The Nevern Castle Project - Site and Archaeological Excavations
SITE
Nevern Castle comprises a large ditched and ramparted enclosure or bailey,
its massive defences cutting off the end of the spur in a manner reminiscent
of an Iron Age or Early Medieval promontory fort. The defences are doubled
on the north side, from which it is now approached. The remaining sides
are defended by precipitous slopes plunging down to the river Gamman.
Overlying the north-western angle of the ramparts is a substantial motte.
On its summit, which stands perhaps 7m above the interior of the enclosure,
are traces of masonry, possibly the base of a round or polygonal masonry
tower? The eastern tip of the promontory is isolated from the bailey by
a massive, vertical sided, rock-cut ditch to form a small roughly triangular
court, described as the ‘Inner Castle’. Fragments of an earth
or clay bonded perimeter wall are visible whilst a mound of rubble, with
a protruding wall core on its north side, are all that remains of a rectangular,
square or apsidal tower, of mortared masonry, which once faced the bailey.
In 2008 a brief archaeological excavation in the bailey
revealed:
· Trench A: The bailey had been ploughed for crops throughout much
of the medieval period, though traces of early 12th century Anglo-Norman
wooden house are present beneath a layer of late 12th century occupation
material.
· Trench B: The remains of a mid to late 12th century clay bonded
stone building with a lain well carved stone doorway, destroyed (burnt
and the walls pulled down) at the end of the 12th century.
2008 EXCAVATION FINDS
Nine Men’s Morris Board – slate gaming board broken into 2
pieces plus small circular slate counter. This board appears to have been
dropped on the floor of the building found in Trench B, possibly when
the inhabitants were leaving the building ahead of its destruction. It
was formed of the natural slate of the site. Three Men’s Morris
‘was not known in Britain prior before the Norman conquest’.
It subsequently became very popular, being scribed on the walls and seats
of the cloisters of many 13th and 14th century English cathedrals. The
more complex forms of Six and Nine Men’s Morris also became popular
reaching their zenith in the 14th century and are still played today.
Examples have come from medieval sites, including Whitby Abbey and Criccieth.
The discovery of this Nine Men’s Morris board at Nevern Castle,
together with tablemen found at Loughor Castle and chessmen at Dryslwyn
Castle indicates that board games were frequently played in the castles
of 12th and 13th century Wales.
2009 EXCAVATIONS
This year we are excavating to top of the motte, so we can see the nature
of the earliest Anglo-Norman defences and how the later 12th century masonry
tower replaced the earlier wooden structure. Trench B will be extended
to reveal the extent of the 12th century stone building discovered in
2008. Trench A will be extended to reveal the extent and nature of the
Anglo-Norman wooden buildings. We also hope to see what lies beneath these
buildings – possibly the pre-Norman occupation. In 2010 we will
excavate the Inner Castle, so that over the next 2 seasons we will have
uncovered much of the 12th century masonry castle of the Lord Rhys and
its wooden Anglo-Norman predecessor built by Robert FitzMartin.
Dr Chris Caple
7/6/2009