Dr Oliver Davis

Uwch Ddarlithydd, Cyd-gyfarwyddwr Prosiect Treftadaeth CAER

: Ar gael fel goruchwyliwr ôl-raddedig

I am the co-director, along with Dr Dave Waytt, of the CAER Heritage Project. Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the Caerau And Ely Rediscovering (CAER) Heritage Project is a collaborative project between Cardiff University, Ely and Caerau Communities First, local schools and local residents. The project is based around one of Cardiff's most important, but little-known, archaeological sites, Caerau Iron Age hillfort, and seeks to engage local people and school children in their shared history and help challenge marginalisation.

Ely and Caerau are great places with strong communities, but today they are only suburbs of Cardiff, Wales' capital city, and face significant social and economic problems. Yet, before the advent of the Roman invasions in AD74, Caerau hillfort was the major power centre for the entire Cardiff region and is one of the largest and most impressive hillforts in south-east Wales. During the Medieval period a ringwork and church (St Mary's) were built within the ancient Iron Age defences and their impressive remains can still be seen today.

The CAER Heritage Project's objective is to help the people of Caerau and Ely to connect with this site's fascinating the past and make it relevant to the present. From the outset the project's key objectives have been to put local people at the heart of cutting-edge archaeological research, to develop educational opportunities and to challenge stigmas and unfounded stereotypes ascribed to this part of Cardiff.

Please visit the CAER Heritage Project website to find out more about the project, and if you would like further information about the project please contact me on the email address or telephone number given above.

2023

Davis, O. et al. 2023. Trelai Park, Cardiff: An interim report on the 2022 excavations. Cardiff: Department of Archaeology & Conservation, School of History Archaeology and Religion, Cardiff University.
Davis, O., Dennis, I. and Muller-Kissing, J. 2023. Neue Forschungen zu eisenzeitlichen Höhenbefestigungen im Kreis Lippe / Nord-Rhine-Westphalia. In: Von Schumann, R. et al. eds. Eisenzeitliche Erinnerungskulturen - Zum Umgang eisenzeitlicher Gemeinschaften mit Relikten der Vergangenheit. Beiträge zur Ur- und Frühgeschichte Mitteleuropas Vol. 107. Weißbach: Beier und Beran, pp. 209-21.

2022

Walker, E. A. and Davis, O. 2022. Burry Holms, Gower, Wales, UK: the prehistory of an island. Archaeological Journal 179(1), pp. 83-140. (10.1080/00665983.2021.1936754)

2020

Davis, O. and Sharples, N. 2020. Excavations at Caerau Hillfort, Cardiff: towards a narrative for the hillforts of southeast Wales. In: Late Prehistoric Fortifications in Europe: Defensive, Symbolic and Territorial Aspects from the Chalcolithic to the Iron Age: Proceedings of the International Colloquium 'FortMetalAges', Guimarães, Portugal. Archaeopress, pp. 163-181.

2019

Davis, O., Horton, D., McCarthy, H. and Wyatt, D. 2019. CAER heritage: legacies of co-produced research. In: Graham, H. and Vergunst, J. eds. Heritage as community research: Legacies of co-production. Policy Press, pp. 129-148.
Davis, O. 2019. Danebury and the Heuneburg: creating communities in Early Iron Age Europe. European Journal of Archaeology 22(1), pp. 67-90. (10.1017/eaa.2018.30)
Davis, O. 2019. The Late Norse activity on mound 2. In: Sharples, N. ed. A Norse Settlement in the Outer Hebrides: Excavations on Mounds 2 and 2A, Bornais, South Uist. Oxbow
Davis, O. 2019. The peripheral stratigraphic sequences (Areas A, H, I and J). In: Sharples, N. ed. A Norse Settlement in the Outer Hebrides: Excavations on Mounds 2 and 2A, Bornais, South Uist., Vol. 3. Bornais Oxbow
Davis, O. 2019. The Middle Norse transition phase on mound 2 (BD). In: Sharples, N. ed. A Norse Settlement in the Outer Hebrides: Excavations on Mounds 2 and 2A, Bornais, South Uist., Vol. 3. Bornais Oxbow
Davis, O. 2019. The middle Norse house on mound 2 (BC). In: Sharples, N. ed. A Norse Settlement in the Outer Hebrides: Excavations on Mounds 2 and 2A, Bornais, South Uist. Oxbow
Davis, O. 2019. The Late Iron Age and Early Norse activity on mound 2. In: Sharples, N. ed. A Norse Settlement in the Outer Hebrides: Excavations on Mounds 2 and 2A, Bornais, South Uist. Oxbow
Davis, O. and Waddington, K. 2019. The final occupation of the settlement. In: Sharples, N. ed. A Norse Settlement in the Outer Hebrides: Excavations on Mounds 2 and 2A, Bornais, South Uist. Oxbow

2018

Davis, O. 2018. Iron Age burial in Wales: patterns, practices and problems. Oxford Journal of Archaeology 37(1), pp. 61-97. (10.1111/ojoa.12131)
Davis, O., Dennis, I. and Muller-Kissing, J. 2018. Excavations at the Grotenburg and Piepenkopf Hillforts, Westphalia, Germany: An Interim Report. Project Report. Cardiff Studies in Archaeology.

2017

Davis, O. 2017. Filling the gaps: the Iron Age in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 83, pp. 325-256. (10.1017/ppr.2016.14)
Davis, O. and Sharples, N. 2017. Early Neolithic enclosures in Wales: a review of the evidence in light of recent discoveries at Caerau, Cardiff. Antiquaries Journal 97, pp. 1-26. (10.1017/S0003581517000282)
Vergunst, J., Curtis, E., Davis, O., Johnston, B., Graham, H. and Shepherd, C. 2017. Material legacies: shaping things and places in collaborative heritage research. In: Facer, K. and Pahl, K. eds. Valuing Interdisciplinary Collaborative Research: Beyond Impact. Policy Press, pp. 153–172., (10.1332/policypress/9781447331605.003.0008)
Davis, O. 2017. Excavations at the deserted medieval village of Michaelston-super-Ely, 2016: An Interim Report.. Project Report. Cardiff University.

2016

Davis, O., Sharples, N., Wyatt, D., Brook, D. and Young, T. 2016. Geophysical survey and community engagement at Caerau Ringwork, Cardiff. Archaeology in Wales 55, pp. 13-19.
Davis, O. and Sharples, N. 2016. Excavations at Caerau Hillfort, Cardiff, South Wales, 2015: an interim report. Project Report. Cardiff: Cardiff Studies in Archaeology.

2015

Davis, O. 2015. From football stadium to Iron Age hillfort: creating a taxonomy of Wessex hillfort communities. Archaeological Dialogues 22(1), pp. 45-64. (10.1017/S1380203815000094)
Barker, L., Davis, O., Driver, T. and Johnston, R. 2015. Skomer Island: North Stream settlement, hut group 8. Report of the trial excavation of a Late Iron Age mound of burnt stone. Archaeology in Wales 54, pp. 152-158.
Davies, T., Davis, O. and Seaman, A. 2015. The Eastern Vale of Glamorgan Palaeoenvironmental Resource Assessment Project: summary report. Archaeology in Wales 54, pp. 164-167.
Davis, O., Sharples, N. M. and Wyatt, D. 2015. The CAER Heritage Project: A note on a second season of fieldwork at Caerau Hillfort, Cardiff, 2014. Archaeology in Wales 54, pp. 35-42.
Davis, O. and Driver, T. 2015. Llancayo Farm Roman marching camp, Usk, Monmouthshire. Archaeologia Cambrensis 163, pp. 173-184.
Ancarno, C., Davis, O. and Wyatt, D. 2015. Forging communities: the CAER Heritage Project and the dynamics of co-production. In: O'Brien, D. and Matthews, P. eds. After Urban Regeneration: Communities, Policy and Place. Policy Press, pp. 113-130.
Davis, O., Sharples, N. and Wyatt, D. 2015. Excavations at Caerau hillfort, Cardiff, South Wales, 2014: an interim report. Project Report. [Online]. Cardiff: School of History Archaeology and Religion Cardiff University,. Available at: https://caerheritageprojectdotcom1.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/caerau-interim-v1-1.pdf

2014

Davis, O., Young, T., Pannett, A. and Madgwick, R. 2014. Excavations of a second iron age enclosure on Winnall Down, Winchester, Hampshire, 2006. Hampshire Studies 69, pp. 23-48.
Davis, O., Sharples, N. M. and Wyatt, D. 2014. The CAER Heritage Project: A preliminary note on recent research and community engagement at Caerau Hillfort, Cardiff. Archaeology in Wales 53, pp. 119-125.
Davis, O. and Sharples, N. M. 2014. Excavations at Caerau Hillfort, Cardiff, South Wales, 2013: an interim report.. Project Report. [Online]. Cardiff University. Available at: https://caerheritageprojectdotcom1.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/caerau-interim-web.pdf

2013

Davis, O. 2013. Re-interpreting the Danebury assemblage: houses, households, and community. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 79, pp. 353-375. (10.1017/ppr.2013.16)
Barker, L. and Davis, O. 2013. Ground survey of Grassholm Island. Archaeology in Wales 52, pp. 155-157.
Barker, L., Davis, O., Driver, T. and Johnston, R. 2013. Geophysical survey on Skomer Island. Archaeology in Wales 52, pp. 158-159.

2012

Davis, O. 2012. The archaeology of Grassholm Island, Pembrokeshire. Studia Celtica 46(1), pp. 1-10.
Davis, O. 2012. Processing and working with LiDAR data in ArcGIS: a practical guide for archaeologists. Technical Report.
Driver, T. and Davis, O. 2012. Cymru Hanesyddol o'r Awyr/Historic Wales from the air. Cardiff: Royal Commission of the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales.
Barker, L., Davis, O., Driver, T. and Johnston, R. 2012. Puffins admidst prehistory: reinterpreting the complex landscape of Skomer Island. In: Britnell, W. and Silvester, R. eds. Reflections on the Past: Essays in Honour of Francis Lynch. Cambrian Archaeological Association, pp. 280-302.
Redknap, M., Driver, T. and Davis, O. 2012. The St Fagans historic landscape project LiDAR survey. Archaeology in Wales 51, pp. 146-159.
Davis, O. 2012. A LiDAR survey of Skokholm Island, Gateholm Islet and the Marloes peninsula, Pembrokeshire. Archaeologia Cambrensis 160, pp. 115-132.

2011

Davis, O. 2011. Where to draw the line: scheduled ancient monuments and landscape characterisation in Wales. Internet Archaeology 29(5)
Davis, O. 2011. A re-examination of three Wessex type-sites: Little Woodbury, Gussage All Saints and Winnall Down. In: Moore, T. and Armada, L. eds. Atlantic Europe in the First Millennium BC: Crossing the Divide. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 171-186.

2010

Davis, O. 2010. An investigation of an Iron Age community on Winnall Down: households and neighbourhood groups. In: Sterry, M., Tullett, A. and Ray, N. eds. In search of the Iron Age: Proceedings of the Iron Age Student Seminar 2008. Leicester Archaeology Monograph 18 Leicester: University of Leicester School of Archaeology and Ancient History, pp. 83-110.

2008

Davis, O. 2008. The Early Iron Age enclosure at Winnall Down II: an interim report on the 2006 excavations. Working paper. Cardiff: Cardiff University.
Davis, O., Sharples, N. M. and Waddington, K. eds. 2008. Changing perspectives on the First Millennium BC: proceedings of the Iron Age Research Student Seminar 2006. Cardiff Studies in Archaeology. Oxford: Oxbow.

Overview

My main research interests lie in the understanding of later prehistoric settlement (particularly hillforts), farming and social patterns through a consideration of landscape relationships identified through remote sensing techniques. I have taken a lead role in the development of LiDAR as an archaeological prospection tool in Wales and have published widely on the use of this technique for identifying archaeology. I am also particularly interested in the later prehistoric, Roman and early medieval settlement of Glamorgan and have undertaken extensive aerial reconnaissance and air photo mapping in the area.

Other research

I am currently working with the RCAHMW on the investigation of the archaeology of two Welsh islands – Skomer and Grassholm. The Skomer Island Mapping Project is investigating a remarkably well preserved later prehistoric landscape through remote sensing (including aerial photography, LiDAR and geophysical survey) and ground survey. My work on Grassholm, combining ground survey with aerial reconnaissance, has identified a small prehistoric farmstead on the island as well as potentially early medieval structures.

I am module co-ordinator and lecturer for:

British Prehistory - 10 credits (HS2103)

I also teach on the following module:

Archaeological Photography - 10 credits (HS2407/HS2414)

Education and qualifications

2004-2010 PhD, Cardiff University, Title: A sense of place and space: an investigation of Iron Age communities in central and western Hampshire

2001-2002 MA British Prehistory, Cardiff University

1998-2001 BA Archaeology, Cardiff University

Career overview

2013-Present CAER Heritage Project Co-director

2011-2013 Aerial archaeologist, RCAHMW

2010-2011 Heritage Management Archaeologist, Dyfed Archaeological Trust

2009-2010 Archaeological Records Officer, Cadw

Aelodaethau proffesiynol

Institute for Archaeologists: Associate
Secretary of the IfA Next Generation Special Interest Group
Council for British Archaeology: Wales

I would be happy to supervise postgraduate research in:

Iron Age Wales
Later prehistoric societies and landscapes of southern Britain
The Iron Age in northern Europe
Public/community Archaeology

Goruchwyliaeth gyfredol

Sheridan Clements

Myfyriwr ymchwil

Contact Details

DavisOP@caerdydd.ac.uk
+44 29225 10215
Adeilad John Percival , Ystafell 5.44, Rhodfa Colum, Caerdydd, CF10 3EU

Archeolegwyr gwirfoddol yn cloddio'n ddyfnach yn un o barciau’r ddinas

External profiles

Research gate