Radiocarbon dating suggests activity at Strata Florida 7,500 years ago

An aerial shot of Strata Florida.

Excavations in the courtyard where charcoal samples were found

Last year’s excavations at Strata Florida, the former Cistercian Abbey in Mid Wales, uncovered material dating back 7,500 years.
 
The excavations, which were part of a public field school, will continue in 2025 and booking is now open. Over the past five years, excavations have focused on the courtyard of Mynachlog Fawr farm buildings which are being refurbished by Strata Florida Trust. 
 
A number of structures and features under the courtyard have been revealed, including a major aqueduct and medieval buildings, which once formed part of the Cistercian Abbey, along with some earlier structures.
 
Following last year’s annual archaeology field school, 11 charcoal samples were collected form the site and sent to specialists for radiocarbon dating. Five are from the late 12th and 13th centuries, dating from the time of the medieval Cistercian monastery.
 
A further five samples, relating to structures at the site, date from between 951AD and 1172AD and seem to be associated with flagged surfaces and stone walls, predating the arrival of the Cistercians on the site in 1184.
 
They provide strong evidence to support the theory of pre-Cistercian use of the site and potentially an earlier church or monastery. The final sample dates from between 5920 and 5758BC, a staggering 7,500 years ago in the Mesolithic Era.
 
How the site was used prior to the arrival of the Cistercians is still unclear, but continued excavations and the use of techniques, such as radiocarbon dating, will help to further the trust’s research and understanding.
 
The Strata Florida Archaeology Field School offers training to all and will run from June 16 to July 13 this year. Places are available for one to four week courses and digger day experiences. A range of bursaries is available including one for students.
 
For more information or to book a place at the school, visit the website: Archaeology Field School (strataflorida.org.uk) or email at [email protected]
 
Strata Florida Trust is restoring Mynachlog Fawr farmhouse and farm buildings, bringing new economic, social and cultural life to the area, whilst also celebrating site’s unique landscape and history. 
 
A free ‘Mynachlog Fawr Exhibition’ is being held in a building on the site, giving visitors of all ages a chance to explore the social and agricultural history of the house and the local area.
 
The exhibition also contains an interactive Virtual Histories educational experience, which allows visitors to travel back to see a day in the life of Mynachlog Fawr farm in 1947 and the abbey in 1238.
 
The trust is a member of MWT Cymru, an independent organisation that represents around 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across Ceredigion, Powys and Southern Snowdonia. For more information, visit https://www.mwtcymru.co.uk/ .