History hunters unearth Oystermouth Castle's past at big dig
A BIG dig to discover the hidden secrets of Oystermouth Castle may have unearthed the foundations of long-lost towers.
Archeologists, students and enthusiastic volunteers started a three-week excavation project on Monday, with the aim of finding the castle's mysterious drum towers.
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Jenny Wells, aged 21, an Egyptology graduate from Swansea University, sifts through debris
They wanted to find out when the towers were destroyed — or if they were ever there at all. Project supervisor Andy Sherman, of the Glamorgan and Gwent Archeological Trust, said: "So far, we think we've found part of the foundations of the south west drum tower. It's very exciting.
"Now we are looking to establish when the walls were taken down. They could have been removed by Oliver Cromwell, or they could have been taken down as part of a 19th Century rebuild."
If the foundations are part of the old drum towers — part of the 12th Century castle's defences which would have flanked the gatehouse — there will be a complex analysis process to find out when they were removed.
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by Stephen G, Swansea
Monday, July 06 2009, 9:27PM
“This excavation is good news - I agree with others here who say more should be done to exploit Swansea's history. It is shocking that nothing is done to exploit / make accessible the castle, the remains of Swansea's industrial past, the town walls - some towers of which were found off the Strand but who would know about it. This ties in with the neglect of the whole High Street - that is pretty much where Swansea began and there mst be a lot more still buried there”
by Heather, Mwmbwls
Saturday, July 04 2009, 8:31PM
“I take coffee at Sainsbury's and I will be WINKING at Galavanto????”
by geoff, mumbles
Saturday, July 04 2009, 7:08PM
“HA HA Its probably that you both take coffee in sainsburys”
by Heather, Mwmbwls
Saturday, July 04 2009, 5:45PM
“@ Galavanto, Swansea, oh my gosh, how did you know my nail clippings are bright blue???”
by Galavanto, Swansea
Saturday, July 04 2009, 5:12PM
“@ geoff,mumbles.....forget the half-crown Geoff...I'll buy you a pint anyway...More importantly, if you do manage to unearth Heathers toe-nail clippings on your foraging trips around the bin bags of Mumbles (they¿ll be the ones with traces of bright blue glitter varnish), could you pleeeeze bag em up and post em on to me c/o E.P.....Ta!¿.I have developed a fetish for all things Heather,Mwmbwls!!”