Black Mountains Archaeology - Archaeoleg Mynydd Du
Providing archaeological and aerial mapping services to the public and private sectors
Big Black Mountains Challenge 2020
CANCELLED
This year’s Big Black Mountains Challenge has been cancelled due to COVID-19. While extremely disappointed we totally understand. We have donated our entry fee to the Longtown Mountain Rescue Team who are all volunteers and hope that all who have sponsored us so far would consider doing the same.
Stay safe and well from us all at Black Mountains Archaeology.
We are raising money for the Longtown Mountain Rescue Team by attempting to complete the Big Black Mountains Challenge 2020 in May!! http://www.longtownmrt.org.uk/bbmc.html
The challenge is 45km taking in 15 summits over 660m around the breathtaking scenery of the Black Mountains. The event starts and finishes at Llanthony Priory located in the Honddu Valley in the Vale of Ewyas. There’s a new set of routes this year so we are preparing for the burn!!
Our team name is Fatty’s Leg (a nod to Twin Town) as we are sure that’s the state we will be in at the end! Our team members are Rich Lewis, Digger Lewis, Andy Lewis and Dave Barton.
Please help us support the great work of the Longtown Mountain Rescue Team! Longtown MRT provides an emergency rescue service for anyone who is lost or injured in the mountains, rural or urban environment for whatever reason. They are self funding and operate 24/7 in all weather conditions, staffed entirely by unpaid volunteers.
If you would like to donate then our Just Giving page is here https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/teamfattyslegdoesbbmc2020
Discovering the Archaeology of Gower
Saving Gower for all its Worth!
In the summer of 2018 Black Mountains Archaeology and ArchaeoDomus completed several very successful community archaeology projects at Rhossili, Gower. We were funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund’s (HLF) Gower Landscape Partnership Project. Working with the National Trust, Swansea Council, Swansea University, West Glamorgan Archives and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales we provided training and support in archaeological/historical research, historic building recording and archaeological excavation. We delivered a very successful ‘TimeTeam’ style archaeological excavation on the Warren Deserted Medieval Settlement together with palaeoenvironmental hand auguring of the Vile Medieval Field System with volunteers. One of the most exciting activities was the experimental archaeology project where a medieval corn drying kiln (oven) was built and fired by the volunteers.
Read all about the project here.
The Copperworks Discovery Project
We are very pleased to announce a programme of events and workshops for our new history and archaeology project at the world renowned Hafod-Morfa Copperworks, once the largest copperworks in the world.
We are looking for Volunteers to become a part of this exciting new project. No prior experience required, just come along and have fun!
Our programme of events is below and you can also get further information from the events calendar (scroll down the page to view calendar https://blackmountainsarchaeology.com/copperworks-discovery-project/).
PROGRAMME
Booking is essential, to book a place contact Richard Lewis on info@bmarchaeology.com.
Thursday, January 25, 7pm to 9pm – Final Launch Event – Speakers include Dr Tim Young on ‘Copper Smelting through the Ages’. Hafod Community Centre, Odo St, Swansea SA1 2LS.
Saturday 27th January, 9.30am to 1.30pm – How to be an armchair archaeologist! A workshop to teach research skills including map regression, LiDAR and Aerial Photography. Access to online archives, such as Archwilio and Coflein and using local and national libraries and archives. Swansea University, Vivian Tower, Singleton Park Campus, Sketty, Swansea SA2 8PP.
Saturday 3rd February, 9.30am to 1.30pm – How to be an armchair archaeologist! A workshop to teach research skills including map regression, LiDAR and Aerial Photography. Access to online archives, such as Archwilio and Coflein and using local and national libraries and archives (repeat event). Swansea University, Vivian Tower, Singleton Park Campus, Sketty, Swansea SA2 8PP.
Monday 5th February, 10am to 12pm – A fantastic opportunity to visit the West Glamorgan Archives and learn how to access the wealth of information this incredible archive holds. West Glamorgan Archive Service, Civic Centre, Oystermouth Road, Swansea SA1 3SN.
Tuesday 6th February, 5pm to 7pm – A fantastic opportunity to visit the West Glamorgan Archives and learn how to access the wealth of information this incredible archive holds (repeat event). West Glamorgan Archive Service, Civic Centre, Oystermouth Road, Swansea SA1 3SN.
Thursday 8th February, 6.30pm to 9.30pm – Introduction to Historic Buildings and Building Recording. Come along to this workshop to learn all about what makes historic buildings important and how to go about recording them. This session will provide the foundation for the building surveys programmed in for February and March at the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks. Hafod Community Centre, Odo St, Swansea SA1 2LS.
Saturday 10th February, 9.30am to 1.30pm – How to be an armchair archaeologist! A workshop to teach research skills including map regression, LiDAR and Aerial Photography. Access to online archives, such as Archwilio and Coflein and using local and national libraries and archives (recap session and repeat event). Swansea University, Vivian Tower, Singleton Park Campus, Sketty, Swansea SA2 8PP.
Saturday 17th February, 10am to 4pm – Historic Building Recording Practical. Fantastic opportunity to learn about historic building recording at the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks using various recording methodologies, including tape, total station and photogrammetry. Hafod-Morfa Copperworks, Plasmarl, Swansea SA1 2LE.
Saturday 24th February, 10am to 4pm – Historic Building Recording Practical. Fantastic opportunity to learn about historic building recording at the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks using various recording methodologies, including tape, total station and photogrammetry. Hafod-Morfa Copperworks, Plasmarl, Swansea SA1 2LE.
Saturday 3rd March, 10am to 4pm – Historic Building Recording Practical. Fantastic opportunity to learn about historic building recording at the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks using various recording methodologies, including tape, total station and photogrammetry. Hafod-Morfa Copperworks, Plasmarl, Swansea SA1 2LE.
Saturday 10th March, 9.30am to 1.30pm – Post Building Survey Workshop. Following the building recording practical workshops on-site at the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks this workshop introduces participants to the processing of survey data and presentation of the results in CAD (computer aided design). Swansea University, Vivian Tower, Singleton Park Campus, Sketty, Swansea SA2 8PP.
Saturday 17th March, 9.30am to 1.30pm – How to give an archaeological talk and public speaking for beginners. This workshop introduces the presentation programmes PowerPoint/Keynote and guidance is given on how to present archaeological themes and data recorded during the Copperworks Discovery Project in a talk. Guidance on public speaking will be given and while not for everyone participants will be encouraged to make and give their own presentations. Swansea University, Vivian Tower, Singleton Park Campus, Sketty, Swansea SA2 8PP.
Booking is essential, to book a place contact Richard Lewis on info@bmarchaeology.com.
The Copperworks Discovery Project
We are very pleased to announce that we will be delivering a new history and archaeology project at the world renowned Hafod-Morfa Copperworks, once the largest copperworks in the world.
We are looking for Volunteers to become a part of this exciting new project. No prior experience required, just come along and have fun!
In the New Year there will be opportunities to get involved with historical and archaeological research workshops to explore the copperwork’s past. Some of the themes we will be covering include the history of the copperworks and copper working, the historic environment sector in Wales and archaeological and historical investigative techniques.
To kick things off we will be holding two Launch Events at the Hafod Community Centre on the 18th and 25th January 2018, 6.30pm to 9.30pm. We have a number of leading experts speaking and everyone is welcome!
We will then be offering the history and archaeology workshops throughout January, February and March at Swansea University, West Glamorgan Archives, Hafod Community Centre and on-site at the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks.
For further information please download the flyer here Copperworks Discovery Project Flyer Welsh / Copperworks Discovery Project Flyer English or check back in here or on the Copperworks website (http://hafodmorfacopperworks.com/) for regular updates to the programme.
To register your interest and find out more please email Richard Lewis at info@bmarchaeology.com (please write The Copperworks Discovery Project in the subject field) or ring 07834 715033.
This project is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the City and County of Swansea as part of the wider regeneration at the Copperworks.
St Fagans National Museum of History Treasure Hunt
We were very pleased to help Torfaen County Borough Council with a staff team building day on Friday 6th October 2017 at the National Museum of History at St Fagans. We were asked if we would design a treasure hunt as one of the team building activities for the day. We had fun putting the treasure hunt together and made sure there were a few question to raise eyebrows and a few giggles! The 28 questions were challenging and fun but also educational.
If you would like help with a heritage based treasure hunt or want ideas for team building, community activities or events please drop us a line. We’re happy to help.
If you would like a copy of the St Fagans National Museum of History Treasure Hunt (and the answers of course!) then please drop us a line. Please let us know if its intended for children or adults.
Links:
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.
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