Cylchgronau Cymru

EXCAVATION AND SURVEY AT CARDIGAN CASTLE Introduction In the summer of 1984 the Dyfed Archaeological Trust carried out a survey and small-scale trial excavations at Cardigan Castle. The object of the work was to establish the extent and nature of the archaeological dep- osits within the castle and to answer some specific questions concerning the lines and courses of walls not apparent from surface evidence. Though some of the results, due to the scale of the work involved, were inconclus- ive they are published because of the importance of the site and as a guide to any future work. The town of Cardigan is situated on a rocky promontory on the north- ern bank of the River Teifi 4 km. from the sea. The defensive circuits of the town and castle exploit the local topography, incorporating low shale cliffs and bluffs within their walls. The castle dominates the lowest bridging point of the Teifi, so controlling the coastal land route and commanding the important routeway up the Teifi Valley into mid-Wales. In the mid- thirteenth century Cardigan, jointly with Carmarthen, became the centre of Royal power in south Wales and consequently developed into an important administrative, military and commercial centre. Cardigan is one of the few stone castles in Wales to have received no attention from archaeologists and little interest from historians and architectural historians either in the last century or more recently in the current renewed interest in castles and castle development. The reason for this is quite straightforward: Castle Green, the house built within the castle yard has been a private residence since it was built and the grounds landscaped in the early nineteenth century, and the residents have valued their privacy and are unwilling to allow visitors into the castle gardens. The present programme of study was prompted and encouraged by the formation of the Cardigan Castle Committee in 1983 which was estab- lished to study, assess the potential of, and ensure a safe future for the castle. The excavation was carried out with the kind permission of Miss B. Wood, the current owner and occupier of the castle. The method of excavations employed was a series of 1 m. wide trenches which were in many cases only excavated to obtain the depth of mediaeval deposits below ground surface. Prior to excavation and survey several working days were required to cut down and clear the dense undergrowth that had grown up owing to the neglect of the gardens in recent years.