Here's the latest on the archeological dig being carried out at Castell Dinas Bran in partnership with Heneb, the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley team and supported by Cadw.
llanblogger caught up on the excavations with Sue Evans and Sam Thomson from Llangollen Museum to hear how the first days of this year’s dig are unfolding.
Sue Evans said: “It was a very, very blustery start on Day 1 – the weather was against us, but spirits stayed high! Our focus this year is the medieval gatehouse, building on what we uncovered in 2023.
"But what’s really exciting is that, for the first time, we’re putting a trench on the Iron Age ramparts. That’s completely new ground for us, and the team – including fantastic local volunteers – couldn’t wait to get started. We managed to strip turf on both trenches despite the wind, which felt like a real achievement.”
Sam Thomson: “By Day 2 things had calmed down a bit, at least on the eastern side. At the gatehouse trench we started to see later Victorian pottery coming up – probably linked to the old café that once stood on the castle site. Over at the ramparts, my trench exposed bedrock quite quickly on the slope, while colleagues working in the ditch unearthed medieval pottery – actually more than we found at the castle itself. It’s a reminder of just how complex the story at Dinas Bran is.”
Sue Evans again: “This is such an amazing opportunity for us, and we hope to be able to get some dating evidence during the dig which will enable us to consolidate what we think we know about the site. We will be sharing updates regularly, but if anyone is passing by, we’d love people to come along, ask questions, and see the progress for themselves. Our ultimate aim will be to have a display in the museum of the findings – watch this space!”
Dig background
The latest previous excavations at Dinas Bran shed new light on the medieval gatehouse. Archaeologists were able to confirm the layout of the defensive structures, including the portcullis, main gate door jamb, draw-bar holes, and the base of an elaborately carved wall pillar.
Evidence also suggests there are still well-preserved sections of high-status masonry buried on site, which could help determine whether the princes of Powys employed Welsh or Marcher masons during construction.
The team also confirmed the location of the doorway into the southern turret guardroom and uncovered surviving medieval floor levels within the gate passageway. Although the original floor in the southern turret could not be reached due to deep backfill, it almost certainly remains intact.
While artefacts were limited, two decorated shards of 13th-century pottery were found at the eastern entrance. Most importantly, the excavation has shown that extensive medieval deposits still survive beneath layers of rubble and landscaping debris. This means there is strong potential for further discoveries and more precise dating evidence in future investigations.
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