MEDIEVAL AND EARLY POST MEDIEVAL FISH TRAPS

This Cadw-funded project assessed the potential for adding medieval and early post-medieval fish trap sites to the schedule of ancient monuments in Dyfed, where such monuments are currently under-represented. A total of 63 sites were visited and recorded in 2012, ranging from wooden weirs in estuaries to extensive groups of stone-built traps along the Ceredigion coast. These included complexes such as the goredi at Aberarth, traditionally linked to a charter of 1184, which show evidence of continual rebuilding and adaptation. Although fish traps are often difficult to date, the survey demonstrated that many survive in good condition, with some of schedulable quality, particularly where multiple traps form significant groups.