Just A Quick Note – 22/07/22
Just a Quick Note
22nd July 2022
The e-newsletter of the Twmbarlwm Society
CLICK HERE to download this newsletter as a PDF
Hello Folks
It’s been a few weeks since the last JQN and one reason for that is the fact we’ve been busy discussing the feasibility in continuing the archaeological investigation that we started last year. We had some interesting discoveries last year (from a technical archaeological point of view) that you can read about in the official report available on our website.
The information we gathered, convinced the archaeologists that Twmbarlwm remains an enigma that deserves further investigation and still holds answers to its origins and reveal how our ancestors lived and reacted with our landscape.
Therefore with the help and advice of Cadw we have made plans to continue the local community volunteer based archaeological investigation throughout August, under the supervision of CPAT (Clwyd and Powys Archaeological Trust).
URGENT CALL FOR ARCHAEOLOGY VOLUNTEERS
Monday 8th August to Friday 26th August 2022
CLICK HERE TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE WITH MORE INFORMATION
WHAT’S THE PLAN?
This year’s plan is to open three new trenches at various points around the enclosure to consolidate the findings from last year; and to perform a series of augered investigations into the perimeter of the motte itself with the cores being radio-carbon dated to help reveal its structure and age – depending on the results of the latter another trench may be opened at this location.
So you see there is a lot of work to be done and the Society needs to call upon its membership and associates to come and help with this unique opportunity to discover the secrets of Twmbarlwm and experience a real archaeological dig.
The project will start with a meeting of all prospective volunteers on Monday 8th August when there will be a catch-up on what was achieved last year and an overview of what we hope to achieve this year. The actual work on-site will be 5 days a week from 8th to the 26th August, 9 till 5, and the weekend of the 13th & 14th August.
VOLUNTEERS
We are looking for volunteers of any ability – experienced or not – training and advice will be given on any task assigned to you. We will require volunteers to commit to specific times and dates for working – which we will agree with you before the project starts.
On occasion, room for volunteers to work in a trench may be limited, but we will ensure everyone gets a fair opportunity to get involved – but there will always be a need for help carry equipment. If you wish, you can just be there to observe and chat with the archaeologists.
If you are interested and able to help out – please contact me in the first instance via email so we know what numbers to expect. Please supply your contact details – name, address, email, phone and/or mobile number, and a note of any experience you may have. Once you have registered your interest we will send you more information.
If you think you can help this project in any other way – have you any expertise to offer, equipment, funding, a 4×4 vehicle, local knowledge, links to other societies – please get in touch.
COMMUNITY
We also want to encourage the community to get involved in the project and we will welcome groups to come and visit the site to have a guided tour when a real archaeologist will answer your questions – most days there will be an archaeologist on site specifically to inform and interact with the public. If you have associations with a group you think may be interested please get in touch via email.
Visit our website https://www.twmbarlwm.co.uk and the archaeology blog to see reports and photos of what we did last year and since this project started in 2019.
The Last-Sunday-Of-The-Month Litter Pick will be –
Sunday 31st August 2022
Please make your own way there and we will meet you at the car park below the Twmp at 10:30 am.
We are usually there for a couple of hours and we collect litter from the area immediately around the car park and some of us walk around the wider area to check out fences, paths etc. and effect any repairs if we are able. Tools, Pickers, Bags and Gloves will be supplied.
This is also a great opportunity to meet other members and learn more about the area and the work that the Society gets involved with.
Please make your own way to the car park at the end of Mountain Road, below the Twmp. We will provide tea and bikkies to all helpers after the pick and there will be soft drinks on offer too – or bring your own picnic if you need to.
Don’t forget – if you are taking a walk up there any day of the week for exercise, why not think about taking a rubbish bag with you to collect any litter on your way – every little helps. If you do leave any filled bags in the corner of the car park, make sure to let us know so that we can inform the council to collect it.
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacon
Mountain Top Beacon to Celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II – organised jointly by Risca Town Council and Cymdeithas Twmbarlwm Society.
Thursday 2nd June 2022
In the last JQN we were just coming up to the Jubilee Celebrations and I’m glad to say our Beacon lighting event was great success. There’s a written report and a pile of photos on our website so please pop along there to have a look – click here.
Since then we were presented with a certificate from the Queen’s Pageantmaster to commemorate our involvement and we in turn presented the same certificate to our partners who helped us out on the day: Abercarn 1st Scouts, Risca Fire Service, Risca Branch of St John’s Ambulance and Risca Town Council – all of whom we give our sincere thanks. Risca Town Council also gave the Society a large donation in return for our assistance.
DO YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO BECOME A MEMBER?
We are always looking for new members to help us further the aims of the society which are “…to research, restore and protect Gwent’s most iconic landmark, Twmbarlwm” – and in particular we are looking for members who really want to get involved and help with our work – and to bring new ideas to the table.
The Twmbarlwm Society has existed for over 10 years and so far have achieved quite a lot on the mountain and we are recognised by local councils, Cadw and other official bodies as a major influencer in environmental, and historical issues of the area.
Next year promises to be another exciting year with CTS being heavily involved in major local projects and we need people with the skills to help move these project forward including:
- the on-going progress of the Archaeological Investigation of Twmbarlwm that we started earlier this year – this is a major project managed by CTS, funded by Cadw and implemented by Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust
- work on the Adventure Triangle Project has started as described above and more aspects that involve CTS will continue over the next year.
- and with the re-opening of the Cwmcarn Forest Drive last year, the Twmbarlwm Society will feature strongly in influencing how the tourist attraction will develop – together with Friends of Cwmcarn Forest Drive, CTS campaigned for the re-opening of the drive and will continue to be involved with the development of the drive.
More info available on our website.
Many Regards
TERRY EVANS
Chairman Cymdeithas Twmbarlwm Society
Address general queries to: twmbarlwmsociety@gmail.com
These details are posted on our website and on FaceBook – but if you know of anyone who is interested but don’t get their news through the internet – could you please let them have a copy of this message.
