Aberdulais Falls, Neath

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Aberdulais Falls, Neath: archaeological watching brief

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Contents Page

Summary.............................................................................................................................2Acknowledgements.............................................................................................................2Copyright notice..................................................................................................................2

1.

Introduction........................................................................................................................3

1.1 Project background and commission............................................................................31.2 Location........................................................................................................................31.3 Geology........................................................................................................................31.4 Archaeological and historical interests........................................................................4

2.

Methodology.......................................................................................................................6

3.

Results.................................................................................................................................8

4.

Conclusions.......................................................................................................................13

Bibliography.....................................................................................................................14

Printed sources..................................................................................................................14

Appendix I.........................................................................................................................15

Inventory of contexts.........................................................................................................15

Appendix II.......................................................................................................................16

The Finds by Andy Sherman.............................................................................................16

Figures

Figure 1: Location of development area..................................................................................3

Figure 2: Plan of development area and archaeological interests.........................................7

Figure 3: Plan of Cellars A and B...........................................................................................10

Plates

Plate 1:View to northeast of Dan y Graig House..................................................................11

Plate 2: View to northeast of Cellar A....................................................................................11

Plate 3: Plan view of Cellar A.................................................................................................11

Plate 4: View to east of Cellar B..............................................................................................11

Plate 5: View to north of sandstone steps leading to Dulais House.....................................11

Plate 6: View to northeast of wall (106)..................................................................................12

Plate 7: View to south of possible threshold (111).................................................................12

Plate 8: View to northwest of barrel vaulted cellar (107).....................................................12

Aberdulais Falls, Neath: archaeological watching brief

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Summary

Yr Ymddiriedolaeth Genedlaethol/The National Trust commissioned the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust, Contracts Division, to maintain a watching brief during ground works for a new visitor centre at Aberdulais Falls, Neath. Three cellars (one complete with sandstonetile flooring) and foundation walls belonging to the former Dan Y Graig House, demolished during the 20th century, were revealed during excavations. A number of artefacts relating to19th century domestic activity were also recovered.

Acknowledgements

The author would like to acknowledge the following for their willing contributions to theproject; Sian Jones and John Latham of Yr Ymddiriedolaeth Genedlaethol/The National Trustand Brian Lake and staff of John Weaver Construction, the on-site contractors. Archaeologicaladvice was provided by Neil Maylan (Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust CuratorialDivision) the archaeological advisor to the local planning authority.The project was managed by Kate Howell BSc AIFA and the fieldwork was undertaken byRichard Lewis BA and Charina Jones BSc of the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust,Contracts Division. The finds were processed and identified by Andy Sherman BA. The reportand illustrations were prepared by Richard Lewis and Charina Jones.

Copyright notice

The copyright of this report is held by the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust Ltd, whichhas granted an exclusive licence to Yr Ymddiriedolaeth Genedlaethol/The National Trust andtheir agents to use and reproduce the material it contains. Plate 1 has been reproduced with thekind permission of Yr Ymddiriedolaeth Genedlaethol/The National Trust. Ordnance Surveymapping is reproduced under license AL10005976, annotations are GGAT copyright.