Welcome to the Caer Alyn Archaeological and Heritage Project
SUMMER DIG 2010
Latest News from Caer Alyn
CAER ALYN ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROJECT - Wrexham
SUMMER DIG 2010
Book now for the 7th August – 21st August 2010
Join the Caer Alyn team in excavating a potential prehistoric enclosure at the southern entrance to the Bryn Alyn hillfort
In 2008, Dr Meggen Gondek, University of Chester, completed a geophysical survey of the interior of the hillfort and an area just outside the southern entrance to the Bryn Hill fort, the results of which indicated that there are possible features in both areas. The objective of the 2010 season is to determine the location, survival, condition, function and date of any structures in the southern enclosure of the hillfort. The results of this excavation will provide the project with new information of the site, building on our previous investigations into the landscape of Caer Alyn.
Summer Dig details
The summer dig is open to all, from university students, to individuals who wish to experience hands on archaeology in the field for the first time.
Course fees: £60.00 for two weeks
Deposit: £25.00
Camping is available on site. Cost £5.00 per night, breakfast extra. Full facilities are available at the site.
Summer dig training content:
The summer dig has been designed as an introduction to Excavation Techniques, Archaeological Planning, Context Recording, Photography, Finds Processing, Surveying Techniques and Geophysical Surveying.
The Caer Alyn Project will supply all tools and equipment, plus all onsite facilities during the course. Participants are to bring their own waterproofs; digging clothes, work boots. Participants will be fully insured during the Summer Dig.
Please follow links for registration document and for more information on the survey completed in 2008.
If you require further information please email:
Phil Cox – Project Archaeologist at fillcox@yahoo.co.uk
Click here to download file123Summer Dig Registration Document.doc
Click here to download file1Report on the Geophysical Survey at Bryn Alyn Fort 1.doc
Visit - THE AGE OF THE PRINCES - MEDIEVAL WALES BROUGHT TO LIFE. Click on Archaeology
CAER ALYN 2009
In 2010 Caer Alyn enters its seventh year of investigations and research into the archaeology and heritage of the landscape of northeast Wrexham.
The work of the volunteers during 2009 continued to open up new pages of Caer Alyn's history, from a small medieval industrial workshop and associated enclosure, located on the plateau above the River Alyn, to a possible prehistoric enclosure below the Bryn Alyn hillfort.
In 2009 the project was successful in obtaining Grundtvig funding to widen the scope of the project and to raise the profile of the local area across Europe. The project ‘I am your guide - History in your own Backyard’ will run for two years, and in association with Northern Marches Cymru will hold an International Seminar in Wrexham on local cultural heritage across Europe in February 2011.
2009 also saw two of our volunteers gain BA and MA degrees in archaeology and landscape history. We also have two other volunteers nearing the end of their archaeology degree courses in 2010 and 2011. This will ensure that professional standards will continue to be developed at Caer Alyn over the coming years. Combined with an experienced team of field archaeologists the project can now offer its services to other local communities wishing to develop their own projects.
One of the big successes of 2009 was the continued growth of our youth archaeology group, CAYA. During 2009 CAYA recruited new members that required more volunteers to be recruited to ensure the quality of programme was maintained. A huge thanks to Karen Morrell who has led the programme brilliantly over the last two years, ably assisted by Karen and Kirsty.
The work of Caer Alyn could not be achieved without the continued support of the landowners and commitment of our volunteers and the project thanks them, not only for their permission to explore and excavate their lands and their involvement in the running of the project, but also for their dedication to the cause.
During 2010 the project will concentrate its archaeological work in two areas. The search for the medieval St Leonard’s chapel and an in-depth survey, investigation and conservation of the hillfort and its environs. The hillfort's southern enclosure will also be our site for the summer training excavation in 2010. These excavations follow on from the geophysical surveys conducted by Dr Meggen Gondek of the University of Chester in 2008 and trial excavations by the volunteers in 2009.
During the next twelve months you will see changes to the project's website. We will be revamping the site navigation to include more information on the archaeology of Caer Alyn, Mapping, Finds,
CAYA and Community Heritage.
The project's second monograph 'The Archaeology of Caer Alyn' will be published during 2010.
However, this is your community heritage site, so any comments or things you would like to see included please email us at info@alynlodge.co.uk.
There are also other new initiatives in the pipeline for 2010. We will keep you informed of these during the year.
Don't forget if you wish to visit the site for a guided tour, book a talk on Caer Alyn for your society or to volunteer (free coffee and cake provided) please contact Phil Cox on 07947 768446.***
Annabelle Rogers, the project historian, as been successful in achieving her M.A. in Landscape History at the University of Chester. The project volunteers send her many congratulations on her success. Annabelle, a founder member of the project, has had a busy 2009, not only completing her postgraduate degree, but also writing the project's first publication - Caer Alyn - A Border Landscape. Well Done.
Take a walk on the banks of the River Alyn from Bradley to Llai, what we call today the Caer Alyn project area, and you will see few glimpses of its former glory. The signs of long ago activities are now silent and haunting.
“Hanes Yn Eich Gardd Gefn”
Ewch am dro ar hyd glannau’r Afon Alyn o Bradley i Llai, yr hyn yr ydym yn ei alw heddiw yn ardal prosiect Caer Alyn, ni welwch lawer o’i ogoniant gynt. Mae’r arwyddion o weithgareddau’r gorffennol pell erbyn hyn yn fud ac yn hiraethus.
Mae’r olwynion oedd yn gyrru peiriannau’r felin a nifer o’r adeiladau oedd yn storio’r peiriannau hynny wedi mynd. Mae’r bobl oedd yn byw ar lan yr afon a wnaeth adeiladu’r crugiau a’r fryngaer wedi mynd, yn ogystal â’r bobl wnaeth adeiladu Clawdd Watts a Chapel Sant Leonard, clirio’r coetir, byw yn yr ystâd wledig a gweithio yn y melinau.
O na fyddai’r dirwedd yn gallu siarad, am stori fyddai ganddo i’w adrodd; wel os edrychwch chi’n fanwl ar dirwedd Caer Alyn, fe all!
Am ragor o wybodaeth neu er mwyn cysylltu â’r prosiect, ewch at ein gwefan gynhwysfawr- www.caeralyn.org
The River Alyn has been the lifeblood of local communities over the millennia. Along its banks peoples from many ages have lived, worked and died. From its birth in the hills of North East Wales to its entry into the River Dee, the River Alyn has provided those communities with employment, transport, communications, food and defence. This area has long since reverted back to its natural being, a sleepy backwater, with only slight traces of human activity and occupation.
The Caer Alyn project started with just one test pit, as part of the Time Team Big Dig . Since then the Caer Alyn community project has gone from strength to strength, as you will see when viewing this website. This has been achieved by a group of fine people and organisations who have given complete support to the aims of the project.
The project has called on the many years of work by local people, who have given their time and knowledge freely to tell the story of the Caer Alyn. I hope that we can do them justice and that our work will provide new knowledge and understanding of the area, and provide local communities with the history of their own back yard.
