The adults appear to be healthy and relatively young. None has vertebral degeneration nor any trace of osteoarthritis. There is no dental pathology. As for age deduced from dental attrition, only the primary cremation from the timber circle (site 1) and cremation 3 from site 2 have useful molar crown fragments (either first or second). Both show some flattening of die occlusal surface but with wear limited to level 3. This would give an age of 17-25 if first molars and 25-35 if second - in any case an upper limit of 35. The secondary cremation in the timber circle (site 1) and cremation 1 in the floor of the southern ditch terminal of site 2 arc young adults between 17 and 25.

The sexing of cremations in general has to be prefaced with a ‘probable’ because of the absence of the relevant pelvic remains, Le. the complete girdle with sub-pubic angle, etc.

Sues (mm) and ages arc estimated minima. Only floated material over 1mm was analysed.

The Radiocarbon dates were calibrated using the University of Washington Qaternary Research Centres computer programme CALIB, rev 3.0.1 (Stuiver & Reimer 1993). Dr J Ambers, British Museum Dept of Scientific Research helped arrange and interpret the dates for Sam -y-bryn-caled (sites 1 and 2) and Coed-y-Dinas (Site 3).

A sample of burnt clay (SBC 1), recovered from context 80, c. 0.5 m deep in the central pit of the umber ciicle, was examined by thermoluminescence (TL). The clay was expected to be either Bronze Age or Iron Age in date, being associated either with the timber circle or with the Iron Age metal working in the top of the central pit.

The TL dating method measures the time that has elapsed since the heating of the material (which zeroes the TL signal). The measurement consists of firstly a determination of the radiation dose received by the sample since its heating (through the examination of its TL) and secondly an assessment of the rate at which the radiation dose was received (carried out by radioactivity measurements). Further descriptions of the method are given by Aitken (1985) and Zimmerman (1971).

The outer 2 mm or more of the sample were cut away to remove those pans that had been exposed to light and to the alpha and beta activity of the surrounding sediment The interior piece was crushed, and fine grains of 2-10 mu were separated by suspension in dilute hydrochloric acid. The grains were then washed in water, methanol and acetone before deposition onto aluminium discs.

Samples of fired clay (L595), Peterborough Ware (L596. LS97, L598) and Beaker pottery (L599-602) were submitted for examination. They were studied using a x20 binocular microscope and in thin-section. The thin-sections were prepared using Dickson’s Method of saining, which distinguishes various types of carbonaie, although in this case none of the samples contained calcareous inclusions.

The dun sections were examined using a standardised procedure and die abundance, maximum size and any relevant comments were recorded for the following inclusion types:

Ten amorphous copper alloy fragments from Sam-y-bryn-caled, Powys, were submitted to the Department of Scientific Research for analysis. They were analysed qualitatively using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) to identify the major and trace elements. Three of the larger fragments were alto analysed quantitatively using inductively-coupled plasma spectrometry (ICP), allowing their compositions to be compared with other analyses of bronze age mctalwork (e.g. Northover, 1980).

In additionna number of clay/daub fragments ant i possible piece of slag from the upper levels of the central pit were analysed to try and determine whether they were connected with metalworking.

The purpose of these analyses is to assist in determining possible configurations of the original earthworks at Coed-y-dinas ring-ditch 1. This report contains a discussion of what art considered to be relevant geotechnical issues with some conclusions as to the range of configurations which might have existed. A summary of some of the calculations which have been carried out are given below.