Introduction
Cardiff Castle is one of the most significant heritage assets in the Principality. Sited in the centre of the capital of Wales, it is in the care of Cardiff City Council. The Castle has a long history with physical evidence of remains from the Roman, medieval and early post-medieval remains accessible to visitors and the remarkable neo-gothic restoration.
In 2005 the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust carried out excavations in the castle ahead of the construction of a new interpretation centre. These works were required as a condition of both planning and scheduled monument consents for the development.
The main works started in August 2005 and were completed in March 2006, being undertaken by a team of 25 archaeologists. Further minor archaeological investigation and observation works was carried out during the construction of the interpretation centre.
These pages provided information about these excavations and will be regularly updated as the post-excavation reporting works programme is progressed.
Visit our Artefact Conservation blog to view progress
-
Past excavations
Previous archaeological investigations in the area have indicated that four Roman forts, all of slightly differing size and shape, were located on the site before Cardiff Castle was built in the medieval period.
-
The 2005-2006 excavations
With the building of a new interpretation centre at Cardiff Castle an opportunity for a full archaeological investigation of the proposed area was undertaken. The excavations provided us with fascinating new insights into the history of one of Cardiff’s most prominent landmarks.
-
Post-excavation and reporting works
The post-excavation assessment works were carried in two stages. These resulted in a completed site summary of the excavated remains by phase and included assessments by specialists of the various categories of artefact and environmental remains.
-
Artefact conservation
A total of 890 small finds and context designations representing 2000+ individual objects were examined and/or treated between November 2018 and May 2019.