The construction of a natural gas pipeline across southern Wales and into Herefordshire and Gloucestershire between 2005 and 2007 resulted in numerous archaeological discoveries, including sites of national significance. The project not only produced a wealth of new archaeological sites, it also generated important radiocarbon and environmental datasets for the region. The earliest activity is indicated by worked flint of Mesolithic (or earlier) date, with the earliest Neolithic communities represented by pits, evidence for occasional timber houses, and the discovery of a previously unknown henge. Beaker and Bronze Age settlement and burial remains were found too, including a rare copper halberd. The excavations also produced evidence for Early Bronze Age houses and numerous examples of burnt mounds. Other discoveries comprised much new evidence for Iron Age settlement (including some in areas of upland), Roman roads, crop-processing ovens, and ironworking. Rare evidence for the early medieval period was also found, along with the remains of later farmsteads and field systems. Moves towards industrialisation were reflected in the discovery of a brick kiln and charcoal-burning platforms.
Timothy Darvill is Professor of Archaeology in the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology at Bournemouth University. He has excavated widely in England, Wales, Isle of Man, Germany, Russia, and Malta. His research interests focus on the Neolithic and Chalcolithic of Northwest Europe, and on archaeological resource management. He is currently Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cotswold Archaeology and regularly appears on television and radio talking about Stonehenge. Andrew David, BSc, PhD, FSA: for his doctoral work conducted excavations at Mesolithic sites on The Nab Head and at Daylight Rock, Caldey Island, as well as field reconnaissance in north Pembrokeshire, published in 2007. He worked for many years at the Ancient Monuments Laboratory, London, specialising in geophysical survey, retiring from English Heritage in 2011 as Head of Archaeological Science and Archaeological Archives. He has since returned to interests in early prehistory and lithic collections, mostly in Wales and Sussex. Seren is a Senior Lecturer in Public Archaeology and Archaeological Science at Manchester Metropolitan University. She is the PI on the AHRC-funded project TIME. She has period specialisms in European prehistory, with methodological specialisms in archaeological science and the history of archaeological thought. She is a 2020-2021 BBC/AHRC New Generation Thinker. She sits on the Highways England Scientific Committee Jon Hart is a Senior Publications Officer with Cotswold Archaeology. He studied Archaeology at the University of Durham and has worked in commercial archaeology since then, having directed numerous excavations and contributed to many reports. in addition, he has played a lead role in a number of outreach projects.
Title: Timeline. The Archaeology of the South Wales Gas Pipeline: Excavations between Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire and Tirley, Gloucestershire: 13 (Cotswold Archaeology Monograph)
Author: Rackham, James,James, Heather,Hart, Jonathan,Griffiths, Seren,David, Andrew,Darvill, Timothy
ISBN: 9780993454578
Binding:
Publisher: Cotswold Archaeological Trust Ltd
Publication Date: 2021-04-05
Number of Pages: 214
Weight: 0.8903 kg
...the volume highlights a well-organised project and offers valuable overviews of the archaeology of south Wales today. * Current Archaeology *
