0:08:21 > 0:08:25- ..the town of Kenfig witnessed many - ferocious battles over 300 years...

0:08:26 > 0:08:30- ..beginning in 1167, when the town - was burnt to the ground.

0:08:30 > 0:08:35- It was rebuilt but sustained - prolonged attacks from the Welsh.

0:08:35 > 0:08:40- But the gravest threat to the town - wasn't the Welsh but nature itself.

0:08:43 > 0:08:47- Historical records - note that agricultural land...

0:08:47 > 0:08:51- ..was damaged by - an influx of sand around 1306.

0:08:51 > 0:08:56- Documents suggest that - sand engulfed the town many times.

0:08:56 > 0:08:59- It receded for a time - before returning with a vengeance.

0:09:00 > 0:09:03- But there's no - archaeological proof of this.

0:09:03 > 0:09:07- People were dragged from their homes - as sand fell like snow.

0:09:07 > 0:09:12- Other times, the influx was slower - due to torrential storms...

0:09:12 > 0:09:14- ..and high tides.

0:09:14 > 0:09:17- However, by the mid-17th century...

0:09:17 > 0:09:20- ..the inhabitants left their town...

0:09:20 > 0:09:24- ..and Kenfig was buried forever - under many feet of sand.

0:09:31 > 0:09:34- As we've cleaned - this side of the trench...

0:09:34 > 0:09:39- ..we've found that the level - of the earth rises towards the dyke.

0:09:39 > 0:09:42- We knew - the dyke was there somewhere...

0:09:42 > 0:09:46- ..but with so much sand, - it's hard to know how deep it is.

0:09:46 > 0:09:49- If you take a look down here...

0:09:49 > 0:09:53- ..you can see - the earth rising gradually...

0:09:54 > 0:09:56- ..all the way up to here.

0:09:56 > 0:09:59- The dyke - will shortly begin to emerge.

0:09:59 > 0:10:01- It's very encouraging.

0:10:01 > 0:10:05- The dyke and ditch are very visible - underneath the sand....

0:10:05 > 0:10:08- ..which has concealed it - for centuries.

0:10:09 > 0:10:13- Meanwhile, Rhys Mwyn and the - volunteers have been working hard.

0:10:14 > 0:10:18- You're looking at - a brief afternoon's work here...

0:10:18 > 0:10:23- ..which is remarkable when you - consider how much sand was removed.

0:10:23 > 0:10:26- I'd say we've found something here.

0:10:26 > 0:10:28- There's a circular shape - in the terrain...

0:10:29 > 0:10:31- ..which is this.

0:10:31 > 0:10:36- Whatever it is, you're walking - across a wall or a dyke here...

0:10:36 > 0:10:42- ..all the way around, - forming a perfect circle.

0:10:42 > 0:10:45- We've removed the sand...

0:10:45 > 0:10:48- ..and if you follow the circle...

0:10:48 > 0:10:52- ..I'll get inside - to make it easier for you to see.

0:10:54 > 0:10:58- There's a section here - which appears to be a wall.

0:11:00 > 0:11:02- We've located the stones.

0:11:02 > 0:11:07- We've also found lime mortar which - would've held the wall together.

0:11:07 > 0:11:11- What we've uncovered so far...

0:11:11 > 0:11:13- ..has been displaced.

0:11:13 > 0:11:16- You can see the shape of the wall...

0:11:16 > 0:11:20- ..but when you use your trowel, - the entire thing collapses.

0:11:21 > 0:11:24- At the moment, - the idea is to clean this area...

0:11:24 > 0:11:27- ..and try to retain - as many stones as possible...

0:11:27 > 0:11:30- ..to see if it's actually a wall.

0:11:30 > 0:11:33- If the area was engulfed in sand...

0:11:34 > 0:11:37- ..things might've been preserved.

0:11:37 > 0:11:40- I hope the same is true - of the entire site.

0:11:41 > 0:11:43- Join us in Part 2.

0:11:44 > 0:11:44- .

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0:11:53 > 0:11:55- Day two, trench number two.

0:11:56 > 0:11:58- Over a metre of sand - has been removed.

0:11:59 > 0:12:02- We've reached the bottom - and seen the earth.

0:12:02 > 0:12:06- We'll soon be able to tell - if there was a ditch here at all.

0:12:07 > 0:12:09- Rhys is on standby over there.

0:12:10 > 0:12:13- Today we'll concentrate - on clearing the trench.

0:12:13 > 0:12:18- We were here all day yesterday and - we've found a circular structure.

0:12:18 > 0:12:20- We've seen it in the landscape.

0:12:20 > 0:12:24- We're trying to make sense - of this thing we've found.

0:12:24 > 0:12:26- That'll be our job today.

0:12:27 > 0:12:29- The work continues.

0:12:29 > 0:12:33- The volunteers' strong work ethic - is astounding.

0:12:33 > 0:12:38- They've removed countless tonnes - of sand from both trenches.

0:12:38 > 0:12:41- Though the second trench - isn't as clear as the first...

0:12:42 > 0:12:44- ..I'm sure we're on the right track.

0:12:45 > 0:12:49- Since it remains dry, the next job - is to excavate a third trench.

0:12:49 > 0:12:53- This is the area - which causes me the most confusion.

0:12:53 > 0:12:55- The survey suggests an entrance.

0:12:55 > 0:13:00- But there's also an unusual outline - of something man made.

0:13:00 > 0:13:02- There's only one way to find out.

0:13:03 > 0:13:05- The sand's very deep here too.

0:13:05 > 0:13:07- I don't want it to be deep.

0:13:07 > 0:13:09- Earth at last! OK.

0:13:10 > 0:13:14- Crikey, there's at least - three or four foot of sand in there.

0:13:14 > 0:13:17- Over there...

0:13:17 > 0:13:22- ..more than a metre of sand was - removed before we got down to soil.

0:13:22 > 0:13:25- This isn't quite as deep - but it's still deep.

0:13:25 > 0:13:30- Looking at this now, - is this the original earth?

0:13:30 > 0:13:34- Historical documents suggest...

0:13:34 > 0:13:37- ..that Kenfig had a shock.

0:13:38 > 0:13:43- Sand swept in over short periods of - time rather than prolonged periods.

0:13:43 > 0:13:47- But it must've happened - a number of times.

0:13:47 > 0:13:50- I'd say - this was soil from the Middle Ages.

0:13:50 > 0:13:54- Once you're down to the earth, - go back a little bit.

0:13:58 > 0:14:01- Take a look at this now.

0:14:01 > 0:14:04- I was hoping - to see the ditch here, you see.

0:14:05 > 0:14:10- When excavation began, it looked - as though the ditch started there.

0:14:10 > 0:14:14- Now it's cleared, notice - that the earth is the same colour.

0:14:14 > 0:14:18- But there are darker patches too.

0:14:18 > 0:14:22- If you look at this area, where - I want to expose it a little more...

0:14:23 > 0:14:28- ..there are signs of burning - and charcoal right in the corner.

0:14:28 > 0:14:31- It's very, very dark. - It's pitch black.

0:14:32 > 0:14:35- Excellent. I'm completely confused!

0:14:35 > 0:14:37- But that's a good thing.

0:14:37 > 0:14:41- If we'd only seen - layers upon layers of sand...

0:14:41 > 0:14:43- ..there'd be nothing to do here...

0:14:43 > 0:14:47- ..but the charcoal - suggests something's happening here.

0:14:47 > 0:14:52- As yet, I've no idea what, but - that's the beauty of archaeology.

0:14:52 > 0:14:54- In the second trench...

0:14:54 > 0:14:56- It's very hard work...

0:14:57 > 0:15:01- ..trying to find a ditch - in this archaeological trench.

0:15:01 > 0:15:05- We're going to bring in Colin - with his digger...

0:15:06 > 0:15:10- ..and do what the volunteers - have been carefully doing here.

0:15:10 > 0:15:13- Nothing's emerging - from this soil...

0:15:13 > 0:15:16- ..and it'll take too long - to find the ditch.

0:15:16 > 0:15:19- We're going to do it - mechanically instead.

0:15:21 > 0:15:24- Usually, I wouldn't allow - the digger back in the trench...

0:15:24 > 0:15:29- ..but there's nothing obvious to see - here, so it's safe to do it.

0:15:29 > 0:15:32- It'll save us time - in the long-run...

0:15:32 > 0:15:35- ..not to mention - saving a few sore backs.

0:15:40 > 0:15:44- What we're trying to do here...

0:15:44 > 0:15:49- ..is remove as much of the yellow - sand as possible from the circle.

0:15:49 > 0:15:54- At the moment, we're calling this - a wall, whether it is or not.

0:15:55 > 0:15:59- We're trying to remove - this yellow sand.

0:15:59 > 0:16:01- We know it's sand.

0:16:01 > 0:16:03- When you reach here...

0:16:04 > 0:16:07- ..you can hear it, to be honest...

0:16:07 > 0:16:09- ..this is quite solid.

0:16:09 > 0:16:11- There's mortar here.

0:16:11 > 0:16:14- We believe - this is a section of a wall.

0:16:14 > 0:16:16- All this stuff...

0:16:19 > 0:16:21- ..has to be removed...

0:16:24 > 0:16:26- ..so we can take a picture...

0:16:27 > 0:16:29- ..and record what we find here.

0:16:29 > 0:16:31- That's the idea.

0:16:31 > 0:16:34- It's hard work because it's fragile.

0:16:35 > 0:16:37- If we scrape too hard...

0:16:37 > 0:16:40- ..there's a chance - of us losing the whole thing.

0:16:41 > 0:16:45- Then again, if we don't scrape - enough, we won't know what's here.

0:16:45 > 0:16:48- We have to scrape - gently and gradually.

0:16:49 > 0:16:53- The wall is starting to emerge - and we're trying to define it.

0:17:00 > 0:17:03- Meanwhile, Colin and I - have returned to the third trench.

0:17:04 > 0:17:08- We have to remove mounds of sand - to reach the original earth.

0:17:08 > 0:17:12- The depth of the sand reminds us - of the natural disaster...

0:17:13 > 0:17:16- ..which happened many years ago.

0:17:16 > 0:17:20- This area and the lost town - of Kenfig has been described...

0:17:21 > 0:17:23- ..as the Pompeii of Wales.

0:17:23 > 0:17:26- Sand buried the town - along with its castle.

0:17:26 > 0:17:30- Following a row between Iestyn ap - Gwrgant, last ruler of Morgannwg...

0:17:31 > 0:17:33- ..and Einion ap Collwyn...

0:17:33 > 0:17:37- ..Gwrgant invited Norman ruler - Robert Fitzhamon to settle the row.

0:17:38 > 0:17:43- Once in Morgannwg, Fitzhamon refused - to leave and seized the territory.

0:17:43 > 0:17:47- He built many castles in Morgannwg, - including this one in Kenfig.

0:17:48 > 0:17:52- He built the castle in 1140 - to defend the coastal town...

0:17:52 > 0:17:57- ..against the Welsh, who were - inhabiting the neighbouring uplands.

0:17:57 > 0:18:01- Though the Welsh attacked - the castle numerous times...

0:18:01 > 0:18:05- ..it was the sand - which overpowered it in the end.

0:18:07 > 0:18:10- In 1924, a team of archaeologists - came here to excavate.

0:18:11 > 0:18:15- They discovered that the castle's - walls were 11 foot in diameter...

0:18:15 > 0:18:18- ..and a tower - that stood 60 foot tall.

0:18:19 > 0:18:21- There was - an obvious dyke visible.

0:18:21 > 0:18:25- This was - a formidable building at one time.

0:18:25 > 0:18:30- Following the excavation, sections - were left exposed to the elements...

0:18:30 > 0:18:34- ..and it was once again - buried beneath the sand.

0:18:35 > 0:18:38- How much more - has been buried at this site?

0:18:45 > 0:18:48- With Colin's help...

0:18:48 > 0:18:51- ..we've extended the trench...

0:18:51 > 0:18:55- ..and dug deeper - to see the difference in colour.

0:18:55 > 0:18:58- There's a marked difference, - which is great.

0:18:58 > 0:19:02- This is much darker - than the earth either side...

0:19:02 > 0:19:04- ..which proves this is the ditch.

0:19:05 > 0:19:07- It looks like it should look.

0:19:07 > 0:19:09- Now that we have time...

0:19:09 > 0:19:14- ..it'd be nice to extend it so - that we can find the other ditch...

0:19:14 > 0:19:17- ..and locate the dyke - at the same time.

0:19:17 > 0:19:20- We might not have time - to dig further...

0:19:20 > 0:19:25- ..but at least we'll know how the - two ditches relate to each other...

0:19:25 > 0:19:28- ..and the differences between them.

0:19:35 > 0:19:41- We've decided to dig a cross-section - through the whole thing...

0:19:41 > 0:19:44- ..to try and establish what it is.

0:19:44 > 0:19:49- Our biggest problem so far - is that we don't have a solid wall.

0:19:49 > 0:19:53- What you'd expect - is a collapsed wall.

0:19:53 > 0:19:56- Take away the stones - that have collapsed...

0:19:56 > 0:20:01- ..and you're left with a solid wall, - but that's not the case here.

0:20:01 > 0:20:03- Take a look at this.

0:20:03 > 0:20:07- In the cross-section...

0:20:07 > 0:20:11- ..you can see layers of sand, - the yellow stuff...

0:20:11 > 0:20:13- ..and beneath that...

0:20:13 > 0:20:15- ..we've found earth.

0:20:15 > 0:20:18- Probably what we have here...

0:20:19 > 0:20:23- ..is earth from a particular period - buried beneath sand...

0:20:23 > 0:20:27- ..that swept in centuries later.

0:20:27 > 0:20:29- That's quite visible here.

0:20:29 > 0:20:32- There's an opportunity...

0:20:32 > 0:20:36- ..to date the different layers - and make sense of them.

0:20:38 > 0:20:40- Often while excavating...

0:20:40 > 0:20:44- ..things can look - more complicated the deeper you dig.

0:20:44 > 0:20:49- That's what's happened in Rhys' - trench, but it's very interesting.

0:21:05 > 0:21:07- Sometimes during an excavation...

0:21:07 > 0:21:12- ..the archaeological work, - or the bigger picture, as it were...

0:21:12 > 0:21:15- ..reveals itself - and requires no explanation.

0:21:16 > 0:21:19- This cross-section is very striking.

0:21:19 > 0:21:22- What we can see - is the sand, of course...

0:21:22 > 0:21:25- ..which has been here - for centuries...

0:21:25 > 0:21:27- ..and then - we come down to the soil.

0:21:28 > 0:21:31- The soil - is probably from the Middle Ages.

0:21:31 > 0:21:35- But as I move further over here, - there's sand...

0:21:35 > 0:21:37- ..underneath the earth.

0:21:37 > 0:21:39- Sand, earth, sand.

0:21:40 > 0:21:44- It's obvious that an influx of sand - covered this agricultural land...

0:21:44 > 0:21:46- ..at least twice.

0:21:47 > 0:21:52- It's been proven archaeologically, - not just in historical documents.

0:21:52 > 0:21:56- What's great for us, of course, - is that there's charcoal...

0:21:57 > 0:22:01- ..a large chunk of it, - above the bottom layer of sand...

0:22:01 > 0:22:05- ..beneath the top layer of soil.

0:22:05 > 0:22:11- That gives us an idea of when the - sand and earth settled like this.

0:22:11 > 0:22:13- That's great news.

0:22:13 > 0:22:15- As we go right to the end...

0:22:15 > 0:22:20- ..we can see that the bank, the - dyke, probably from the Iron Age...

0:22:20 > 0:22:23- ..comes right up to the side here.

0:22:24 > 0:22:27- Earth, sand, earth.

0:22:27 > 0:22:31- This is marvellous. - I've never seen such a transection.

0:22:31 > 0:22:34- We're halfway through our week...

0:22:34 > 0:22:37- ..at this remarkable - excavation site.

0:22:38 > 0:22:42- We began by digging a trench - above what looked like a building...

0:22:42 > 0:22:45- ..and a circular structure - was revealed.

0:22:45 > 0:22:47- Is this the lost 15thC windmill...

0:22:47 > 0:22:50- ..that lends its name to the site?

0:22:50 > 0:22:52- We dug a second trench...

0:22:52 > 0:22:55- ..across ancient ditches - which enclose the site.

0:22:56 > 0:22:59- The team of volunteers - worked tirelessly...

0:23:00 > 0:23:04- ..removing metres of sand - until the digger took over.

0:23:04 > 0:23:08- We've opened the largest trench - of the series. It's enormous.

0:23:08 > 0:23:14- A clear picture is starting to - emerge of what happened to Kenfig.

0:23:14 > 0:23:16- Lastly, we opened the third trench.

0:23:17 > 0:23:20- The sand refuses to reveal - the site's secrets.

0:23:20 > 0:23:22- I've definitely - uncovered something...

0:23:23 > 0:23:26- ..but I can't offer - an explanation as yet.

0:23:26 > 0:23:29- We only have - another two days at this site...

0:23:30 > 0:23:33- ..before - refilling the trenches with sand.

0:23:33 > 0:23:35- But I know there's more to come.

0:23:35 > 0:23:39- A secret has been concealed here - for centuries.

0:23:39 > 0:23:41- I hope we can unlock it.

0:23:53 > 0:23:55- S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.