Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Ancient Cwmbran Society to celebrate new town's history



A charity is being launched to continue the work of one of Wales' largest community archaeology projects.

Founders of the Ancient Cwmbran Society in Torfaen say the recent Cistercians project only "scratched the surface" of the area's 3,500-year heritage.

Project leader Richard Davies says he wants to foster a greater sense of "pride, ownership and belonging" among residents of the post-war new town.

The group also aims to promote local history to attract tourists.

The society is being formed as a result of public interest in the Ancient Cwmbran and Cistercians Community Archaeology Project.

Cwmbran is mainly known for the post-war new town, but the area has been inhabited since Neolithic times.

The Iron Age Silures tribe later held sway before being subdued by the Romans, and the area was later on an important pilgrim's route, the Cistercian Way.

But the 18-month community archaeology project proved that Cwmbran had a history stretching back to the Bronze and Stone Ages.

Mr Davies said the study had been "hugely successful", resulting in hundreds of finds, including a Bronze Age wall system and a women's bracelet.

Source from : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-13502206

For more interesting topics related to archaeology, visit archaeology excavations.

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