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Projects
Ancient Arts also undertakes and is involved with a series of archaeological projects.
NEW PROJECTS
Melin Llynnon Roundhouses
(As the project develops we will update this section with news and pictures!)

In Autumn 2005 Ancient Arts won the contract to undertake the Planning and Research for the Melin Llynnon Roundhouse project for Tref Alaw Community Council and funded by Cydcoed.

The aim of the project is to build a small prehistoric settlement within a new area of woodland on the Isle of Anglesey for educational & visitor uses.

The design of the structures has been based on archaeological evidence for prehistoric houses throughout the UK and at a number of reconstructed roundhouses that have been built in the last 30 years. From this & the role of the site once complete we have developed a site plan (see below).
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One of the completed roundhouse at Llynon.
Site plan
See the reconstructed artefacts
Meet the people behind Ancient Arts
Meet our happy customers
Planning permission has been granted and we were looking to appoint a team of builders with the necessary 'prehistoric' skills.
Be inspired!
One man & his dog!
On the ground a number of local schools have already planted much of the woodland surrounding the site & the large, defensive enclosure (see opposite) in which the settlement will be sited has been excavated.
Walking the defensive bank & ditch around the settlement site.
Interior of enclosure
The interior of the settlement enclosure, looking south towards the area of new woodland.
The postholes are excavated into which the upright posts are being placed using some modern muscle!.
The first roundhouse begins to take shape - with the inner ring of posts designed to support the roof and the outer forming the walls and further support.
Hazel wattling is added to the outer ring of posts - once covered in daub these will form the outer wall.
Rafters go on.
Rafters and purlins viewed from the inside of the houses.

By August thatching the roof using water reed has begun.

Doors are hung.
Both roundhouses completed with herb gardens.
HRH The Prince of Wales opens the Llynon project to much acclaim on June 7th 2007.
Prince Charles meets David Chapman of Ancient Arts inside one of the roundhouses.

Pentrwyn Bronze Age Metalworking Site, Great Orme (Just click on title to read the full report)

In 1997 David Chapman identified archaeological remains eroding out off a cliff on the Pentrwyn headland, Great Orme. These remains consisted of an apparent burnt layer and a 'v'-shaped feature, both exposed in section. Charcoal, shell and bone fragments were observed within these deposits, as were small fragments of copper slags. The potential of this site was raised by the near location of the prehistoric copper mines in the Pyllau valley on the Great Orme.

The remains were brought to the attention of the Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments who subsequently funded a partial excavation of the site. The excavation of the upper layers produced over one hundred fragments of copper slag, the highest proportion of which were associated with a small feature which has been dated to the fifteenth century BC, contemporary with the earlier periods of activity at the Pyllau valley site and making the Pentrwyn site the earliest known metal working site in Great Britain. Re-deposited slags were also found in higher layers which appear to be the remains of medieval (cal AD 1220) activity, which consisting of a pit containing burnt stones and food debris and an associated hearth.

Diggin' it!
Digging at the Pentrwyn site.
Please return soon to see more!
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