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AROUND THE VALE
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SOUTH WALES
Unearthing the Vale's archaeological mysteries
The Neolithic sites of Tinkinswood and St Lythan's in the Vale of Glamorgan have long been landmarks associated with an era shrouded in the mists of time. An innovative Cadw funded Community Archaeology project, in partnership with Archaeology Wales, hopes to shed new light on these iconic sites.
The project, which includes scientific excavations around Tinkinswood and at St Lythan's for the very first time, will have the community at its heart. A local group led by the British Trust of Conservation Volunteers will take part in vegetation clearance, followed by a team of community volunteers assisting with the excavations, in a bid to enhance understanding and interpretation of these monuments and enthuse a younger generation in archaeology.
Excavation at the impressive Neolithic remains of Tinkinswood burial chamber originally took place in 1914. The remains of 50 people were originally found inside the chamber: men, women and children. The monument is aligned length-ways towards the rising sun to the east and the curve of the forecourt may suggest that it was built to catch and hold the rays of the morning sun.
St Lythan's burial chamber, like Tinkinswood, is known as a Cotswold- Severn style tomb. It dates back some 6000 years to a time when farming was introduced and when people learned how to grow and produce, rather than hunt and gather their food. This period is regarded as one of the biggest changes in human history. But, perhaps most significantly, these communities began to build tombs like the one at St Lythan's.
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