Cynffig, Rhan 2 Olion: Palu am Hanes


Cynffig, Rhan 2

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-My name is Dr Iestyn Jones. Some

-of you might know me as an actor.

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-I'm passionate

-about archaeology and history...

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-..which has led me

-to obtain a doctorate in the field.

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-For more than 10 years, I've worked

-as a professional archaeologist.

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-Throughout this series, I'll visit

-sites up and down the country...

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-..that have never been excavated

-before to uncover Wales' history.

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-Welcome back

-to Twmpath y Felin Wynt in Kenfig.

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-Despite our hard work, there's

-still lots to do. Come with me.

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-We're in Kenfig, situated halfway

-between Porthcawl and Swansea...

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-..at a site which is a mere's

-stone's throw away from the M4...

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-..and hiding among the sand dunes.

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-It is, in fact, beneath the dunes.

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-The area has been defined

-by its sand dunes...

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-..which swept in to destroy it

-centuries ago in a natural disaster.

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-A group of volunteers from Kenfig

-Archaeological Trust has joined us.

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-This is the largest excavation site

-of the series.

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-Three trenches are exposed

-on Twmpath y Felin Wynt.

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-Each one poses a unique challenge

-to our assigned teams.

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-Our biggest obstacle is the sand.

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-There are metres of sand hiding

-beneath a thin layer of topsoil.

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-After removing tonnes of sand

-mechanically and by hand...

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-..we came across

-the natural earth...

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-..that would've been the original

-surface before the sand swept in...

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-..and completely engulfed it

-for centuries.

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-We're midway through the week

-and everything's going very well.

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-We're able to see the bank

-very clearly in that trench there...

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-..where we've dug a transection.

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-The dyke is visible, which is great.

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-We need to remove much more

-to see the ditch too.

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-This trench was dug

-late yesterday afternoon.

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-It's slightly baffling but there are

-the remains of something there.

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-Over here, we're looking at...

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-..what might possibly be

-a windmill...

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-..since this site is called

-Twmpath y Felin Wynt (windmill).

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-There's still a lot of cleaning work

-to be done to verify its age.

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-The weather's on our side so far...

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-..but we still have an enormous

-amount of work on our hands.

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-Having spoken to a group of locals,

-who regularly visit the site...

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-..this area of land

-is called Twmpath y Felin Wynt...

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-..so its name

-certainly has a derivation.

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-It's an explanation

-for this circular building.

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-We've opened up more of the site...

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-..and this morning

-we've dug down to natural earth...

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-..which would've been

-the original floor beneath the sand.

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-The difficulty now...

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-..is to move even more

-in order to get a clearer view.

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-Many people

-come here on a daily basis.

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-Their point of reference

-is a picture...

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-..of the north-western portion

-of this site...

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-..in the direction of Margam.

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-A picture exists of a chapel

-in the surrounding woodland...

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-..next door to the abbey, featuring

-a wooden windmill in the background.

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-They claim the picture

-is from the 16th century.

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-It suggests that the stuff

-we've discovered so far...

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-..on top of the sand...

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-..is either rubble

-that has caved in...

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-..or something they've used to

-prop up or to reinforce a building.

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-I think we're closer

-to saying it's a windmill...

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-..without wishing to sound

-like I'm waffling.

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-According to some of the locals...

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-..it's also the site of the

-lost castle of Iestyn ap Gwrgant...

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-..the last ruler of Morgannwg.

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-But the geophys survey

-shows no indication of this.

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-The far end of the site

-still remains a mystery.

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-It shows signs of a fire

-or a collapsed wall.

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-Since we're inundated

-with volunteers...

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-..I'm going to let them dig their

-own trench under supervision...

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-..to try and find a missing part

-of their locality's history.

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-They must dig by hand

-to see how deep they need to go...

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-..before finding any stone.

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-In the meantime, I've been cleaning

-the newly-excavated trench.

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-It's proving interesting.

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-There might well be

-ancient remains here...

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-..that date back to the Iron Age,

-500 years before Christ.

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-Here we are in trench number one.

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-Rhys was working in here yesterday.

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-If you remember, we found traces of

-charcoal at the side of the trench.

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-We've extended out that way

-and this is clear to see now.

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-It doesn't look as if

-it spreads out. It's localised here.

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-It's possible

-that it might be a hearth.

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-It's certainly a place

-where burning has taken place.

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-We're unsure at the moment but it'll

-become clearer once it's cleaned.

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-Over here there are

-many slingshots to be seen.

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-Though it requires

-further excavation...

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-..these are very interesting.

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-Usually,

-they belong to the Iron Age.

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-They were thrown at people

-who tried to attack the site.

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-They're usually found

-near a ditch, a dyke or an entrance.

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-We're not very far

-from an entrance here.

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-The ditch would be

-the other side of the dyke.

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-This is very interesting.

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-It hasn't come

-as a complete surprise to me.

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-Looking at the aerial photograph

-taken in 1946...

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-..an outline of a defensive ditch

-surrounding the hill-fort...

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-..can be seen

-right where I'm standing.

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-This isn't

-the only hill-fort in the area.

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-Above the uplands in this area...

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-..and far from any modern roads

-is an incredible site...

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-..which hasn't changed in centuries.

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-We're here in the hill-fort,

-or enclosed site, of Ton-Mawr...

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-..high above our site in Kenfig.

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-It's very interesting because

-although it's a hill-fort...

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-..and possibly from the same era

-as Twmpath y Felin Wynt...

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-..there are corners

-to these ditches.

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-There's also an internal dyke

-and ditch within an external dyke.

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-Although we're

-in an elevated position here...

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-..it's a prominent site

-from the sky.

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-But it's not possible

-to see our site from here.

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-We have a lovely view of the sea

-beyond the Gower peninsula.

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-It's visible yet invisible.

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-It's concealed up here,

-which is quite remarkable.

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-I think I'd better get back

-to excavating Twmpath y Felin Wynt.

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-These uplands

-were home to the Siluries...

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-..for many years

-during the Iron Age.

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-They were also home to the Welsh

-until the Normans invaded.

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-Historical documents refer to them

-as the wild Welsh of the uplands.

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-From the air, we can see several

-examples of mighty strongholds.

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-To the north of this site

-is Blaen Y Cwm hill-fort.

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-Further up, Caer Y Bwlwarcau

-is still visible from the air.

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-Further to the south

-is Mynydd Y Castell hill-fort...

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-..dominating

-Margam Castle and Park.

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-Caer Hanner Lleuad

-is situated closely nearby.

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-To the northeast of our site

-is Pen Y Castell hill-fort.

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-Within a few square miles, there are

-seven powerful hill-forts...

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-..overlooking the lowlands.

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-It's a privilege excavating

-in one of these defensive ditches...

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-..surrounding our hill-fort.

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-We've dug down further and

-it's very dark on the bottom here.

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-The earth looks wet on either side.

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-This must be the ditch since there's

-a marked difference in colour.

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-As far as I know, there is

-no archaeological evidence...

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-..of sand sweeping into the area

-on more than one occasion...

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-..although historical sources

-suggest otherwise.

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-People have written

-about these events.

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-You can see

-from the cross-section...

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-..at the end of the ditch...

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-..that an influx of sand

-occurred at least twice.

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-It might've swept in

-later than the Iron Age...

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-..which would make it easier to see.

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-We know that

-people lived here in the Iron Age.

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-We also know

-there was a windmill here.

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-It'll become clearer later.

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-It's great that we're seeing

-a ditch here for the first time.

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-We'll have to remove this by hand

-with a shovel instead of a digger...

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-..or we might lose vital evidence,

-so we must be very careful.

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-While the team

-gets on with the digging...

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-..join us in Part 2

-to see the results.

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-.

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-Subtitles

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-We've reached the bottom, the floor,

-in this trench.

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-This is

-the natural earth, which is solid.

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-We failed

-to get our trowels through it.

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-We've found three sides...

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-..to this enormous hole

-in the shape of a circle.

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-It appears to be

-some kind of hole...

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-..for the construction

-of a windmill.

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-The next question is...

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-..how do you build a windmill

-in the 16th century?

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-But it looks like

-the men who worked on this...

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-..would've had to have gone through

-this natural earth, and it's solid.

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-Even with a mattock,

-all you're doing is creating dust.

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-Just imagine the work involved...

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-..in digging that hole.

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-It would've been hard graft.

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-In terms of its archaeology...

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-..when you hit the stone,

-you know you've reached the side.

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-We're fairly happy.

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-We've an enormous circle with walls

-carved into the original earth.

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-The best suggestion I can offer...

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-..is that these are

-the foundations for a windmill.

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-Thanks to Rhys and Jerry's effort..

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-..one section of the site

-is much clearer.

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-It might've resembled this -

-a windmill from the 15th century.

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-At the other end of the site,

-things aren't so clear.

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-The volunteers are searching for

-Iestyn ap Gwrgant's lost castle...

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-..which, according to one source,

-is somewhere here.

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-The sand

-is causing problems yet again.

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-Colin and his digger

-are drafted in to dig deeper.

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-It's possible to see

-the sheer depth of the sand here.

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-It obviously swept in

-over a long period of time...

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-..to bury whatever was here.

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-Meanwhile,

-I'm still in the Iron Age trench.

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-Keith has just cleaned

-the side of the ditch over here...

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-..to reveal

-an interesting transection.

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-But it's drying rapidly, so I'll

-quickly explain before it vanishes.

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-The vegetation is at the top,

-beneath which is sand.

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-It's more noticeable here.

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-This is sandy earth.

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-It's possible that this was

-the surface of the soil at one time.

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-It's fairly consistent

-along here...

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-..above the earth, which takes us

-back to a much earlier time.

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-But as we move across here...

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-..it's possible

-to see the level falling, rising...

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-..and falling again.

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-That could be

-because people ploughed the land.

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-Perhaps that's why we have

-this wave effect in the soil...

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-..as though someone

-was ploughing the land.

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-In 1993, archaeologists

-from the Kenfig Society...

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-..excavated a site in the sand dunes

-on the other side of the M4...

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-..close to the Norman castle.

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-They uncovered a sequence

-of lines in the earth...

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-..with a hollow either side.

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-The land had been ploughed...

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-..and showed the effects

-of the sand sweeping in.

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-These lines are 18 inches apart.

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-I've recently measured

-those from our site...

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-..and they too are 18 inches apart.

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-Did the same medieval farmer

-farm these two sites?

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-We've found evidence to suggest this

-site dates back to the Iron Age...

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-..or at least

-some time around that era.

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-Professor Ray Howell

-from South Wales University...

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-..who joined us at Llandre

-is back with us.

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-Everyone knows that Kenfig is

-associated with the Middle Ages...

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-..following excavations

-in the dunes.

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-Is it surprising

-to find something from the Iron Age?

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-Yes, it's both surprising

-and significant.

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-I think it was a great idea

-to come and dig here.

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-Throughout the day today...

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-..locals have flocked to the area.

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-Each one of them...

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-..knew this was a medieval site.

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-They remembered

-the Time Team excavating here...

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-..and finding medieval remains.

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-But to uncover something

-from the Iron Age is superb.

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-As you know, I have

-a great interest in the Iron Age.

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-In Wales,

-we certainly need to find out more.

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-Something like this is a big help.

-It's great.

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-You're an expert on the Siluries...

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-..and you've

-written a book about them.

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-Tell me briefly who they were...

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-..and if you believe this site

-was within Silurian territory.

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-The Siluries were an Iron Age

-tribe from southeast Wales.

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-They caused a lot of trouble

-for the Romans.

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-They fought for 25 years.

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-It was a turbulent time, wasn't it?

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-Yes.

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-We're not certain

-of the boundaries...

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-..but people say it was from

-the River Wye to the River Tawe...

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-..but I think it's safe to say...

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-..this site was within the Siluries'

-territory and was a Silurian site.

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-We must remember that while we're

-searching for historical proof...

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-..we're also excavating a site

-that was inhabited.

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-These were people's homes.

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-The Siluries

-were supporting their families...

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-..when the Romans reached

-what is now South Wales.

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-It was

-a ferocious period of history.

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-The slingshots found in this trench

-are testament to that era.

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-A few things have emerged

-while I've been designing.

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-It's often the case.

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-We sometimes take a closer look...

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-..at things that have

-never been studied before.

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-Having cleared away

-the sand for this stone...

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-..I've found a piece of wood

-that looks as if it's been burnt.

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-I can even see the woodgrain.

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-This is incredibly interesting.

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-This could be a piece of wood used

-to light a fire in the Iron Age...

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-..more than 2,000 years ago.

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-The next step is to carefully remove

-this piece of wood...

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-..seal it in a bag

-and make a record of it.

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-It will then be sent

-to the laboratory...

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-..where the men in white coats

-will date the wood...

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-..decipher the type of wood it is

-and when it would've been burnt.

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-At the other end

-of the same trench...

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-..Erika and Keith

-have unearthed a posthole.

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-Thick wood would've originally

-been placed in the hole...

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-..and filled with earth and stone...

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-..to create the foundations

-for a roundhouse...

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-..at the top of this hill-fort.

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-Every find must be recorded...

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-..as well as the changes

-in the earth's colour.

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-Believe it or not,

-there are dozens of browns!

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-Looking around me...

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-..excitement

-has taken hold of the place.

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-Families are interested

-in the site's archaeology.

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-When the sand swept in, the

-people who lived and farmed here...

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-..had to flee...

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-..and move away.

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-The sand has killed the site

-and killed the area.

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-It buried it for centuries.

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-At the furthest end of the site,

-the sand is too deep.

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-Excavation has to cease.

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-Our aim was to

-encourage the community...

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-..to come here to dig

-and discover the area's history...

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-..their area, of course.

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-What we've found

-is incredibly interesting.

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-The profile of this land

-is unnaturally steep.

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-It's too dangerous

-to dig further down.

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-Fragments of pottery have emerged.

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-Black pottery that

-may well come from the Iron Age.

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-One fragment looks Roman but we

-need an expert's opinion on that.

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-We've also found the bones

-of what might be pigs.

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-Something certainly went on here.

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-This is a much bigger project.

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-Further excavation

-is required in future.

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-The local community can see to that.

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-I hope you're not lazing about.

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-I hope you're not lazing about.

-

-I'm having a cuppa.

0:20:080:20:09

-The best way

-of getting to know someone...

0:20:100:20:13

-..is when you're

-digging in a trench together.

0:20:130:20:16

-We haven't had

-the opportunity to do that.

0:20:170:20:20

-I know Jerry well!

0:20:200:20:22

-We've both been working

-in different holes.

0:20:220:20:25

-How is everything going?

0:20:260:20:28

-What we have here

-are the foundations of a windmill...

0:20:280:20:33

-..if we accept

-that a windmill stood here.

0:20:330:20:36

-There are

-three points in the circle...

0:20:360:20:39

-..where they've cut into

-the natural land, and it's solid.

0:20:390:20:44

-So they dug a big circle

-and built inside it?

0:20:440:20:48

-Yes, I'd say so.

0:20:490:20:51

-We've run out of time yet again.

0:20:520:20:54

-I'd love to spend the next year

-excavating this site...

0:20:540:20:58

-..but it's not possible,

-unfortunately.

0:20:580:21:01

-It's hard to explain the enormity

-of the task we've faced...

0:21:020:21:06

-..but it's been a successful dig.

0:21:070:21:09

-Rhys worked non-stop

-in this trench...

0:21:090:21:12

-..where he uncovered the foundations

-of a windmill from the 16thC...

0:21:120:21:17

-..judging from the pottery fragments

-that were unearthed.

0:21:170:21:21

-In this enormous trench, I've never

-seen a transection of this kind.

0:21:220:21:27

-This clear picture is testament

-to this area's history...

0:21:280:21:31

-..as sand swept in

-to bury the land...

0:21:310:21:34

-..before crops

-could once again be cultivated here.

0:21:340:21:38

-But the sand returned

-to wipe out the community forever.

0:21:380:21:42

-The remains of a roundhouse

-were also found.

0:21:430:21:47

-A family's home

-from the end of the Iron Age.

0:21:470:21:50

-We're nearing the end of our time

-at Twmpath y Felin Wynt...

0:21:500:21:56

-..it's been a very interesting week.

0:21:560:21:59

-Seeing these trenches around me...

0:21:590:22:02

-..confirmed my suspicions

-about the site...

0:22:020:22:05

-..that this was once

-an Iron Age settlement.

0:22:060:22:09

-We can see that people lived here

-during that time.

0:22:090:22:14

-It's also interesting...

0:22:140:22:17

-..that the industry which defines

-this era, the iron itself...

0:22:170:22:21

-..is still associated with the area,

-though it's now turned to steel.

0:22:220:22:27

-We've travelled

-the length and breadth of Wales...

0:22:360:22:39

-..and been very fortunate

-to have excavated four sites...

0:22:400:22:43

-..that have

-never been excavated before.

0:22:440:22:47

-Each time a new

-archaeological trench is opened...

0:22:480:22:51

-..we gain a better understanding

-of our lost history.

0:22:520:22:55

-We found a Roman building

-on the banks of the River Conwy...

0:22:560:22:59

-..a hill-fort in Ceredigion

-and part of a Roman road in Lledrod.

0:23:000:23:03

-And here, beneath the sand...

0:23:040:23:06

-..we unearthed a hill-fort from

-the Iron Age and the Roman era...

0:23:070:23:11

-..and a windmill

-from the late Middle Ages.

0:23:110:23:14

-Sites like these

-exist all over Wales.

0:23:140:23:17

-Further excavations allow us

-to discover more information...

0:23:170:23:21

-..and the remains

-of Wales's history.

0:23:210:23:25

-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.

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