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1999 - Rediscovery: The site was first investigated by TY in late 1999, following-up an old report (Strahan & Cantrill, 1904) of a slag mound found during geological survey work. The large size of the slag mound on the river floodplain suggested that it was a water-powered post-medieval site.
2000 - Geophysics: The first geophysical survey was undertaken in 2000. The large size of the slag dump was confirmed, with large anomalies on the slopes above interpreted as the bloomery furnaces. Unexpectedly, the survey showed a series of features, interpretable as ditches, on the adjacent ridge top, in an area apparently also containing large amounts of slag. A few pieces of Roman pottery were recovered from the surface on the ridge.
2002 - Excavation: Work on the site was not possible in 2001 because of the Foot-and-Mouth disease outbreak. However, in 2002 we returned to the site to undertake some exploratory excavation. Two trenches were dug, confirming the Roman age not only of the ditches on the hilltop, but, surprisingly, also of the activity on the slope, where trench 2 produced evidence for a working platform terraced into the slope with evidence for smithing and smelting.
2003 - Geophysics: A third geophysical survey expanded the surveyed area both northwards and southwards. The key discovery was the recognition of part of a Roman fort extending to the north of the ridge top settlement area.
A second geophysical survey was undertaken in September to investigate the area immediately south of the M4; the survey did not, however, provide any indications of structures in this area.
2004 - Geophysics: A fourth geophysical survey was undertaken at Easter 2004. Additional magnetometer survey to the borth and west of the area previously surveyed indicated that the settlement extended significantly westwards, but not to the north. Resistivity surveying confirmed the location of the southern defences of the fort.
2004 - Excavation: Levelling of land close to Caergwanaf uchaf farm also provided the opportunity to test the western limit of the fort on the ground, and also to locate its west gate. The excavations were conducted jointly with Dr Peter Guest of Cardiff University. The objectives were achieved and fort ditches were discovered to form a "parrot's beak" entrance.