Welcome

Welcome to the new website of Black Mountains Archaeology Ltd / Archaeoleg Mynydd Du Cyf. We are offering a wide range of archaeological services so please do get in touch if you need an archaeologist or just want some advice.

The company was set up by Richard Lewis in 2017 in the lovely setting of the Brecon Beacons National Park and the Blaenavon UNESCO World Heritage Site. Looking for a new challenge Richard decided to form the company after many years working in the industry.

What’s in a name? The company is named for the archaeologically rich Eastern Black Mountains, part of the beautiful Brecon Beacons upland massif.  The sharp eyed will have noticed the Welsh translation of Black Mountains Archaeology is not literal in a modern sense.

Modern translations such as Y Mynyddoedd Duon have no historical basis so we opted to refer to the more traditional name for the area. As early as the 13th century the Brecon Beacons were known as ymynydd du and by the 15th century Blak Montayne and Y Mynydh duy. By the time of the 16th and 17th centuries the area was known as Black-mountaine and Mynyd Du; and later in the Victorian period the Black Mountains of Talgarth and Y Mynydd Du (Owen & Morgan 2007, p33-34).

Thanks for reading!

Reference

Owen, H W, and Morgan, R, 2007, Dictionary of the Place-Names of Wales. Gomer Press, Ceredigion.