Working within a UNESCO World Heritage Site

During the Autumn, staff and students, in collaboration with Dorothea Pumped Hydro, carried out conservation and recording work within the UNESCO World Heritage Slate Landscapes of North Wales. The focus of study was a bridge called Pont Sarn Wyth-dŵr (‘the bridge of the causeway of the eight waters’), located on the edge of Dorothea Slate Quarry. The bridge had initially been misidentified as a 19th century causeway used to transport slate from the quarry. Research carried out by Bangor University students identified the bridge to be of much older origin, predating the founding of the quarries.

A detailed archaeological survey was undertaken, allowing an assessment of the site’s current condition. For this survey to be carried out, intrusive vegetation was removed from the bridge. Vegetation was carefully removed by hand, to minimize any damage to the site. Work this year prioritize the northern elevation and top of the bridge, it is planned to return at Easter to survey the southern elevation.

The survey of the bridge was carried out using a range of survey techniques using 3D digital scanners, total station survey and drone survey. The combination of these techniques provides a high-resolution record of the bridge and its immediate location.

The project has allowed our students to undertake work within a World Heritage area and make a significant contribution to the ongoing management of this important historical site. Skills developed through participation have exposed students to a wide range of digital recording equipment that play an increasingly important role in the contemporary heritage sector.

You can view some of the 3D digital scans here.