Lledrod, Ceredigion Olion: Palu am Hanes
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-Subtitles | 0:00:00 | 0:00:00 | |
-Subtitles - -Subtitles | 0:00:00 | 0:00:02 | |
-My name's Dr Iestyn Jones. Some -of you might know me as an actor. | 0:00:06 | 0:00:10 | |
-I'm passionate -about archaeology and history... | 0:00:10 | 0:00:14 | |
-..which has led me -to obtain a doctorate in the field. | 0:00:14 | 0:00:17 | |
-For more than 10 years, I've worked -as a professional archaeologist. | 0:00:18 | 0:00:22 | |
-Throughout this series, I'll visit -sites up and down the country... | 0:00:22 | 0:00:27 | |
-..that have never been excavated -before to uncover Wales' history. | 0:00:27 | 0:00:32 | |
-This week, -we're in Lledrod, Ceredigion. | 0:00:45 | 0:00:48 | |
-There's an abundance of roads -in this area. | 0:00:48 | 0:00:51 | |
-Talsarn, Bwlch y Sarnau... | 0:00:51 | 0:00:54 | |
-..Sarnau Mawr. | 0:00:55 | 0:00:57 | |
-But we'll be searching for a road -that's even older than those. | 0:00:57 | 0:01:02 | |
-Sarn Helen. | 0:01:02 | 0:01:05 | |
-It was a road which connected North -and South Wales in the Roman era. | 0:01:06 | 0:01:10 | |
-Near the east coast of Wales, -some 10 miles below Aberystwyth... | 0:01:14 | 0:01:18 | |
-..is the village of Lledrod. | 0:01:18 | 0:01:20 | |
-Amid the beauty -of the Ceredigion countryside... | 0:01:21 | 0:01:24 | |
-..is a wealth of history -spanning many centuries. | 0:01:24 | 0:01:27 | |
-Somewhere beneath these fields -is a Roman road... | 0:01:31 | 0:01:35 | |
-..which was built -70 years after Christ's birth... | 0:01:35 | 0:01:38 | |
-..almost 2,000 years ago. | 0:01:39 | 0:01:41 | |
-I don't know how -such an important road has vanished. | 0:01:41 | 0:01:44 | |
-But we intend to find out. | 0:01:45 | 0:01:47 | |
-This is -the first quandary of the day. | 0:01:53 | 0:01:56 | |
-Where are we? | 0:01:56 | 0:01:58 | |
-Lledrod in north Ceredigion, -searching for Sarn Helen... | 0:01:58 | 0:02:02 | |
-..a Roman road which ran all -the way from Llanio to Trawscoed... | 0:02:02 | 0:02:07 | |
-..in this part of the world. | 0:02:07 | 0:02:09 | |
-We've an aerial photograph taken -by the Royal Commission in 2006... | 0:02:09 | 0:02:15 | |
-..as well as an old map... | 0:02:15 | 0:02:17 | |
-..clearly identifying Sarn Elen. | 0:02:18 | 0:02:21 | |
-But we need to -pinpoint it accurately. | 0:02:21 | 0:02:25 | |
-We think we know where it is. -Let's find out. | 0:02:25 | 0:02:28 | |
-To the south -is the fort of Bremia... | 0:02:29 | 0:02:32 | |
-..home to a legion -of Spanish soldiers. | 0:02:32 | 0:02:36 | |
-To the north of our site -is the fort of Trawscoed... | 0:02:36 | 0:02:40 | |
-..where 800 soldiers were based. | 0:02:40 | 0:02:42 | |
-It was discovered in 1959. | 0:02:42 | 0:02:44 | |
-Our excavation site -stands in the middle. | 0:02:44 | 0:02:47 | |
-This story is very personal to me. | 0:02:48 | 0:02:53 | |
-During my childhood -I used to play in Trawscoed... | 0:02:53 | 0:02:57 | |
-..which is a few miles -in that direction. | 0:02:57 | 0:03:00 | |
-My mother used to work for -the Ministry of Agriculture. | 0:03:00 | 0:03:04 | |
-In the summer, -when the place was empty... | 0:03:04 | 0:03:07 | |
-..we children wandered around -and played in the forest... | 0:03:07 | 0:03:12 | |
-..or played tennis. | 0:03:12 | 0:03:14 | |
-Back then, I didn't know there was -a Roman fort beneath my feet. | 0:03:14 | 0:03:18 | |
-It was something -I learnt later in life. | 0:03:19 | 0:03:22 | |
-The fort -has already been excavated... | 0:03:22 | 0:03:24 | |
-..and more information -has been gleaned. | 0:03:25 | 0:03:27 | |
-I was brought up in a village -called Llanfihangel y Creuddyn... | 0:03:28 | 0:03:32 | |
-..where the name Sarnau... | 0:03:32 | 0:03:34 | |
-..is derived from Sarn Helen... | 0:03:35 | 0:03:37 | |
-..the road which leads -from one fort to the other. | 0:03:37 | 0:03:41 | |
-Archaeologists don't know exactly -where Sarn Helen lies in this area. | 0:03:42 | 0:03:47 | |
-There are several possible sites... | 0:03:48 | 0:03:50 | |
-..though no-one can agree -on a specific location. | 0:03:51 | 0:03:54 | |
-I'm trying to get a head start -on the excavation work... | 0:03:56 | 0:04:00 | |
-..by scanning the site -with a metal detector... | 0:04:00 | 0:04:04 | |
-..to see -if there's anything of interest. | 0:04:05 | 0:04:08 | |
-The machine itself might displace -something and then we'd lose it. | 0:04:08 | 0:04:13 | |
-If we find something, we can -mark its location, just in case. | 0:04:13 | 0:04:17 | |
-OK, you'll have to start again now. | 0:04:22 | 0:04:25 | |
-I have to make it fun -at the same time. | 0:04:26 | 0:04:29 | |
-That's enough playing around, -it's time to dig the first trench. | 0:04:29 | 0:04:34 | |
-Our experienced team includes Jerry -Bond and Erika Guttmann-Bond... | 0:04:34 | 0:04:39 | |
-..who will assist me -during the excavation. | 0:04:39 | 0:04:42 | |
-The first trench will be dug where -a dry patch of grass appeared... | 0:04:42 | 0:04:46 | |
-..in the aerial photograph -taken in the summer of 2006. | 0:04:46 | 0:04:50 | |
-Summer - -you know, that long, dry spell. | 0:04:50 | 0:04:52 | |
-The complete opposite -of today's weather... | 0:04:53 | 0:04:56 | |
-..but never mind, -I'm enjoying myself. | 0:04:56 | 0:04:59 | |
-We've just started -excavating the site. | 0:05:13 | 0:05:16 | |
-There's a big difference already, -which is very encouraging. | 0:05:16 | 0:05:21 | |
-This is solid -and contains lots of stones. | 0:05:21 | 0:05:24 | |
-It's obviously grit -that's been put there for a purpose. | 0:05:24 | 0:05:28 | |
-I can't judge this by itself. | 0:05:28 | 0:05:30 | |
-I'd have to see what's on -the other side of the trench. | 0:05:30 | 0:05:34 | |
-There's clay over here, -and in this cross-section... | 0:05:34 | 0:05:38 | |
-..there are no stones at all -in these layers. | 0:05:39 | 0:05:42 | |
-There's a marked difference -between what's here... | 0:05:42 | 0:05:46 | |
-..and this portion here, -which is hopefully the road. | 0:05:46 | 0:05:49 | |
-While the excavation continues... | 0:05:50 | 0:05:53 | |
-..come and join me -in the Land Rover. | 0:05:53 | 0:05:56 | |
-This is the way -the Romans built roads. | 0:05:57 | 0:06:00 | |
-There wasn't one specific way... | 0:06:01 | 0:06:03 | |
-..but people think there was. | 0:06:03 | 0:06:05 | |
-It's believed that they had -two ditches like that... | 0:06:05 | 0:06:10 | |
-..and some sort of elevation... | 0:06:10 | 0:06:13 | |
-..and the soil on the other side. | 0:06:13 | 0:06:16 | |
-The soil goes on the top. | 0:06:16 | 0:06:18 | |
-Large stones go here... | 0:06:18 | 0:06:21 | |
-..and sometimes -there's gravel on top of it. | 0:06:21 | 0:06:24 | |
-It's compressed like that. | 0:06:25 | 0:06:27 | |
-The purpose of the ditches either -side was to hold the rainwater... | 0:06:27 | 0:06:32 | |
-..so that it wouldn't freeze -and degrade the surface of the road. | 0:06:32 | 0:06:37 | |
-Of course, they had other ways -of building roads elsewhere. | 0:06:38 | 0:06:43 | |
-In Italy, they used large stones -that were more or less slabs. | 0:06:43 | 0:06:49 | |
-They create a dramatic entrance -into a city or town. | 0:06:49 | 0:06:54 | |
-Here in Wales... | 0:06:54 | 0:06:56 | |
-..we wouldn't expect to see -such roads in mountainous areas. | 0:06:57 | 0:07:01 | |
-We'd expect something -resembling this apple tart. | 0:07:01 | 0:07:04 | |
-Layers of stones, -stone on the bottom, gravel... | 0:07:04 | 0:07:07 | |
-..and large stones on the surface. | 0:07:08 | 0:07:11 | |
-I'd like to find -a ditch somewhere here... | 0:07:11 | 0:07:14 | |
-..because we could -remove the earth... | 0:07:14 | 0:07:17 | |
-..and find stuff we can date. | 0:07:17 | 0:07:19 | |
-Another thing worth noting -is that the Romans... | 0:07:22 | 0:07:25 | |
-..buried the dead at the roadside, -but usually it was next to a fort. | 0:07:26 | 0:07:30 | |
-I'm not expecting to find -a skeleton in the countryside. | 0:07:31 | 0:07:34 | |
-But you never know! | 0:07:35 | 0:07:37 | |
-Despite the rain, -this trench looks very promising... | 0:07:37 | 0:07:41 | |
-..though things -are unclear at the moment. | 0:07:41 | 0:07:44 | |
-We've extended -this side of the trench... | 0:07:44 | 0:07:47 | |
-..because it's hard to tell -what's been happening. | 0:07:48 | 0:07:51 | |
-There are different layers -in the clay. | 0:07:51 | 0:07:54 | |
-You can see that -from the area Erika's transected. | 0:07:54 | 0:07:58 | |
-By extending it, we can see -the layers are the same... | 0:07:58 | 0:08:02 | |
-..as if we're looking at a plan -rather than a cross-section. | 0:08:02 | 0:08:06 | |
-We'd expect to see a ditch -on this side of a Roman road. | 0:08:06 | 0:08:10 | |
-There's no sign of one as yet... | 0:08:10 | 0:08:12 | |
-..but we'll have a -better understanding of the geology. | 0:08:12 | 0:08:17 | |
-We're going to extend the entire -trench, lengthways and widthways. | 0:08:17 | 0:08:22 | |
-Off we go then. | 0:08:23 | 0:08:25 | |
-While Colin widens the trench, -we'd better get out of the way. | 0:08:27 | 0:08:31 | |
-While earth's being moved, it's -discussion time for archaeologists. | 0:08:31 | 0:08:36 | |
-There are a number of reasons -for extending the trench. | 0:08:36 | 0:08:40 | |
-A wider trench -makes working within it easier. | 0:08:40 | 0:08:44 | |
-It can also provide us with -a more comprehensive cross-section. | 0:08:44 | 0:08:48 | |
-At the moment, the compressed stones -suggest a road's surface. | 0:08:48 | 0:08:52 | |
-Though there are no obvious gutters -to be seen on either side... | 0:08:52 | 0:08:57 | |
-..the surrounding land -is very absorbent... | 0:08:57 | 0:09:01 | |
-..which suggests gutters weren't -always required in the uplands. | 0:09:01 | 0:09:06 | |
-In the meantime, -we've erected measuring poles... | 0:09:06 | 0:09:10 | |
-..following the direction -of the road. | 0:09:10 | 0:09:13 | |
-I intend excavating a second trench -on the other side of the field... | 0:09:13 | 0:09:18 | |
-..to see if the road continues. | 0:09:18 | 0:09:20 | |
-It will be excavated here... | 0:09:21 | 0:09:23 | |
-..to the south -of the first trench... | 0:09:23 | 0:09:25 | |
-..where there's -nothing obvious to see. | 0:09:26 | 0:09:29 | |
-We've just opened this trench. | 0:09:36 | 0:09:38 | |
-The geology is different in here. | 0:09:39 | 0:09:41 | |
-The clay that was obvious -in the other isn't as obvious here. | 0:09:41 | 0:09:45 | |
-It's lower down. | 0:09:46 | 0:09:48 | |
-This sandy grit, which lies -beneath the clay over there... | 0:09:48 | 0:09:52 | |
-..is higher up in this one, -so the geology's different. | 0:09:52 | 0:09:56 | |
-But you'd expect that because -it's at the bottom of a hill... | 0:09:57 | 0:10:00 | |
-..and the colluvium -would've washed down. | 0:10:01 | 0:10:03 | |
-Stones are beginning to appear... | 0:10:04 | 0:10:07 | |
-..in the soil further up here. | 0:10:08 | 0:10:10 | |
-That noise indicates -that there's something there. | 0:10:10 | 0:10:14 | |
-That's where -we'd expect the road to be. | 0:10:14 | 0:10:17 | |
-We'll find out shortly. | 0:10:17 | 0:10:19 | |
-The gravel is starting to emerge. -It looks promising. | 0:10:19 | 0:10:23 | |
-It looks promising to me, at least. | 0:10:23 | 0:10:26 | |
-After the break, -I promise to show you the way! | 0:10:26 | 0:10:29 | |
-. | 0:10:33 | 0:10:33 | |
-Subtitles | 0:10:35 | 0:10:35 | |
-Subtitles - -Subtitles | 0:10:35 | 0:10:37 | |
-Welcome back to Lledrod. | 0:10:37 | 0:10:40 | |
-As you can see, -the road is beginning to emerge. | 0:10:40 | 0:10:43 | |
-I've started to open another trench -at the other end of the field. | 0:10:44 | 0:10:48 | |
-At the moment, -the plan is to extend the trench. | 0:10:48 | 0:10:52 | |
-We've just cleaned this, and the -soil is a little darker this end... | 0:10:52 | 0:10:57 | |
-..than it is on the other. | 0:10:57 | 0:10:59 | |
-This might indicate a ditch, -usually found next to a Roman road. | 0:10:59 | 0:11:04 | |
-Or the geology -might be a little different. | 0:11:04 | 0:11:07 | |
-It needs explaining. | 0:11:07 | 0:11:09 | |
-Colin's going to remove -a bit more of the earth. | 0:11:10 | 0:11:14 | |
-Behind me is Amelia, who's scanning -the surface with a metal detector. | 0:11:14 | 0:11:19 | |
-Amelia excavated part of -the same road in Trawscoed... | 0:11:19 | 0:11:23 | |
-..near the Roman fort -a couple of miles in that direction. | 0:11:23 | 0:11:27 | |
-She found nails -on the surface of the road. | 0:11:27 | 0:11:31 | |
-They could be nails -from Roman shoes. | 0:11:31 | 0:11:34 | |
-Hobnails, which are frequent finds. | 0:11:34 | 0:11:37 | |
-She's doing a quick inspection -to see if there's anything here. | 0:11:37 | 0:11:42 | |
-While Amelia's -scanning the second trench... | 0:11:44 | 0:11:47 | |
-..I've come -a couple of miles south of the site. | 0:11:47 | 0:11:50 | |
-I'm here -at Llwyn Merch Gwilym Farm... | 0:11:53 | 0:11:56 | |
-..for the following reason. | 0:11:57 | 0:11:59 | |
-Sarn Helen nowadays -is as a modern, straight road... | 0:11:59 | 0:12:03 | |
-..with vehicles travelling on it... | 0:12:03 | 0:12:06 | |
-..ending in the corner -beyond the trees. | 0:12:06 | 0:12:09 | |
-But over here... | 0:12:09 | 0:12:12 | |
-..where our trenches are located... | 0:12:12 | 0:12:15 | |
-..Sarn Helen, -as we believe it to be, re-emerges. | 0:12:15 | 0:12:18 | |
-The quickest way of getting -from one place to the other... | 0:12:18 | 0:12:22 | |
-..is somewhere beneath my feet -and definitely in this field. | 0:12:23 | 0:12:27 | |
-We'd expect to find Sarn Helen -running through here. | 0:12:27 | 0:12:32 | |
-But for some reason, it doesn't. | 0:12:32 | 0:12:34 | |
-Why can it no longer be seen? | 0:12:34 | 0:12:38 | |
-From the air, -it's possible to see this road... | 0:12:38 | 0:12:41 | |
-..forming a straight line -through the countryside. | 0:12:41 | 0:12:45 | |
-As people move to the country, -modern roads have to adapt... | 0:12:45 | 0:12:49 | |
-..and deviate from time to time. | 0:12:49 | 0:12:51 | |
-As we reach where I'm standing now, -the modern road veers to the left... | 0:12:54 | 0:12:59 | |
-..towards the main road, but if we -follow the original road... | 0:12:59 | 0:13:04 | |
-..we'd reach our excavation site. | 0:13:04 | 0:13:06 | |
-Now that we've found a road -in our trenches... | 0:13:06 | 0:13:09 | |
-..it's very likely that we're -uncovering a part of Sarn Helen. | 0:13:10 | 0:13:14 | |
-I'd better get back to the site. | 0:13:16 | 0:13:18 | |
-I've not had a cuppa for half an -hour. I bet the biscuits have gone. | 0:13:18 | 0:13:23 | |
-While I've been down there... | 0:13:32 | 0:13:35 | |
-..Erika has been very busy -digging up this road... | 0:13:35 | 0:13:38 | |
-..that is incredibly hard. | 0:13:39 | 0:13:42 | |
-This shows -how the Romans built their roads. | 0:13:42 | 0:13:47 | |
-The layers are fairly clear. | 0:13:47 | 0:13:50 | |
-This is the earth that has -washed down over the centuries... | 0:13:52 | 0:13:56 | |
-..after the road was utilized. | 0:13:57 | 0:13:59 | |
-So this is the earth -and this here is a greyish layer. | 0:14:00 | 0:14:03 | |
-It's very, very hard. | 0:14:04 | 0:14:07 | |
-Interestingly, -beneath this hard layer... | 0:14:07 | 0:14:12 | |
-..are stones like this. | 0:14:12 | 0:14:14 | |
-These have -obviously come from a local quarry. | 0:14:16 | 0:14:20 | |
-It's hard to imagine people -transporting these from far away. | 0:14:20 | 0:14:25 | |
-Here they are. This is the type -of road we're dealing with. | 0:14:25 | 0:14:29 | |
-It's solid. | 0:14:29 | 0:14:31 | |
-It's remarkable to think that a road -built almost 2,000 years ago... | 0:14:31 | 0:14:36 | |
-..remains intact. | 0:14:36 | 0:14:38 | |
-I could almost drive a car -over the surface of it. | 0:14:39 | 0:14:42 | |
-It's testament -to the Romans' skill and expertise. | 0:14:42 | 0:14:46 | |
-I'm here at the second trench, -the road is over there. | 0:14:47 | 0:14:51 | |
-What we've been looking for... | 0:14:51 | 0:14:54 | |
-..in both trenches -is a ditch within a ditch. | 0:14:54 | 0:14:57 | |
-That's the road. | 0:14:57 | 0:14:59 | |
-Usually, there was a ditch -each side of the road... | 0:15:00 | 0:15:03 | |
-..to prevent water from settling -on the surface, causing it to erode. | 0:15:03 | 0:15:08 | |
-It's quite possible -that there's a ditch here. | 0:15:08 | 0:15:12 | |
-It requires careful inspection. | 0:15:12 | 0:15:15 | |
-There are differences -in the soil quality and its colour. | 0:15:15 | 0:15:19 | |
-It looks grey here, -indicating the surface of the road. | 0:15:19 | 0:15:22 | |
-It then turns into -a brownish colour... | 0:15:23 | 0:15:25 | |
-..and here, at the side. | 0:15:26 | 0:15:29 | |
-What I'm looking for -in the trench... | 0:15:29 | 0:15:33 | |
-..are small pieces of charcoal. | 0:15:33 | 0:15:36 | |
-One way of differentiating -between natural geology... | 0:15:36 | 0:15:40 | |
-..where there has been -no human intervention... | 0:15:40 | 0:15:43 | |
-..and geology where the earth -has been excavated and so on... | 0:15:44 | 0:15:48 | |
-..is small pieces of charcoal -that will help date this road. | 0:15:48 | 0:15:52 | |
-There's an obvious difference -between natural earth... | 0:15:52 | 0:15:56 | |
-..and farmed earth. | 0:15:57 | 0:15:59 | |
-It's possible -that there was a ditch here. | 0:15:59 | 0:16:02 | |
-There's only one way to find out. | 0:16:02 | 0:16:04 | |
-We'll take a cross-section of it... | 0:16:05 | 0:16:07 | |
-..and analyse a soil sample -so that we can date it. | 0:16:07 | 0:16:11 | |
-Why does the road exist here? | 0:16:11 | 0:16:14 | |
-It connected two Roman forts. | 0:16:15 | 0:16:18 | |
-But why did they exist? | 0:16:18 | 0:16:20 | |
-We might find a clue at a site -which predates Roman times. | 0:16:21 | 0:16:25 | |
-In a powerful stronghold overlooking -Lledrod in the Trawscoed Valley... | 0:16:25 | 0:16:30 | |
-..is the Gaer Fawr hill-fort. | 0:16:31 | 0:16:33 | |
-From the air, it's possible to see -the embankments and ditches... | 0:16:34 | 0:16:38 | |
-..which surround the hill-fort. | 0:16:39 | 0:16:41 | |
-They've been carved by hand -from solid stone. | 0:16:41 | 0:16:44 | |
-The size and scale of the site -is astounding. | 0:16:45 | 0:16:47 | |
-It would've dominated -the entire area during the Iron Age. | 0:16:48 | 0:16:52 | |
-This was the stronghold of the -Ordovices before the Roman invasion. | 0:16:52 | 0:16:56 | |
-Fierce battles -took place during this era. | 0:16:57 | 0:17:00 | |
-More than likely, Trawscoed -hill-fort was built nearby... | 0:17:00 | 0:17:03 | |
-..so that Roman soldiers -could control this area. | 0:17:04 | 0:17:07 | |
-They were merciless, and after -beating the Welsh into submission... | 0:17:07 | 0:17:12 | |
-..some of the natives -were forced into slavery. | 0:17:13 | 0:17:16 | |
-It's possible -that it was these Welsh slaves... | 0:17:16 | 0:17:19 | |
-..who built Sarn Helen... | 0:17:20 | 0:17:22 | |
-..under the strict supervision -of the Romans. | 0:17:22 | 0:17:25 | |
-While Debbie -was cleaning the road... | 0:17:29 | 0:17:32 | |
-..she found a small piece of metal. | 0:17:32 | 0:17:35 | |
-It's rounded and very small. | 0:17:35 | 0:17:38 | |
-It looks -as though it could be a nail... | 0:17:39 | 0:17:44 | |
-..that has broken. | 0:17:44 | 0:17:46 | |
-In the past, hobnails -from Roman shoes have been found. | 0:17:46 | 0:17:52 | |
-They sometimes became slack -and fell on the ground. | 0:17:52 | 0:17:57 | |
-It's possible that's what it is. | 0:17:57 | 0:18:00 | |
-An expert will have to -verify it, of course... | 0:18:00 | 0:18:04 | |
-..as with all things like this... | 0:18:04 | 0:18:07 | |
-..but well done. | 0:18:07 | 0:18:09 | |
-It's the first thing we've uncovered -from this trench. Brilliant. | 0:18:09 | 0:18:14 | |
-Part of a nail -from a Roman's shoe... | 0:18:14 | 0:18:17 | |
-..that hasn't seen daylight -for 2,000 years. | 0:18:18 | 0:18:20 | |
-This will be recorded while we -carry on with the excavation work. | 0:18:21 | 0:18:25 | |
-Here we are again. -The weather is horrendous. | 0:18:26 | 0:18:29 | |
-The wind and rain -make it all incredibly miserable. | 0:18:29 | 0:18:34 | |
-Archaeologists -don't do it for the weather. | 0:18:34 | 0:18:38 | |
-We certainly don't do it -for the money. | 0:18:38 | 0:18:41 | |
-You certainly -have to be a bit mad to do it. | 0:18:41 | 0:18:44 | |
-But the forecast -is better for this afternoon. | 0:18:46 | 0:18:49 | |
-I hope so! This rain is unforgiving. | 0:18:49 | 0:18:52 | |
-At the other end of the trench, -the team has to clear the rainwater. | 0:18:52 | 0:18:57 | |
-At least it proves -that the road's surface works. | 0:18:57 | 0:19:01 | |
-Thank you very much! | 0:19:01 | 0:19:03 | |
-I'll move to the second trench, -where I'll be left in peace. | 0:19:03 | 0:19:07 | |
-Trench number two. | 0:19:13 | 0:19:15 | |
-The weather -is the same as it was up there. | 0:19:15 | 0:19:18 | |
-Wind and rain, but there's -more shelter the deeper down I go. | 0:19:19 | 0:19:23 | |
-The lower, the better -until I'm almost lying down... | 0:19:23 | 0:19:27 | |
-..and then I'll hide -for the rest of the day. | 0:19:27 | 0:19:30 | |
-Maybe not. | 0:19:30 | 0:19:32 | |
-I've found -the side of the road here. | 0:19:32 | 0:19:35 | |
-There's a large stone at the side -similar to a revetment stone... | 0:19:35 | 0:19:40 | |
-..to protect the road. | 0:19:40 | 0:19:42 | |
-I'm hoping to find -the side of the ditch... | 0:19:42 | 0:19:45 | |
-..which comes down here -and up that side. | 0:19:45 | 0:19:49 | |
-I'll see it -in the transection of this trench. | 0:19:49 | 0:19:55 | |
-It'll become clearer -once I tidy this area. | 0:19:55 | 0:19:58 | |
-With just one afternoon left, -the first trench looks amazing. | 0:19:58 | 0:20:03 | |
-Up here we see the clay rising... | 0:20:03 | 0:20:07 | |
-..and suddenly there's a change -in the colour and level. | 0:20:07 | 0:20:11 | |
-This is where the road begins. | 0:20:11 | 0:20:13 | |
-Here are the large stones -at the side of the road. | 0:20:13 | 0:20:18 | |
-We've graded it in steps -to make it more noticeable... | 0:20:19 | 0:20:22 | |
-..so we can get a clear picture -of the transection... | 0:20:22 | 0:20:26 | |
-..and the way -the level of the road... | 0:20:26 | 0:20:28 | |
-..rises and falls on the other side. | 0:20:29 | 0:20:33 | |
-It reveals itself now. | 0:20:33 | 0:20:36 | |
-It's clearly a Roman road. | 0:20:36 | 0:20:41 | |
-These three days have flown by. | 0:20:44 | 0:20:47 | |
-It's been a special experience -for me, despite the elements. | 0:20:47 | 0:20:51 | |
-Now the excavation work is over, -it's time to record the data. | 0:20:52 | 0:20:56 | |
-The location of the trenches, -every layer of earth... | 0:20:57 | 0:21:00 | |
-..and every piece of charcoal. | 0:21:00 | 0:21:03 | |
-From the aerial photograph, -we've managed to see and feel... | 0:21:03 | 0:21:07 | |
-..an important part -of this area's history. | 0:21:07 | 0:21:10 | |
-Before I leave, I visit -a field north of the site... | 0:21:10 | 0:21:14 | |
-..which overlooks -this picturesque valley. | 0:21:14 | 0:21:18 | |
-To the north -of our excavation site... | 0:21:22 | 0:21:27 | |
-..is this vantage point... | 0:21:27 | 0:21:29 | |
-..where it's possible -to see the Ystwyth Valley... | 0:21:29 | 0:21:33 | |
-..in the distance over there. | 0:21:33 | 0:21:36 | |
-Gaer Fawr, an Iron Age hill-fort... | 0:21:36 | 0:21:42 | |
-..is in -a prominent position over there. | 0:21:42 | 0:21:45 | |
-Our road would've stretched from -Llanio, a Roman fort and baths... | 0:21:45 | 0:21:50 | |
-..all the way through our trenches -across this hill... | 0:21:50 | 0:21:55 | |
-..past Gaer Fawr... | 0:21:55 | 0:21:58 | |
-..towards -the Roman fort of Trawscoed. | 0:21:58 | 0:22:02 | |
-The road would've connected -Llanio and Carmarthen... | 0:22:02 | 0:22:06 | |
-..to Caernarfon in the north... | 0:22:06 | 0:22:09 | |
-..straight through our trenches, -down through the valley... | 0:22:09 | 0:22:13 | |
-..and onwards towards North Wales. | 0:22:13 | 0:22:16 | |
-It's remarkable to think that men... | 0:22:16 | 0:22:19 | |
-..built a road connecting South and -North Wales such a long time ago. | 0:22:19 | 0:22:24 | |
-Large parts of this road -still remain intact. | 0:22:24 | 0:22:27 | |
-The next time you travel along -a long, straight road in Wales... | 0:22:27 | 0:22:31 | |
-..it might possibly be a Roman road. | 0:22:31 | 0:22:34 | |
-It's now time -to bury our trenches... | 0:22:35 | 0:22:37 | |
-..and shield this special part -of Sarn Helen from the elements. | 0:22:37 | 0:22:42 | |
-I'm not at all sad. | 0:22:42 | 0:22:44 | |
-One of the things -I wanted to do as a child... | 0:22:44 | 0:22:47 | |
-..was discover -a piece of Sarn Helen, a Roman road. | 0:22:48 | 0:22:53 | |
-I've had the opportunity to do that, -so I've realized a lifelong dream. | 0:22:53 | 0:22:58 | |
-But do you know what? | 0:22:58 | 0:23:00 | |
-I have lots of dreams... | 0:23:01 | 0:23:03 | |
-..and there are many other sites -I want to excavate too. | 0:23:03 | 0:23:07 | |
-Off I go. | 0:23:07 | 0:23:09 | |
-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf. | 0:23:36 | 0:23:38 | |
-. | 0:23:38 | 0:23:38 |