Author Archives: ollydavis

  The thing about this Cardiff gem is the fact it’s so well hidden. Standing at the bottom of a hill on a chilly December day there was little to indicate the presence of one of the largest, best- preserved hill-forts in South Wales. Yet, it’s there and well worth a visit. As one memberContinue reading “Ely’s best kept secret – India Grant”

I have volunteered with the CAER Heritage Project since 2013.  Initially, my intention was to just ‘dip my toe’ into their local adult education archaeology courses, but I was immediately hooked.  I had been interested in archaeology from the comfort of my own home for far too long, and it was time for me toContinue reading “Helen’s CAER journey”

A blog by Exploring the Past student and volunteer Midnight On Monday 6th July I returned to the archaeological dig at Caerau Hillfort for the third year in a row. Together with my trusty support worker, and with trowel in hand, I was rearing to go. Unlike previous years where the weather has been bakingContinue reading “The Caerau Hillfort Dig 2015”

Here’s your chance to flex your archaeological muscles! Take a look at the amazing results from the latest geophysical survey inside and around the Caerau Ringwork by the CAER team and local volunteers and let us know what you think you can see. How to Enter? It’s easy! Take a good look at the twoContinue reading “The BIG CAER Geophysics competition!”

Have you ever thought about building a house…not just any house…but an Iron Age roundhouse!? The thought never came to my mind, until I saw a poster next to Dr Olly Davis’s office at the University. St Fagans National History Museum needed the assistance of CAER Heritage Project volunteers to help out and test ourContinue reading “Raising the Roof: How to Build a Roundhouse”

Read on for a fantastic new blog about a project to link the sites of Caerau, Cardiff and Wincobank, Sheffield… As Friends of Wincobank Hill we were intrigued by the On Shared Ground initiative. We knew that very few hillforts have survived in urban areas for obvious reasons and felt a link with the similarlyContinue reading “A visit to Caerau – On Shared Ground – 16th-19th July 2014”

The Case of the Missing Mountain: CHP Historian Mel Julian-Jones continues her search for the origins of Caerau… Now armed with the knowledge that we might have a different name to search for – Cairdwygil, and variant spellings thereof – the search for Caerau continues through the Middle Ages. Now we hit some real problems.Continue reading “Finding Caerau – Part Two”

Ever wondered how Caerau got its name? CHP Historian Mel Julian-Jones explores some possibilities, with remarkable results… As a Medievalist specialising in the thirteenth century, I was very excited to be asked to research the medieval life of Caerau for the CAER Heritage Project. The gaps in the documents for Caerau have long been remarkedContinue reading “Finding Caerau – Part One”

Read on for a great blog by Keith – a volunteer adult learner on Cardiff University’s Exploring the Past Pathway… My week at Caerau Hillfort has come to an end. As one of the volunteer students from Exploring the Past from Cardiff University I have experienced the life of an archaeologist for a few days.Continue reading “Digging Caerau – Keith’s Blog”

As one of the Finds Officers on this years CAER Heritage Project excavation I am fortunate to be one of the first people to come face to face with material not otherwise seen for thousands of years. A highlight for me, so far, was the opportunity to open a possible Roman Lead Curse Tablet. CurseContinue reading “Unravelling the Past (one scroll at a time) – New blog by Sara Brown”