Uplands Initiative Field Projects 2011-12: Foel Goch Survey Report

An archaeological identification survey of a mountainous region on the north side of Bala (SH 947 416 centred), North Wales was undertaken from May 2011 to January 2012, by Oxford Archaeology North (OA North) on behalf of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW) as part of the Uplands Initiative. The project comprised an initial archaeological desk-based study, followed by a field identification survey.
The study area of Foel Goch covers an area of 16.69 sqkm of relatively rolling mountainous upland landscape with the northern end which includes the undulating ridgeline between Craig y Llwynog, Garnedd Fawr, Foel Goch, Orddu, Pen y Cerrig-serth and Moel Cae’r-ceiliog, forming the county boundary between Conwy and Gwynedd. The rest of the study area comprises rough grazing on the flanks of a group of interspersed hills of slightly lower altitude, rising from approximately 300m to over 600m on the highest ridges, with the moorland being fringed by improved and semi-improved enclosure on the lower slopes, in particular surrounding Cefn Caer Euni.