South East Wales

A pre-planning Desk-based Assessment was undertaken for Merthyr Tydfil Housing Association for a site located within both the Dowlais Historic Character Area (Merthyr Tydfil Registered Historic Landscape) and the Dowlais Conservation Area. Mitigation measures recommended in the Assessment were subsequently endorsed by the LPA.

An archaeological walkover survey was carried on land at Aberthaw Power Station to locate and secure previously recorded archaeological sites on a 1km strip of coastline prior to a programme of sea defence works. Five new sites were discovered, including the remains of a previously unrecorded boat.

A detailed, Level 3, buildings survey was carried out for Opus International of Tonyrefail Secondary School, a neo-Georgian inspired Grade II listed structure was built around two reflected squared blocks to help inform a programme of restoration and modernisation. during 1931-1933 under the of County Architect D Pugh Jones.

An archaeological evaluation was carried out at Ifton Manor Farm, Rogiet, on behalf of Liddell and Associates prior to development for residential housing. The work, which revealed Romano-British and medieval remains, helped to create a viable mitigation strategy.

A watching brief was undertaken by Archaeology Wales prior to the development of flood management systems near Risca, South Wales, in an area where important archaeological remains were known to exist. Close co-operation with the developer ensured that no significant deposits were removed during the works.

Discoveries dating from the mid Iron Age to the Roman period were uncovered over a period of ten months during excavations on a large site near Newport, Gwent. A team of up to twenty archaeologists uncovered part of a domestic settlement, comprising up to six round houses and associated boundary ditches, wells and burials. Additional

An ASIDOHL was undertaken to help inform planning decisions for a proposed development at King Street, Blaenavon. The study was required because of the location of the site within the Blaenavon Landscape of Outstanding Historic Interest and the Blaenavon World Heritage Site.

An assessment was undertaken to determine the archaeological potential of a plot of land near Nash, Newport, prior to potential redevelopment. Features such as ridge and furrow were identified, but the overall potential was deemed to be moderate.

A geophysical survey was undertaken as part of the investigation of a site at Croes y Ddadl, Mawdlam, Kenfig. The survey identified several curvilinear features, which were revealed by subsequent excavation to be a possible medieval / post-medieval windmill base.

Specialist examination of a ceramic items recovered from a site associated with Cyfarthfa ironworks identified sixteen fragments from a Bessemer converter and three from the nozzle system of a steel ladle. All the items derived from equipment installed during the 1878-1882 conversion of the works into a steelworks.