Help reveal effects of climate change on coastal archaeology

Volunteers are wanted to help identify coastal archaeology sites affected by erosion in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and in Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion.
The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority is taking part in a project called Arfordir, which means ‘coastline’, along with Dyfed Archaeological Trust and Cadw.
James Meek, from Dyfed Archaeological Trust, explained: “The project is about our coastal heritage and how it is constantly being altered by the sea.

“The day to day action of the sea, like the changing tides, affects our coastal archaeology. But climate change and rises in sea level will increase the risks of flooding and coastal erosion. Our coastal archaeology is precious, irreplaceable and under threat.
“So what we’d like to do with Arfordir is find out a bit more about what these alterations to our coastal heritage are and to record and understand them better.”
Three events are being held in Pembrokeshire for people to find out how they can get involved: Thursday, May 28, at the Picton Centre, Haverfordwest, at 6.30 pm; Wednesday, June 10, at Fishguard Market Hall, at 6.30 pm, and Wednesday, June 17, at Lamphey Church Hall, at 6.30 pm.
National Park Authority archaeologist Polly Groom added: “This is a really exciting project and we hope plenty of people will want to be involved.
“We do have some sites in mind, such as Abermawr, where we know there is a lot of coastal erosion occurring very quickly because of the kind of geology there.
“But we also want people to tell us about sites we don’t know about yet. Hundreds of people are out on the coast all the time - walking their dogs, riding their horses or taking their families out - and they’re the best people to spot things that we wouldn’t otherwise see.”
Working with professional archaeologists, volunteers will receive training in how to identify and record archaeological sites, and will then monitor their condition over time. There will also be opportunities for follow-up work on particularly threatened sites, such as geophysical survey, excavation, field-walking and producing interpretive material.
To find out more about Arfordir in Pembrokeshire, contact Polly Groom at the National Park Authority on 0845 345 7275. In Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion, contact James Meek on 01558 825980.