Crawcwellt West iron-working settlement, Trawsfynydd consists of a cluster of later Prehistoric style settlement features, surveyed and partly excavated in 1986-9 (Crew 1989) and 1990-98 (Crew 1998). Extensive evidence for iron smelting and smithing was recovered. The site was partly reconstructed and consolidated for public display.

The site is made up of ruined circular buildings or roundhouses, at least one enclosed settlement area, dumps of iron slag and enclosures defined by 'wandering walls', all set over an area roughly 200m across on ground falling to the south-east. Stake walled roundhouses were recorded underlying some of the stone-walled structures. The iron working was dated to the period between the third century BC and the first century AD. The settlement would also have been involved in pastoral activities and possibly some cultivation. The various enclosures may have served as folds, gardens or paddocks.

Environmental analysis (Chambers & Lageard 1993) suggests woodland clearance in the Bronze Age, with a further episode, involving localised burning about 0BC/AD, followed by some regeneration. Later survey work in the area (Fairburn 2001), recorded extensive clearance and settlement features, along with several burnt mounds.

Sources: Crew in Archaeology in Wales 29 (1989), 11-16
38 (1998), 22-35
Chambers & Lageard in Archaeology in Wales 33 (1993), 23-5
Fairburn in Archaeology in Wales 41 (2001), 101-3

John Wiles 09.07.07