Call For Volunteers For Third Season Of Bryn Celli Ddu Landscape Excavation

An appeal is being made for volunteers to join archaeologists to excavate in the surrounding landscape of Bryn Celli Ddu passage tomb on Anglesey. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The team behind the dig — led by staff from the Welsh Government’s historic environment service, Cadw, University of Central Lancashire and Manchester Metropolitan University are calling on local volunteers to join the team for a two week excavation taking place this summer. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

During the dig, due to begin on 11 of June, archaeologists hope to find further evidence of a Late Neolithic / Bronze Age burial cairn located meters from the main Bryn Celli Ddu passage tomb. There will also be opportunities to explore the surrounding landscape, recording the eight new rock art panels found during the last two years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Dr Ffion Reynolds, from Cadw, said the dig would end on 24 of June and participants do not need any prior knowledge of archaeology to take part, just a curious mind. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

She said: “There’ll be opportunities for archaeological investigation, geophysical survey, field walking and we also need people to help record our new rock art panels.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The main passage tomb and cairn were built around 4,800 years ago, and the project is building up a picture of a complex landscape of activity, from burial locations to sites of pilgrimage. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Dr Seren Griffiths, from University of Central Lancashire, said “the nature of the monument and the rock art at Bryn Celli Ddu makes it internationally important.”
Members of the public will also get a chance to experience a real life dig and see the newly discovered secrets, when Bryn Celli Ddu plays host to an open day on Saturday 17 June, between 11am and 4pm. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To sign up to be a volunteer, get in touch with Dr Seren Griffiths from the University of Central Lancashire on SGriffiths7@uclan.ac.uk ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Public events:
The archaeological open day (17 June, 11am – 4pm) is free to attend, and no booking is required.
The stargazing event (16 June, 9.30pm) is £5 per ticket, places are limited. To book phone Dark Sky Wales on 07403 402114. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​