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TORCOED/TORCOED FAWR QUARRY
CRWBIN CARMARTHENSHIRE
ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF
DECEMBER 2007
For
TARMAC LIMITED
CA PROJECT: 2455 CA REPORT: 07173
TORCOED/TORCOED FAWR QUARRY CRWBIN
CARMARTHENSHIRE
ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF
CA PROJECT: 2455 CA REPORT: 07173
prepared by Alistair Barber, Senior Project Officer
date 4 December 2007
checked by Cliff Bateman, Project Manager
date 13 December 2007
approved by Mark Collard, Head of Contracts
signed
date 14 December 2007
issue 01
This report is confidential to the client. Cotswold Archaeology accepts no responsibility or liability to any third party to whom this report, or any part of it, is made known. Any such party relies upon this report entirely
at their own risk. No part of this report may be reproduced by any means without permission.
© Cotswold Archaeology Building 11, Kemble Enterprise Park, Kemble, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 6BQ
Tel. 01285 771022 Fax. 01285 771033 E-mail: [email protected]
© Cotswold Archaeology
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Torcoed/Torcoed Fawr Quarry, Carmarthenshire: Archaeological Watching Brief
CONTENTS
SUMMARY........................................................................................................................2
1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 3
The site ................................................................................................................ 3
Archaeological background.................................................................................. 4
Methodology ........................................................................................................ 4
2. RESULTS (FIGS 2-3) .......................................................................................... 5
3. DISCUSSION....................................................................................................... 5
4. CA PROJECT TEAM ........................................................................................... 6
5. REFERENCES .................................................................................................... 6
APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ..................................................................... 7
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000)
Fig. 2 The site, showing location of groundworks (1:2500)
Fig. 3 Plans, section and photograph
Fig. 4 Extant Tan-y-banc building on south-eastern edge of site,
view looking east
© Cotswold Archaeology
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Torcoed/Torcoed Fawr Quarry, Carmarthenshire: Archaeological Watching Brief
SUMMARY
Project Name: Torcoed/Torcoed Fawr Quarry
Location: Crwbin, Carmarthenshire
NGR: SN 4836 1349
Type: Watching Brief
Date: 16-27 November 2007
Planning Reference: W/13607
Location of Archive: To be deposited with Royal Commission for
Historical Monuments (Wales)
Site Code: TQL07
An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during
groundworks immediately south of the existing workings at Torcoed/Torcoed Fawr Quarry,
Carmarthenshire, associated with the expansion of the quarries following consolidation of
historic planning permissions to allow the quarries to be worked as a single unit.
An undated gully and pit, and a former enclosure boundary were observed during
groundworks.
© Cotswold Archaeology
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Torcoed/Torcoed Fawr Quarry, Carmarthenshire: Archaeological Watching Brief
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 In November 2007 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological
watching brief for Tarmac Ltd, on land at Torcoed/Torcoed Fawr Quarry, Crwbin,
Carmarthenshire (centred on NGR: SN 4836 1349; Fig. 1). The watching brief was
undertaken to fulfil a condition attached to planning consent for the consolidation of
historic planning permissions at the two quarries to allow them to be worked as a single
unit (Carmarthenshire County Council planning ref: W/13607). In particular, the
watching brief was undertaken during initial groundworks with an area of proposed
quarry expansion immediately to the south of the existing works. The objective of the
watching brief was to record all archaeological remains exposed during the works.
1.2 The watching brief was carried out in accordance with a detailed Written Scheme of
Investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2007) and approved by Charles Hill, Planning
Archaeologist, Cambria Archaeology Heritage Management, the archaeological
advisors to Carmarthenshire County Council. The fieldwork also followed the
Standard and Guidance for an Archaeological Watching Brief issued by the Institute
of Field Archaeologists (2001) and the Management of Archaeological Projects
(English Heritage 1991). It was monitored by Charles Hill.
The site
1.3 The proposed extraction site is approximately 3.2ha and formerly comprised upland
pasture. The site lies approximately 9km south-east of Carmarthen and is bordered
immediately to its north by the existing Torcoed/Torcoed Fawr Quarry and to the
south and west by Mynydd Llangyndeyrn and adjacent farmland (Fig. 2). It lies at
approximately 240m AOD with ground level rising to approximately 260m at Mynydd
Llangyndeyrn to the south, and dropping away north of the quarries to 50m in the
Gwendraeth Fach valley.
1.4 The underlying solid geology of the area is mapped as Main Limestone deposits of
the Carboniferous Limestone Series (BGS 1967). The geological substrate
encountered across the site comprised limestone overlain by natural clays.
© Cotswold Archaeology
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Torcoed/Torcoed Fawr Quarry, Carmarthenshire: Archaeological Watching Brief
Archaeological background
1.5 An Environmental Statement (ES) was previously compiled for the application area
by White Young Green, within which the cultural heritage of the proposed extraction
site and its environs was assessed (WA 2006).
1.6 While it is not intended to repeat the information previously gathered for the ES in its
entirety, this preliminary work indicated that the site lies in an area of archaeological
potential. Within the general environs of the application area, Neolithic and Bronze
Age funerary monuments are attested on Mynydd Llangynderyn. However, there is a
conspicuous absence of later prehistoric, Roman and early medieval evidence from
the immediate area, although it may be anticipated that such evidence may have
been destroyed by historic quarrying. In addition, the lack of archaeological fieldwork
may also have contributed to this seeming imbalance in the archaeological record.
The area is dominated by the limestone industry, which has formed a significant part
of the local economy since the 18th century and would previously have existed on a
smaller scale to supply local settlements. Historic maps indicate that both small
quarry pits and lime kilns were superseded by larger-scale 19th and 20th century
workings, though some earlier elements survive (ibid).
1.7 Cartographic evidence from the late 19th century onwards indicates that the area
subject to the current watching brief has remained unchanged as a narrow, enclosed
area of moorland between Tan-y-banc and Tygwyn farmsteads. This cartographic
evidence also depicts a small enclosure immediately north-west of Tan-y-banc.
Methodology
1.8 The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (CA 2007). An
archaeologist was present during intrusive groundworks, comprising the removal of
topsoil and overburden throughout the site (Fig. 2). Contingency arrangements were
established for a Rapid Response Excavation should significant archaeological
deposits be encountered but in the event it was unnecessary to implement this
arrangement.
1.9 Where archaeological deposits were encountered written, graphic and photographic
records were compiled in accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork
Recording Manual (2007).
© Cotswold Archaeology
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Torcoed/Torcoed Fawr Quarry, Carmarthenshire: Archaeological Watching Brief
1.10 The archive from the evaluation is currently held by CA at their offices in Kemble
prior to its deposition with the Royal Commission for Historical Monuments (Wales).
2. RESULTS (FIGS 2-4)
2.1 Natural limestone 007 was typically revealed at a depth of 0.6m below present
ground level, however, throughout the central portion of the site this bedrock
protruded above the modern ground surface as a series of prominent limestone
outcrops (see Fig. 2 for locations and extent). With the exception of these outcrops,
the limestone bedrock was overlain by natural clay deposits.
2.2 A broadly E/W aligned v-shaped gully, 005, was noted cutting natural clay 003. Its
grey-brown silt-clay fill 006 yielded no datable material. A shallow oval ?pit base,
009, containing uncompacted charcoal fill 008 was also recorded cutting the natural
clay.
2.3 These features were overlain by subsoil 002, averaging 0.4m in thickness but
discernibly thinner at higher levels where the natural bedrock lay close to the
surface. This was in turn sealed by modern topsoil.
2.4 A derelict drystone wall survived leading from Tan-y-banc on a north-westerly
alignment, before following the lower contours of the adjacent limestone outcrop. Its
southern return was suggested by a shallow earthwork, presumably its foundation
trench, leading to the southern boundary of the site. These features correlate
closely with the location of a small enclosure depicted to the north-west of Tan-y-
banc on 19th-and 20th-century cartographic records.
2.5 Despite visual scanning of stripped topsoil and subsoil deposits, no artefactual
material pre-dating the modern period was encountered.
3. DISCUSSION
3.1 Despite the archaeological potential of the application area (see archaeological
background above), the watching brief identified only limited archaeological remains
© Cotswold Archaeology
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Torcoed/Torcoed Fawr Quarry, Carmarthenshire: Archaeological Watching Brief
within the area of observed groundworks. The undated gully and charcoal-filled ?pit
base are indicative of former activity within the site although its full nature and date
remain uncertain. Given the close proximity of both these features to Tan-y-banc,
they may be associated with occupation at this property, gully 005 in particular lying
within the enclosure depicted on cartographic records. The extant Tan-y-banc
building on the southern edge of the site has been photographed in its current
condition, but it is understood that it will not be disturbed by the proposed extraction
works.
4. CA PROJECT TEAM
Fieldwork was undertaken by Mike Ings. The report was written by Alistair Barber
and the illustrations were prepared by Jemma Elliott. The archive has been compiled
by Alistair Barber, and prepared for deposition by Kathryn Price. The project was
managed for CA by Cliff Bateman
5. REFERENCES
BGS (British Geological Survey) 1967 Geological Survey of Great Britain (England and
Wales) Drift Geology, Carmarthen sheet 229, 1:63360
CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2007 Torcoed/Torcoed Fawr Quarries, Carmarthenshire:
Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Watching Brief
Wardell Armstrong (WA) 2006 ‘Cultural Heritage’ in White, Young, Green Torcoed/Torcoed
Fawr Quarries: Consolidation Application. Environmental Impact Assessment.
Volume 1, Environmental Statement
© Cotswold Archaeology
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Torcoed/Torcoed Fawr Quarry, Carmarthenshire: Archaeological Watching Brief
APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS
No. Type Description Length
(m) Width (m)
Depth (m)
Spot-date
001 Layer Topsoil: grey-brown silt-clay 0.22m Modern
002 Layer Subsoil: orange-brown silt-clay 0.4m Undated
003 Layer Natural substrate: pink-brown clay at interface with natural limestone bedrock
n/k
004 Layer Natural substrate: yellow-brown clay n/k
005 Cut ?Gully: aligned. Gently-sloping sides and concave base.
0.49m
0.26m Undated
006 Fill Fill of ?gully 005: grey-brown silt-clay 0.49m
0.26m Undated
007 Layer Natural limestone bedrock n/k
008 Fill Black charcoal deposit 0.49m 0.4m 0.04m Undated
009 Cut ?pit: very shallow, gently-sloping sides and slightly concave base
0.49m 0.4m 0.04m Undated
010 Layer Natural substrate: mid-dark grey clay n/k
011 Earthwork Former enclosure boundary Modern/Post med
Camarthenshire
PROJECT TITLE
FIGURE TITLE
N
PROJECT TITLE
SCALEDRAWN BY PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO.
COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY
0 2.5km
Reproduced from the 1998 Ordnance Survey Explorer map with the permissionof Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust 100002109 c
Torcoed/Torcoed Fawr QuarryCamarthenshire
Site location plan
1:25,000@A4 2455JE 1
site
application area boundary
485
480
135
SN
Pit009
Gully005
Tygwyn
Wall011
Tan-y-banc
area of observed groundworks
application area boundary
archaeological feature
limestone outcrop
natural clay
PROJECT TITLE
FIGURE TITLE
N
COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY
SCALEDRAWN BY PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO.
0 250m
Torcoed/Torcoed Fawr QuarryCamarthenshire
Site location plan showing location of archaeological features
1:2500@A3 2455JE 2
008
009
E W mAOD
238
005
006
001
002
006
005
230E W
mAOD
Gully 005, plan (1:50), section (1:20) and photograph
Pit 009, plan and section (1:20)
gully 005
PROJECT TITLE
FIGURE TITLE
N
PROJECT TITLE
SCALE@A4DRAWN BY PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO.
COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY
N
0 1m0 2.5m
0 1m
Torcoed/Torcoed Fawr QuarryCamarthenshire
Plans, sections and photograph
1:20&1:50 2455JE 3
PROJECT TITLE
FIGURE TITLE
SCALEDRAWN BY PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO.
COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY4 Extant Tan-y-banc building on southeastern edge of site, view looking east
Photograph
4
n/a 4
Torcoed/Torcoed Fawr QuarryCamarthenshire
2455JE