CAER Heritage was established in 2011 and is a collaboration between Action in Caerau and Ely (ACE), Cardiff University, local schools, residents, community groups and many others.
The project focuses upon the research of one of the most impressive, but under-appreciated heritage sites in Wales, Caerau Hillfort. This nationally important site is surrounded by the west Cardiff suburbs of Caerau and Ely, which are communities facing serious social and economic challenges.
From the beginning the guiding principle has been to actively involve community members, groups and heritage professionals in the co-production of archaeological and historical research to create educational opportunities, break down barriers to educational progression, promote skills development and challenge the negative perceptions of these communities.
CAER activities are wide-ranging and have included geophysics, excavations (including an excavation by Time Team in 2012), artefact analyses, exhibitions, art installations, films, heritage trails, performances, accredited courses and experimental archaeology.
Please take an opportunity to come and visit this amazing site, visit the CAER Heritage Centre, walk the trails and find out about upcoming activities.
Our Project
CAER activities are wide-ranging and have included geophysics, excavations (including an excavation by Time Team in 2012), artifact analyses, exhibitions, art installations, films, heritage trails, performances, accredited courses and experimental archaeology.
Over the next 3 years we’ll be undertaking a range of community-led excavations in and around the hillfort site. These will help us understand more about the development of the hillfort and how it relates to its surrounding landscape.
In June and July 2019 many of you helped us to complete a dig across the hillfort ramparts which will be part of the new heritage trails interpretation.
In the summer of 2022, we’ll be looking for volunteers to help with the geophysical survey and excavation of a potential Iron Age site in near-by Trelai Park.
Help us with our evaluation…
The CAER Heritage project has been funded by an extensive range of grant giving bodies
including the National Lottery Heritage Fund. As part of their support, the Lottery
programme has funded an independent evaluation of the project. Project Evaluator and community heritage specialist, Gareth Kiddie of GKA, said ‘We’ve been engaged in tracking the progress of the CAER Heritage project for nearly three years now. A similar survey was conducted before the project got underway, so we will be looking to compare the results. Early indications are that the project has been a great success, but we need hard evidence of what local people really think. This community survey will help us to do just that.’
The basis of the survey is a short questionnaire that takes no more than five minutes to complete. Hard copies of the questionnaire are available at the Hidden Hillfort Heritage Centre on Church Road in Caerau. The survey can also be completed online, go to: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CAER-Community. Each completed survey will be entered into a prize draw with an opportunity to win £50 in shopping vouchers.
For any further information about the survey please contact the CAER Heritage Project Evaluator, Gareth Kiddie, via email: gareth@gka.org.uk.