THE latest community news from Bro Ffestiniog

Archaeological Society

THE society, mostly comprising of amateurs, decided to excavate the site of Llys Dorfil, an early enclosed settlement.

With a membership of about 50, half of them took part in the actual excavations.

The site lies at a height of c475’(145m) OD on ground that slopes to the east down towards the river Bowydd. NPRN 402403. Grid Reference SH69574447.

It is reportedly the remains of an early farm group in an irregular enclosure, described as barely visible and dilapidated in 1969 according to NMR Site Files M E Earthworks SH64SE, S L Evans, 9 February 2005.

The site area was evaluated over the course of the excavation.

This year’s excavation concentrated on the area that was damaged by a fallen tree.

Anything arising from the excavation was referred for a professional opinion from Gwynedd Archaeological Trust, also from Kathy Laws, Ian Brooks, Ken Brassil and Rhys Mwyn who are members of the Bro Ffestiniog Archaeological Society.

The ground around the orthostatic stones at Llys Dorfil has eroded away, leaving them exposed and unstable; some of them have already toppled over.

It was found that these stones were laid on the boulder clay natural with no apparent foundation.

The first indication of a grave was the alignment of three stones, one east-west and the other two running north-south.

A trial trench was excavated which revealed the other east/west stone on the south side of the grave, which had been toppled over, with its base more or less in situ. The cap stone was also discovered in place though it had sunk slightly.

The lack of pottery shards on its own suggests that the ruins of Llys Dorfil had not been occupied for centuries.

There is no mention of Llys Dorfil in the hearth tax of 1662, which would have had at least two if not more hearths.

The lack of fireplaces on the ground floor strongly suggests that they were on the first floor and maybe on the second floor as well.

The dig will be continued in 2019, beginning at the end of May.

Cymdeithas

THE meeting heard the history of Welsh Costume from Michael Freeman.

There has not been much documentation in Wales of the ‘everyday’ costume worn since the 19th Century.

Most of the descriptions have come from visitors from elsewhere.

Both women and men normally wore Bowler hats, or women wore a scarf or mob cap.

The now traditional hat, unique to Wales, was usually worn on special occasions; going to market, chapel and church, for example.

Fortunately, some examples have survived, including one hat in a bad condition that was taken apart to find out how it was made - amazingly, the brim used a rectangle of fabric, saving expensive silk.

The “overdress”, used as before on special occasions was usually a striped pattern, and the few remaining examples in museums are a high standard of work.

At their next meeting on 11 October, Margaret Dunn will give an update on Dating Old Welsh Houses.

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