Research

In the 2008 research assessment exercise 50% of our work was regarded as being world leading or internationally excellent, while a further 35% was internationally recognised.

All our staff are research active and specialists in their field. They publish widely in a variety of formats, from monographs and edited collections, to peer-reviewed journals and site reports. This generates a vibrant research culture, the basis of interdisciplinary seminars and conferences with colleagues from other Schools and Insititutions.

The fields of Medieval history and archaeology are supported through the research of a number of academic staff and postgraduates and operate under the frameworks of the School's three major Medieval research projects, Monastic Wales, Strata Florida and the Newport Medieval Ship.

Excellence in landscape and environmental archaeology is supported through the School's Palaeoenvironmental and GIS Laboratories. The Strata Florida Landscape project recently received funding from the Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies in order to Map the Great Gentry Estates of Mid Wales and this enabled the project GIS to be greatly enhanced. Teaching, research and contract services in collaboration with a number of professional organisations have allowed formal partnerships with Cadw, Dyfed Archaeological Trust and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales.

Research in brief

  • The School welcomes Anne Muller as a Visiting Leverhulme Fellow attached to both the Monastic Wales and the Strata Florida Research Projects. Anne will be studying monastic precincts within Wales and a recent Wales-Ireland workshop established the potential for collaboration across the Irish Sea.
  • Archaeology of the Mabinogion is a new project directed by Dr Jemma Bezant and a pilot scheme has been funded by UWTSD, the Nuffield Foundation and the Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies. Excavations and survey aims to elucidate Welsh settlement ans territory that predates 12th century in Wales and especially focusses on those locations mentioned in Welsh myth and legend.
  • Nigel Nayling's current AHRC-funded ShipShape project designed to explore in 3D the virtual modelling of the Newport Medieval Ship gets underway and project news can be viewed here.
  • Material Culture continues to be the subject of study for a number of archaeologists and anthropologists and a recent workshop hosted by Dr Louise Steel attracted a number of participants from across the UK.
  • Offshore renewable energy impact network (OREIN). This network funded by Welsh Government under the Academics for Business Scheme is examining the impacts of offshore renewable energy development on cultural heritage and is lead by UWTSD in collaboration with Bangor University, Swansea Metropolitan University and Pembrokeshire College.