Special digs will be held at the historic Strata Florida site this summer following successful excavations last year.

The Strata Florida Trust announced this week that The Strata Florida Archaeology Field School will reopen its doors – and trenches – this summer following the huge success of the field school’s first year in 2019.

Last year they welcomed participants from right across the UK, as well as France, Taiwan, Sweden, Japan and Ireland.

The school takes place in Mynachlog Fawr, the historic farm adjacent to the 12th century Strata Florida Abbey which is a captivating, evocative and internationally important site, affectionately known as the Westminster Abbey of Wales, in Pontrhydfendigaid.

The second year of the field school will run for four weeks from 30 June - 26 July.

Following completion of the school, daily dig site tours will be held to coincide with the National Eisteddfod which is being held in nearby Tregaron.

Strata Florida is rich in historical detail and is deeply significant to Welsh heritage.

The Cistercian monks who founded the abbey made it an important centre of trade, religion and culture in the 12th and 13th centuries, with connections spreading far across the Welsh landscape.

One of the foremost early Welsh historical sources, the Brut y Tywysogion was written at Strata Florida and the site has many important connections with Welsh culture and identity.

Dafydd Ap Gwilym, Wales’ most famous medieval poet is buried in the churchyard, as are several medieval Princes of Wales.

An Allchurches Trust grant, secured by The Prince’s Foundation, is helping to fund the field school for three years during the summers of 2019 to 2021 under its heritage grants programme.

The school is being delivered by the Strata Florida Trust in partnership with The Prince’s Foundation, Allchurches Trust, University of Wales Trinity St David, Breaking Ground Heritage and Sacred Landscapes Research Project.

Grants officer, Paul Playford, who co-ordinates Allchurches Trust’s heritage grants programme, said: “The first year of the field school attracted such a diverse range of ‘diggers’ and it was wonderful to hear the stories of their finds and how much they enjoyed the experience.

“The Strata Florida site provides a unique opportunity for people of all ages, from different backgrounds, with and without experience of archaeology, to take part in all aspects of an archaeological excavation in an awe-inspiring setting.

“I’m sure the field school will be even more popular in its second year.”

Full details of the field school are available through the school’s brochure, and can be downloaded from www.strataflorida.org.uk

People can register for a place via the website or get in touch via email at [email protected]

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