Launching the latest community work at the copperworks

Building blocks made from copper slag, in the canal wall.

 

Hello folks, I hope 2014 has being going well for you.  At GGAT we’ve been busy beavering away at putting together our latest phase of commuity archaeology work at the Hafod Copperworks – CuSP.  Otherwise known as the Copper Slag Project.  Our community archaeologist Janet will be launching the project on Monday the 17th February at 18:00 in the Hafod Community Centre.  Why not come along and see whether you’d like to take part.  Everybody will be very welcome, so come along and have a chat with Janet.

CuSP launch

 

Look what we found

Looks familiar?

Day 8 – Activity Day

Talking to some really interesting people here at the Hafod and Morfa Copperworks Activity Day.   Lots of oral history from people who worked at, or have family  connections to the Copperworks site.

 

Hafod Community Excavation Saturday 8th June- Open Day!!

Its finally arrived! It’s our big day…..our open day!

One and all are welcome to our open day today between 10:00 and 15:00. We have a lot of different activities going on throughout the day today for all ages including;

• Photographic competitions- Simply take your best ‘shot’ at any of the local Hafod Wildlife, Archaeology/Buildings, the Hafod community or the people of the Copperworks.  Our age categories are Under 14s, 14-18 and 18+
• Visiting the Swansea Museum’s stores to see all the fantastic collections and array of finds
• Explore the Hafod site and see the new buildings uncovered and the new trails
• The hidden treasures roadshow- come and bring along your Copperworks related objects and photographs
• Walk along our various tours, including the Copperworks and community tour 10:30am- 12:30pm, Useful plants and wild food walks 11:00- 13:00, and our nature walks 11:30- 13:30
• And finally come and visit our excavation site!

So now you have all the info…..Come on down and see us!

Day 8 – Friday

Well, where do I start?!  We’ve been pulling the volunteers here there and everywhere today with our training!

Excavation works have been continuing over at the site of trench 3, with various tasks being carried out.   Johnny has been carrying on with excavations along with some of the volunteers, expanding the area and removing the modern cements (!) and build up of flora.

The southern side of our north-south running wall has now been cleaned, revealing an astonishing set of cobbles, along with a beam slot and the remains of a wooden feature, that may  possibly be the lower section of of the original door still in situ!

Sophie, along with her gang of helpful volunteers, started on the task of recording the site.  With the volunteers taking the archaeological photographs and recording various deposits.  The survey skills taught by Andyt last Saturday were put into practice, with the volunteers undertaking the spot level recording across the site.

Whilst all this was occurring Jan was supervising the finds and making sure all was correctly washed, labelled and cataloged before training more volunteers in the art of  plane table survey.

Charlotte meanwhile was extremely busy with some building recording all along the back of the Hafod Copperworks Canal wall with a group of very excited volunteers.  This included a photographic survey and drawing record.

Further blog updates tomorrow and of course don’t forget to check out our other social media points at Twitter and Facebook.

Day 7 – Thursday

Today has been extremely busy and very productive.  Luckily, we had a lot of very eager and determined volunteers to help us out!

 At the start of the morning, we continued work on the cobbled area where we stopped at end of play on Wednesday.  We can now happily report that the volunteers have discover more cobbles!  The extent and condition of the cobbled floor is fantastic and has now been shown to extend over quite a large area extending to both the north and south of the original visible cobbled section.

In the afternoon we were graced with a visit from GGAT’s Web Manager, Paul Huckfield, who came to take lots of photos of the the volunteers, to be included in an upcoming web gallery for the project, so watch this space!

 

Newly exposed cobbled surface

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 6 – Wednesday

Today we started to see some nice finds coming out of the Hafod Copperworks, consisting mainly of some 19th century pottery, brick and glass!   So not only is it full steam ahead for the diggers, it’s all hands on deck for the cleaners!

Thanks to all the volunteers who have been with us so far, keep up the good work!

You’ve had a rest, now it’s full steam ahead!

Morning everyone!  Yesterday it was full steam ahead for the excavation!

We’ve had lots of volunteers, all digging at a tremendous pace!  In the morning our very eager volunteers started clearance works, supervised by Johnny and Andy, surrounding the cobbled surface and were amazed and excited to see more and more and even more cobbles sloping up towards the canal bridge.  So exciting times for us at the community excavation!.

Whilst this was going on, a turf layer was removed to the north of the cobbled surface which was supervised by Sophie.   Also further activities going on at the Hafod community excavation takes form in the finds washing area that Charlotte supervised, leaving not a dirty pot sherd in sight!

Further blog updates tomorrow and of course don’t forget to check out GGAT’s other social media feeds on Twitter and Facebook

If you’re visiting our Facebook site, why not pay your appreciation and give us a ‘Like’.:-)

Hafod Copperworks Community Dig Activity Day-This coming Saturday

If you are at a loose end this weekend why not come down and visit the Hafod & Morfa Copperworks Activity Day.

There will be lots going on, guided tours of the Copperworks site, wildlife walks, photographic competitions, etc.  also a chance to discover what the community excavation has unearthed!

The event runs from 10am – 3pm. For more information contact Richard Walters on :
Tel:01656 727800 Email: richardwalters@groundworkbnpt.com

You can also visit: www.welshcopper.org.uk for more information on the Hafod & Morfa Copperworks.

Photo Gallery