Amateur archaeologists win the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Annual Award

Every year the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) select an individual or group whose contribution to the landscape and communities of the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley AONB have been outstanding.

This year’s award has been awarded to Clwydian Range Archaeology Group - CRAG

The group arose from the AONB’s Heather & Hillforts project a few years ago, and they have excavated  an area on the northern flanks of Moel Arthur, which revealed some interesting ‘finds’ from the Bronze Age.

They are an enthusiastic bunch of amateur archaeologists, led until recently by two or three people rather more qualified. Their total membership is about 30 including active members and supporters.

Last year, however, they lost the services of two of their leaders, which would have made continuing the dig impossible.

However, they applied successfully for a Heritage Lottery Grant, and have received support from the AONB Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) and with the funding they appointed  a professional archaeologist to train a few of them in the techniques of excavating ancient sites, as well as the most important procedure of recording their daily work and any discoveries they make.

They have held an Open day at Loggerheads, and more recently held an exhibition in the Gallery at Loggerheads.

Numerous walkers on the National Trail have stopped to ask questions, and are given a short talk by one of the team, this in turn stimulates interest in the hillforts which is good publicity for our AONB.

The AONB award is not the only award the group has won. At the end of 2017 they travelled to London to receive the Marsh Archaeology Community Award. However I am sure this award means more to the group as it is from the local area and after all they are named after a part of our very special AONB. Congratulations to CRAGs!

Crag members being presented with the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley Award by the Chair of the Joint Committee Councillor Hugh Jones (Deputy Leader for Wrexham County Borough Council) at County Hall, Mold.

From the left, Pat Daley, Wendy Whitby, Councillor Hugh Jones, Keith Lowery, Karen Lowery