We gave talks about the CALCH Project to ten local community groups and at heritage events during 2012.

Public Meeting to launch CALCH

February saw the first 'Stakeholders' meeting and the first public meeting at the Black Mountain Centre in Brynaman.

CALCH Open Day in Llandeilo

In April we held a CALCH Open Day at the DAT offices. A series of posters to display at talks, events and exhibitions was created. The CALCH website 'went live'. CALCH also features on the new DAT Facebook and Twitter! sites. Talks on CALCH were given at Ammanford, Myddfai, Llanddeusant community, Llanddeusant WI, Gwynfe and Llangadog, at Amlwch in Angelsey to the Welsh Industrial Archaeology Panel. There was also a CALCH display and presentation at the Tywi Centre 'Open Day' in Llandeilo in April. Articles about CALCH have appeared in several newspapers and magazines.

Walks and Tours

On 21st -22nd July we held a successful two days of guided tours around the quarries to celebrate the Council for British Archaeology Festival of Archaeology in partnership with BBNPA and Fforest Fawr Geopark. Tours of the site were also given to the Fforest Fawr Geopark Re-validation Committee, the Brecon Beacons Trust Committee and the Dyfed Archaeological Trust AGM.

LiDAR

Archaeological analysis of LiDAR data in association with BBNPA and RCAHMW has been completed, and has enabled the plotting of the quarries and associated features covering an area of approximately 100 hectares of the Black Mountain to be made.

Mapping

This work formed the basis of a field survey of the Herbert's Quarry kilns, undertaken with local volunteers.

Field Survey

Another volunteer has been consulting the historic Census returns for the communities surrounding the quarries to identify people involved in the lime industry. These have been recorded on a GIS table, and will form a basis for future research.

Research

Menna Bell (DAT Community Archaeologist) and Sarah Rees (CBA Community Archaeology Bursary placement) have recorded interviews with people involved in mineral extraction on the Black Mountain. BBNP wardens have also been talking to local farmers about their memories of the quarries. Menna, Sarah and Ed Davies (our new CBA Community Archaeology Bursary placement) have also been contacting schools and community groups to encourage them to develop links with CALCH.

Bat Survey

A comprehensive bat survey has been commissioned to ascertain what bat related constraints may need to be taken into account during the project.

The interpretation workshop

An 'Interpretation Workshop' attended by DAT and BBNPA staff took place with Interpretation Consultants to enable the creation of an Interpretation Plan for the project, which is currently under way. Work on the Conservation and Management Plan is also under way.