A Corpus of Early Medieval Inscribed Stones and Stone Sculpture in Wales, Volume III, North Wales

Principal Subject of the Research
The inscribed stones and stone sculpture are still the most prolific form of material evidence for Wales cAD 400-1100. Analysis of the catalogue data on monument context, form, ornament and inscriptions illuminates research questions about this formative period of Welsh history. These are addressed in the catalogue discussions and brought together in the introductory chapters. The material throws unique light on questions concerning conversion to Christianity, identification of early church sites, their hierarchy and evolution, as well as changes in liturgy and belief. The inscriptions provide the main source for study of the Welsh and Irish languages in post-Roman Wales and their evolution and can shed light on literacy and learning. The identification of local and regional sculptural groups contributes to debates concerning wealth and the exploitation of resources (stone), the role of patronage, changing cultural identities, the impact of Irish, Anglo-Saxon and Viking settlement in Wales, and the significance of Welsh cultural and artistic contacts with other parts of Britain and Ireland, especially around and across the Irish Sea, as well as with the Continent.
Key Aims
Completion of A Corpus of the Early Medieval Inscribed Stones and Stone Sculpture in Wales, Volume III: North Wales, the final volume of the Welsh early medieval sculpture corpus series, thereby finishing the overall project, the first country in Britain to be completed to modern scholarly standards. This will complete the provision of a pan-Wales multi-disciplinary, well illustrated analytical catalogue and introductory discussion. This will act as the key resource on the subject for the foreseeable future and may be used by other scholars, both in the UK and globally, in a range of disciplines (archaeology, history, Celtic Studies, geology, religious studies); also by public and heritage bodies, e.g. Cadw, facilitating future protection and display; other specialists e.g. archaeological units. Completion of the published resource will allow wider academic and more popular dissemination.
Where and how the research will be undertaken
The book analyses data collected for the catalogue and sets it within the broader context of research on early medieval inscribed stones and stone sculpture in Wales, elsewhere in Britain, Ireland and elsewhere in Europe as appropriate. It will also take into account relevant published research on the archaeology, history, languages and religion of Britain, Ireland and Europe. Initially research focussed on primary and secondary written material, including published books and academic articles and medieval and later manuscripts in Bangor, Aberystwyth and Oxford and relevant on-line data, to write draft catalogue entries and bibliographies for each monument. Fieldwork was then conducted throughout north Wales and in National Museum Cardiff to record and check each extant monument and its original find-site if appropriate to enable final catalogue descriptions to be written; comparative material was visited where appropriate. Additional comparative research, for example on Continental material, was carried out in Oxford. Using the data gathered in preliminary research, fieldwork and comparative work, and incorporating research of my collaborators, I am now writing up discussions of individual monuments and the broader introductory analytical chapters, a process which would be completed by the award of a Fellowship.
Others involved
The Corpus has been undertaken with the continuing support of two partners: The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales and National Museum Wales. For Volume III: North Wales photographs and line-drawings have been done specially by or for the RCAHMW. Specialist contributors are Jana Horak and Heather Jackson (NMW, geology); Patrick Sims-Williams(Celtic languages); David N. Parsons (runes); Helen McKee (later palaeography).

A. Welsh Assembly Government: Identification of new monuments and fieldwork for the Corpus, including Volume III, has highlighted the current condition of all inscribed and sculptured stones and risks to the resource. At Cadw's request the raw data has been used to compile the first graded 'At Risk' Register of the material (as indicated in the Welsh Historic Environment Strategic Statement: Action Plan). This is being used to formulate future Cadw strategies to conserve and safeguard the monuments and better display them to the public. It will also inform Cadw grant-aid policy. A review of scheduling policy regarding the stones is on-going; data from the project has influenced legal discussions regarding definitions of a scheduled monument which, it is hoped, will contribute to future Heritage legislation. A review of the medieval scheduled monuments will result in more stones being scheduled. Basic data from the monograph and project will be incorporated into Coflein, the RCAHMW National Monuments on line database, and inform regional Welsh Historic Environment Records (HERs) which will go live shortly, thereby arriving at a global audience. Photographs taken for the monograph will be used on Coflein. Data gathered will also inform a website to be hosted by the RCAHMW for the Committee for the Preservation of Early Medieval Inscribed Stones and Stone Sculpture in Wales chaired by the applicant and set up by the Cadw Ancient Monuments Board, which will also highlight their interest to the public. A conference in 2013, Early Medieval Sculptural Studies - progress and prospect, will highlight not only academic scholarship but also good practice in protection and display, both within and beyond Wales.
B. Data from the project supplied to the Church in Wales Representative Body will in the longer term inform Diocesan Faculty Advisory Boards and also incumbents, PCCs and congregations about the significance of monuments in their care so helping to safeguard their future.
C. Publication of Volume III will inform National Museum Wales, regional and local museums and private galleries e.g. Gwynedd Museum and Art Galley, The Grosvenor Museum, Chester, Plas Glyn y Weddw about monuments in their collections.
D. The publication and data supplied to Coflein and HERs will inform the commercial and private sector e.g. developers with monuments on their land, archaeological companies, exhibition designers etc.
E. Research for the project on the Pillar of Eliseg has already resulted in heightened public interest in this Cadw Guardianship monument centred on Llangollen Museum. I will be leading a team to conduct trial excavations on the site in July 2010 and 2011 prior to conservation of the barrow it stands on and the installation of better on site explanation of the monument itself. The results of research on the monument will be disseminated to a wide audience as the excavation open day is part of Llangollen fringe festival and British Archaeology Week.
F. Communication and engagement with the wider public and heritage bodies concerning the role of the monuments in Welsh early medieval archaeology, history and heritage will be facilitated by popular articles when Volume III is published, e.g. Heritage in Wales; British Archaeology. There is also an ongoing series of popular lectures to local heritage (e.g. Talwrn Group (Anglesey), Caernarfonshire Historical Society) and church groups (e.g. Abergele Festival) in north Wales, thereby raising the profile of the material and encouraging visits. In the longer term artists e.g. Mary Lloyd Jones, typographers etc are also inspired by carved ornament and other motifs on the stones: the publication and photographs on Coflein can aid their creative output.