Annual Summer Excavation, Trellech 2018
Trellech 2018 ~ Annual Excavation
Saturday 14th July to Sunday 12th August 2018
Upcoming Events
- Trellech 2018 ~ Annual Excavation ~ Saturday 14th July to Sunday 12th August 2018
Trellech 2018 ~ Annual Excavation
Summer Dig Timetable
Week 1 |
Saturday 14th July to Thursday 19th July |
Rest Day - Friday 20th July |
Week 2 |
Saturday 21st July to Thursday 26th July |
Rest Day - Friday 27th July |
Week 3 |
Saturday 28th July to Thursday 2nd August |
Rest Day - Friday 3rd August |
Week 4 |
Saturday 4th August to Thursday 9th August |
Rest Day - Friday 10th August |
Saturday & Sunday 11th and 12th August - Discussion and decision for next years campaign.
Enrollment onto the Summer Dig
To enroll on the Summer Dig just fill out and submit the volunteer form and send payment of the fee which is £50 per person per week; details below.
Volunteer Form
Please fill in and submit the volunteer form below. All information provided will be kept confidential and will only seen by officers running the site and by statutory bodies if required.
All boxes * are required to be filled in, but please fill in as much as possible as it will help us to ensure that you have an enjoyable and useful experience.
If you are a group of people coming, please fill out and submit a form for each individual in that group.
Once I have received your completed form I shall reply by e-mail confirming receipt of it and your placement on the excavation. I will also attach our risk assessment and site rules to the e-mail for your information. Please read them and if you have any questions please ask.
All boxes * are required to be filled in, but please fill in as much as possible as it will help us to ensure that you have an enjoyable and useful experience.
If you are a group of people coming, please fill out and submit a form for each individual in that group.
Once I have received your completed form I shall reply by e-mail confirming receipt of it and your placement on the excavation. I will also attach our risk assessment and site rules to the e-mail for your information. Please read them and if you have any questions please ask.
Fees
The fee for attending the summer dig is £50 per person per week.
We make a charge to help cover some of the costs of insurance, site maintenance, equipment, site facilities and training. Camping on site is included and I am happy to help with transport to and from the site at Trellech to Chepstow that is the nearest hub for train and bus services.
We accept payment online or by bank transfer or cheque.
We make a charge to help cover some of the costs of insurance, site maintenance, equipment, site facilities and training. Camping on site is included and I am happy to help with transport to and from the site at Trellech to Chepstow that is the nearest hub for train and bus services.
We accept payment online or by bank transfer or cheque.
Payment for the dig is preferably made by bank transfer. So that we can easily identify your payment please put TRE17 followed by your name in the reference option.
Bank Name: Lloyds Bank
Account Name: Trellech Trust
Account Number: 17837468
Sort Code: 30-95-71
For International Bank Transfers
BIC (Bank Identifier Code): LOYDGB21493
IBAN (International Bank Account Number): GB89LOYD30957117837468
Alternatively payment can be made using cheques. Please put the reference number on the back on the cheque and make them payable to:
Trellech Trust
Please send the cheque to:
Stuart Wilson
King's Lodge
17 Mathern Road
Bulwark
Chepstow
NP16 5JT
The fee applies to all those volunteers attending the summer dig regardless of the level of involvement individuals may have. The whole fee still applies even if individuals do not use or take advantage of all items covered by the fees. If volunteers only stay for part of a week the whole £50 fee for that week still applies.
Fees do not apply to those named individuals managing the site, directors or trustess of the company and charity the "Trellech Trust", or named individuals significantly supporting the Trellech Trust. Fees also do not apply to any visitors to the site but donations are welcomed.
Fee payment is to be made upfront and is non refundable
Bank Name: Lloyds Bank
Account Name: Trellech Trust
Account Number: 17837468
Sort Code: 30-95-71
For International Bank Transfers
BIC (Bank Identifier Code): LOYDGB21493
IBAN (International Bank Account Number): GB89LOYD30957117837468
Alternatively payment can be made using cheques. Please put the reference number on the back on the cheque and make them payable to:
Trellech Trust
Please send the cheque to:
Stuart Wilson
King's Lodge
17 Mathern Road
Bulwark
Chepstow
NP16 5JT
The fee applies to all those volunteers attending the summer dig regardless of the level of involvement individuals may have. The whole fee still applies even if individuals do not use or take advantage of all items covered by the fees. If volunteers only stay for part of a week the whole £50 fee for that week still applies.
Fees do not apply to those named individuals managing the site, directors or trustess of the company and charity the "Trellech Trust", or named individuals significantly supporting the Trellech Trust. Fees also do not apply to any visitors to the site but donations are welcomed.
Fee payment is to be made upfront and is non refundable
Insurance
All volunteers working on site and visitors are covered by our insurance. Our insurers are Towergate and are covered by Public Liability up to £2,000,000 and Employers Liability up to £10,000,000. Our Policy Number is: 000183. A full copy of our insurance details are available upon request.
Site Facilities
Free Camping.
Help with transport to and from site to Chepstow, the nearest hub for train and bus services
Trellech is connected to the towns of Monmouth and Chepstow via a bus service, the No. 65, Monday - Saturday
Day off on Friday - a weekday to allow access to supermarkets in the nearby towns and the Laudrette in Monmouth
A pub in the village.
A village shop where essential supplies can be bought.
All equipment is provided.
Training is provided.
Insurance is provided.
2 or 3 Port-a-loos on site (depending on numbers).
2 x Full size gas powered showers providing guaranteed warm showers.
2 x Standby Pipes that has mains drinking water.
Sinks for washing dishes or clothes in and washing lines provided if required.
2 x gas powered fridges.
Several shelters in the forms of a marquee, army tents and caravans.
Off road parking for vehicles.
Help with transport if required to get to the supermarkets in the evenings on other days other than the Friday.
I can purchase gas stoves and gas on your behalf, if required.
There is no mobile phone reception on most of the site, but at the top of the field and other sites within walking distance a good signal can be received.
My officers and myself as director are happy to fill in any forms required for University, Duke of Edinburgh Award, School etc and provide references.
Help with transport to and from site to Chepstow, the nearest hub for train and bus services
Trellech is connected to the towns of Monmouth and Chepstow via a bus service, the No. 65, Monday - Saturday
Day off on Friday - a weekday to allow access to supermarkets in the nearby towns and the Laudrette in Monmouth
A pub in the village.
A village shop where essential supplies can be bought.
All equipment is provided.
Training is provided.
Insurance is provided.
2 or 3 Port-a-loos on site (depending on numbers).
2 x Full size gas powered showers providing guaranteed warm showers.
2 x Standby Pipes that has mains drinking water.
Sinks for washing dishes or clothes in and washing lines provided if required.
2 x gas powered fridges.
Several shelters in the forms of a marquee, army tents and caravans.
Off road parking for vehicles.
Help with transport if required to get to the supermarkets in the evenings on other days other than the Friday.
I can purchase gas stoves and gas on your behalf, if required.
There is no mobile phone reception on most of the site, but at the top of the field and other sites within walking distance a good signal can be received.
My officers and myself as director are happy to fill in any forms required for University, Duke of Edinburgh Award, School etc and provide references.
Site Location
If you are coming by car the closest postcode for a Sat Nav is: NP25 4PE
The site is located along the Catbrook Road on the southern edge of the village of Trellech. If you go onto google maps and search 'Lost City of Trellech Excavations' the marker is directly located over the dig site. The camp site is located on the same field as the dig site. On the satellite view you will be able to see the trenches as they appeared a few years ago.
If you are coming by public transport the cloest hub for train and bus services is Chepstow in Monmouthshire, Wales. I can pick you up from there/drop you back there if you tell me your estimated arrival time, date of arrival and place, i.e. bus or train station.
Alternatively you can take the No. 65 bus from Chepstow to Trellech. The price is very cheap and the bus runs several times a day, during the day (but not the evenings) Monday to Saturday inclusive. For an up to date timetable google:'Chepstow to Trellech to Monmouth'.
The site is located along the Catbrook Road on the southern edge of the village of Trellech. If you go onto google maps and search 'Lost City of Trellech Excavations' the marker is directly located over the dig site. The camp site is located on the same field as the dig site. On the satellite view you will be able to see the trenches as they appeared a few years ago.
If you are coming by public transport the cloest hub for train and bus services is Chepstow in Monmouthshire, Wales. I can pick you up from there/drop you back there if you tell me your estimated arrival time, date of arrival and place, i.e. bus or train station.
Alternatively you can take the No. 65 bus from Chepstow to Trellech. The price is very cheap and the bus runs several times a day, during the day (but not the evenings) Monday to Saturday inclusive. For an up to date timetable google:'Chepstow to Trellech to Monmouth'.
Daily Dig Timetable *
Time |
Activity |
9.30am - 10am |
Daily Site Briefing |
10am - 11.30am |
Saturdays** - Health and Safety talk and Intoduction to the site - New arrivals only |
10am - 1pm |
Working on Site |
1pm - 2pm |
Lunch |
2pm - 5pm |
Working on Site |
5pm |
End of Day |
*This is a standard timetable. It maybe subject to change. For instance during high temperatures work will finish by 1pm, lunch extended and work will start again in the evening for a few hours. During very wet conditions work maybe stopped intermittently or the work day shortened depending on the situation.
**Introduction section will take place on Sunday, Week 1 only.
Daily Site Briefing: To talk about recent activity, an opportunity to raise and discuss complaints or suggestions and assignment of work for the day.
Health and Safety Talk: Covering our H&S policy documents, insurance, risk assessment and rules. You will be informed where and how to fill in relevant documentation, procedures in case of emergency including nearest phones and assembly point. Information will also be provided about our first aid boxes, what they contain and where they are located, first aiders on site and location and opening hours of the village surgery.
Introduction to the Site: Giving a brief history of the Trellech and the excavation so far. Showing by use of maps and landscape how the settlement was found and where the current excavation site fits into the town plan. Finishing with a tour of the current excavation and some of the finds discovered.
Working on Site: This includes all aspects of excavation including site maintenance, setting up and closing down and will vary day to day and week to week depending on the requirements of the dig. Everyone is expected to be willing to take part in all activities unless there is a particularly strong reason why they cannot. During the excavation activities will include amongst others troweling, sectioning, drawing, documenting contexts and finds, surveying, geophysics, finds processing and analysis, photographing, giving tours and public interaction and general site maintenance. You need to have a common sense attitude, treat the site and others with respect and if you are capable of filling a bucket then you are also capable of emptying that bucket onto a spoil heap.
Lunch: Normally lunch lasts for one hour. Most volunteers use that time to cook or eat prepared lunches on site. There is a shop in the village from which sandwiches can be bought and also a local pub. The pub serves good quality food but as a consequence service can be slow. If you are intending to eat at the pub for lunch then you are advised to order your food in advance, i.e. during the evening the day before to ensure you have time to eat and get back to site for 2pm.
End of Day: We normally finish at 5pm but this is subject to change and could be because of weather or the need to finish a particular job. Before leaving the site ensure all the equipment is tidied away and put back in the correct place. You are responsible for all of the equipment, not just the material you have used, so if you see something that has been missed then pick it up, remember a tidy site is a safe site. After the day has finished you are welcome to relax and do your own thing as long as it complies with the rules of the site. Even if you are not on site you are still representing it so please act in a safe and responsible manner. If you leave site especially after dark then we strongly advise against gooing alone and instead going in pairs or groups. If you do want to leave site alone make sure you tell someone (preferably an officer) where you are going and what time you expect to be back.
**Introduction section will take place on Sunday, Week 1 only.
Daily Site Briefing: To talk about recent activity, an opportunity to raise and discuss complaints or suggestions and assignment of work for the day.
Health and Safety Talk: Covering our H&S policy documents, insurance, risk assessment and rules. You will be informed where and how to fill in relevant documentation, procedures in case of emergency including nearest phones and assembly point. Information will also be provided about our first aid boxes, what they contain and where they are located, first aiders on site and location and opening hours of the village surgery.
Introduction to the Site: Giving a brief history of the Trellech and the excavation so far. Showing by use of maps and landscape how the settlement was found and where the current excavation site fits into the town plan. Finishing with a tour of the current excavation and some of the finds discovered.
Working on Site: This includes all aspects of excavation including site maintenance, setting up and closing down and will vary day to day and week to week depending on the requirements of the dig. Everyone is expected to be willing to take part in all activities unless there is a particularly strong reason why they cannot. During the excavation activities will include amongst others troweling, sectioning, drawing, documenting contexts and finds, surveying, geophysics, finds processing and analysis, photographing, giving tours and public interaction and general site maintenance. You need to have a common sense attitude, treat the site and others with respect and if you are capable of filling a bucket then you are also capable of emptying that bucket onto a spoil heap.
Lunch: Normally lunch lasts for one hour. Most volunteers use that time to cook or eat prepared lunches on site. There is a shop in the village from which sandwiches can be bought and also a local pub. The pub serves good quality food but as a consequence service can be slow. If you are intending to eat at the pub for lunch then you are advised to order your food in advance, i.e. during the evening the day before to ensure you have time to eat and get back to site for 2pm.
End of Day: We normally finish at 5pm but this is subject to change and could be because of weather or the need to finish a particular job. Before leaving the site ensure all the equipment is tidied away and put back in the correct place. You are responsible for all of the equipment, not just the material you have used, so if you see something that has been missed then pick it up, remember a tidy site is a safe site. After the day has finished you are welcome to relax and do your own thing as long as it complies with the rules of the site. Even if you are not on site you are still representing it so please act in a safe and responsible manner. If you leave site especially after dark then we strongly advise against gooing alone and instead going in pairs or groups. If you do want to leave site alone make sure you tell someone (preferably an officer) where you are going and what time you expect to be back.
Other Dates During the Dig
Date |
Activity |
Friday 13th July to Sunday 15th July |
Trellech Big Weekend Festival |
Sunday 15th July |
Tour of Historical Sites of Trellech and Dig by Director Stuart Wilson |
Friday 27th July to Saturday 4th August |
Monmouth Music Festival - evenings |
Saturday 28th July to Sunday 29th July |
Trellech Dig Open Weekend |
Friday 3rd August to Sunday 5th August |
Trellech Cider Festival |
Every Friday at 2pm |
High Tea in Trellech Babington Centre |
Site Management - Officers/Supervisors
Current Site Management for 2018 is as follows:
Officer
Name |
Position |
Stuart Wilson B.A |
Site Director |
Vincent Blekemolen |
Project Manager |
Johnathan Buttigieg |
Finds Officer |
Geraint Thomas B.A. |
Site Manager |
Simon Kuyper |
Assistant Finds Officer |
Supervisor
Name |
Position |
Samantha Hyde |
Supervisor |
Naomi Rubinstein |
Supervisor - Conservation |
John Izzard |
Supervisor |
James Notman |
Junior Supervisor |
Beatrice Helme |
Junior Supervisor |
Jon Trenchard |
Junior Supervisor |
Hierarchy
Role |
Description |
Site Director |
Line Manager for the Project Manager, Finds Officer and Site Manager |
Project Manager |
Line Manager for the Supervisors |
Finds Officer |
Line Manager for the Finds Assistant |
Site Manager |
Line Manager for the Supervisors or volunteers assigned to him that day |
Finds Assistant |
Line Manager for the volunteers in the Finds Tent |
Supervisors |
Line Manager for the volunteers under their direct control |
Volunteers wishing to become Officers/Supervisors
Other Job Opportunities
For time to time we receive visits for professional archaeologists looking for potential employees on a range of projects. Those interested in being considered for any opportunities that might arise need to inform either the Director of Excavations or the Project Manager giving details of when they are available and whether they have access to transport. If potential posts arrive we will pass your details to the prospective employer along with our recommendation as to whether we consider you appropriate for the role.
Trellech, now a small village, was once the largest mediaeval city in Wales and at the time approximately ¼ the size of London. For sometime there has been argument about the location of the nearly 400 burgages, (houses) recorded in history. Excavation over the last ten years has brought to light a fortified moated manor house, an industrial quarter alongside and other additional buildings in one small part of my field along with indications of numerous other buildings throughout the rest of the field and the neighbouring area.
Last year we concentrated on the rear areas of the manor house including the courtyard and kitchen and this year we wish to further expand on those excavations.
Close to the surface and well preserved, the quality of the structures along with the artefacts found, suggests that these buildings were of some importance. Further excavation of all of the buildings should provide a better understanding of what they were used for, by whom and when and the well should provide further waterlogged material such as wood, leather and environmental data.
This is an ongoing excavation to examine the scale and nature of the mediaeval city of Trellech and it is expected to carry on for many more years.
Trellech: It is best reached by going first to Monmouth that is on the A40 dual carriage way in South Wales. From Monmouth follow the B4293 for about 6 miles in the direction of Chepstow. When arriving at Trellech, go through the village and leave taking the middle road up the hill, south, in the direction of Catbrook. Additionally there is also a train station at Chepstow and Newport. I can pick you up from there or alternatively there are bus services available. The Monmouth tourist information office has details of bus timetables and can be contacted on (01600) 713 899.
The site: It is located a few hundred meters directly south of the present village at (SO 5020 0500). In the first field on the left after passing the speed limit signs, on the east side of the Catbrook road and next to Tinkers Lane. Cars can be parked along the side of the road and also on the wide verge.
Amenities: There are two toilets on site along with a full sized solar shower, standpipes with drinkable water and two washing areas with sinks, all free to use. In addition we now have a gas powered shower with guarrented hot water that proved very popular last year and is a great improvement when the weather is not sunny. Lemonade, orange squash and biscuits will be available for refreshments but you are advised to bring your own lunches or there is a pub in the village. A new shop opened in the village last year where sandwiches and essential supplies can be bought.
Equipment: Trowels, hand shovels, kneeling mats, buckets, brushes, shovels and wheelbarrows are available for your use. Gloves are available but it is best if you bring your own. If you do bring your own equipment make sure it is clearly marked. There will be sun cream on site but you may want to bring your own. This is important as the site is exposed to the sun; do not forget to put it on.
Accommodation: Camping on site is available. Amenities available as described above. Alternatively, if camping is not your style, there are plenty of other options to stay in the local area. There are a number of hotels and B&Bs close to the site, to find out more visit the Accommodation page.
For time to time we receive visits for professional archaeologists looking for potential employees on a range of projects. Those interested in being considered for any opportunities that might arise need to inform either the Director of Excavations or the Project Manager giving details of when they are available and whether they have access to transport. If potential posts arrive we will pass your details to the prospective employer along with our recommendation as to whether we consider you appropriate for the role.
Trellech, now a small village, was once the largest mediaeval city in Wales and at the time approximately ¼ the size of London. For sometime there has been argument about the location of the nearly 400 burgages, (houses) recorded in history. Excavation over the last ten years has brought to light a fortified moated manor house, an industrial quarter alongside and other additional buildings in one small part of my field along with indications of numerous other buildings throughout the rest of the field and the neighbouring area.
Last year we concentrated on the rear areas of the manor house including the courtyard and kitchen and this year we wish to further expand on those excavations.
Close to the surface and well preserved, the quality of the structures along with the artefacts found, suggests that these buildings were of some importance. Further excavation of all of the buildings should provide a better understanding of what they were used for, by whom and when and the well should provide further waterlogged material such as wood, leather and environmental data.
This is an ongoing excavation to examine the scale and nature of the mediaeval city of Trellech and it is expected to carry on for many more years.
Trellech: It is best reached by going first to Monmouth that is on the A40 dual carriage way in South Wales. From Monmouth follow the B4293 for about 6 miles in the direction of Chepstow. When arriving at Trellech, go through the village and leave taking the middle road up the hill, south, in the direction of Catbrook. Additionally there is also a train station at Chepstow and Newport. I can pick you up from there or alternatively there are bus services available. The Monmouth tourist information office has details of bus timetables and can be contacted on (01600) 713 899.
The site: It is located a few hundred meters directly south of the present village at (SO 5020 0500). In the first field on the left after passing the speed limit signs, on the east side of the Catbrook road and next to Tinkers Lane. Cars can be parked along the side of the road and also on the wide verge.
Amenities: There are two toilets on site along with a full sized solar shower, standpipes with drinkable water and two washing areas with sinks, all free to use. In addition we now have a gas powered shower with guarrented hot water that proved very popular last year and is a great improvement when the weather is not sunny. Lemonade, orange squash and biscuits will be available for refreshments but you are advised to bring your own lunches or there is a pub in the village. A new shop opened in the village last year where sandwiches and essential supplies can be bought.
Equipment: Trowels, hand shovels, kneeling mats, buckets, brushes, shovels and wheelbarrows are available for your use. Gloves are available but it is best if you bring your own. If you do bring your own equipment make sure it is clearly marked. There will be sun cream on site but you may want to bring your own. This is important as the site is exposed to the sun; do not forget to put it on.
Accommodation: Camping on site is available. Amenities available as described above. Alternatively, if camping is not your style, there are plenty of other options to stay in the local area. There are a number of hotels and B&Bs close to the site, to find out more visit the Accommodation page.
Monmouth Archaeological Society
Chairman : S. H. Clarke, M.B.E., F.S.A., M.I.F.A.
Secretary : S. J. Wilson, B.A.
Treasurer : D. K. Jemmet, M.A.
1988 winners of THE PITT-RIVERS AWARD for the best voluntary project
1988 winners of THE LEGAL & GENERAL SILVER TROWEL for the greatest initiative in Archaeology in Archaeology
1992 Runners-up for the Pitt-Rivers Award
Secretary : S. J. Wilson, B.A.
Treasurer : D. K. Jemmet, M.A.
1988 winners of THE PITT-RIVERS AWARD for the best voluntary project
1988 winners of THE LEGAL & GENERAL SILVER TROWEL for the greatest initiative in Archaeology in Archaeology
1992 Runners-up for the Pitt-Rivers Award