Wales Reconstructing Landscapes

Beili Bedw, St Harmon, Radnorshire:
a Deserted Rural Settlement showing
in low winter sunlight.

Beili Bedw, St Harmon, Sir Faesyfed:
Anheddiad Gwledig Anghyfannedd
yng ngolau haul y gaeaf.

Ail-lunio Tirweddau
Mae henebion yn yr uwchdiroedd wedi ysbrydoli hynafiaethwyr ac archaeolegwyr ers cyfnod y Tuduriaid, ond ar y cyfan fe’u hastudiwyd ar eu pennau eu hunain neu fel cynrychiolwyr dosbarthiadau o safleoedd o gyfnod arbennig, megis bryngaerydd Oes yr Haearn. Dim ond yn ddiweddar y dechreuwyd rhoi olion diwylliannol yr uwchdiroedd yn eu cyd-destun ehangach fel rhan o dirweddau sydd wedi esblygu dros gyfnod o amser. Gwnaeth Cynllun yr Uwchdiroedd gyfraniad pwysig at hyn, drwy ddewis rhannau penodol o’r dirwedd a’u chwilio’n systematig. Darganfuwyd nifer syfrdanol o safleoedd archaeolegol newydd o ganlyniad. Mewn rhai ardaloedd, daethpwyd o hyd i un ar ddeg gwaith yn fwy o safleoedd hysbys. Yn dra annisgwyl, darganfuwyd olion llawer iawn o systemau caeau cynnar ac aneddiadau canoloesol ac ôlganoloesol tymhorol ar gryn uchder.


Reconstructing Landscapes
Monuments in the uplands have inspired antiquaries and archaeologists since Tudor times, but generally they have been studied in isolation or as representatives of classes of sites of a particular period such as Iron Age hillforts. It is only recently that cultural remains in these areas have been viewed in broader terms as part of landscapes that have evolved over time. The Uplands Initiative has contributed significantly to this approach, requiring systematic searching of specified blocks of landscape. The number of new archaeological sites found has been startling. In some areas the increase in known sites has been eleven-fold. The extensive remains of early field systems and seasonal medieval and post-medieval settlement at high altitude have been unexpected discoveries.

Ysgir Fawr, Mynydd Epynt, Brecknock:
post-medieval longhouses and fields by an uplands watercourse.

Ysgir Fawr, Mynydd Epynt, Brycheiniog:
tai hir a chaeau ôlganoloesol ger cwrs dŵr heldirol.

Related Links:Menter Archaeoleg yr Uwchdiroedd

Uplands Archaeology Initiative