Day 1 of Brynkir 2014!

Diwrnod 1 – 04/08/14

Mae’r rhan gyntaf o’r diwrnod cyntaf yn cael ei wario yn trafod y safle, beth sydd wedi ei wneud o’r blaen a beth sydd yn ddisgwyliedig ohonom y flwyddyn yma. Mae mapiau a llunia o’r safle yn ddefnyddiol er mwyn i ni gael gweld yn union lle bydd y cloddio yn digwydd.

Rydym yn gweithio ar dy canol oesol, mewn neuadd lle ma seti y ffenestri  i’w gweld o hyd. Ar y llunia sydd genym ni, mae posib gweld lle tan ochr arall i’r neuadd o’r ffenestr, ond dydy hyn ddim yn golygu y bod nhw o’r un cyfnod na ‘r dyddiad oherwydd roedd y tai yn cael eu newid ac eu ail-ddylunio ar gyfer pwy bynnag oedd yn byw yno ar y pryd.

Mae ffoes 8 medr wedi cael ei osod o’r ffenestr at ben draw y lle tan gyda lled o tua 1.5 medr. Mae yna lawr lechan wedi ei dad-orchuddio wth y ffenestr ers flwyddyn diwethaf sydd yn bosib o’r 17^th ganrif. Dyma lle y dechreuodd fi a Mary heddiw, yn clirio tua 2 droedfedd o faw oddi ar y llawr lechan. Mae yna nifer fawr o lechi yn y baw sydd yn debygol o gynrychioli y to a fu dros yr adeilad ar un pryd. Rydym yn cadw golwg am lechi mwsgl sef llechan do efo twll ynddi lle buasai peg sgwar wedi cael ei roi.

Mae darganfyddiadau heddiw yn cynnwys tamaid o wydr gyda E arno, rhai darnau o grochenwaith gwyn, tameidiau o haearn a marblan.

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Day 1 – 04/08/14

The first part of the first day is always spent being brought up to date on the site, what has been done before and what we are hoping to achieve this season. Brynkir has been dug for a few seasons and so there is a rough expectation of what will be found. Maps and diagrams are useful to show the site from a birds eye view where certain areas can be highlighted.

We are working on a medieval manor house, specifically in a hall where window seats and alcoves can still be seen. On the plans it is possible to see a fire place directly on the opposite side of the particular window we are working from, although it doesn't necessarily mean they are from the same date as buildings are constantly modified and re-designed to suit those living there at the time.

A trench has been set up from the window alcove, extending around 8 meters to the furthest end of the fire place and reaching a width of around 1.5 meters. The slate floor, possibly dating to the 17^th century has been exposed at the base of the window seat and therefore, Mary and I started there, and began on removing some 2 feet of rubble and soil from the floor. The rubble includes a lot of slate that probably indicates the roof that once covered the hall. We have been instructed to keep a look out for moss slates which are a type of roof slate that have a visible hole at their top where a square peg was once located to hold them in place.

Finds from today included a piece of glass with an E on it, some pieces of white pottery, some fragments of iron and a marble.

Written by Lowri Roberts, one of our dedicated volunteers! Thank you, Lowri!