Elan Valley Festival of Archaeology

The landscape of the Elan Valley has been the backdrop of thousands of years of history and is essential to our common heritage. Protected, well maintained and thoroughly cherished, visitors can enjoy picturesque scenery and delve into its long history with our interactive festival of creative displays, from Dinosaurs to dam busting. 

Join us on a walk through time from the lost worlds of the ‘terrible lizards’ to secret WW2 experiments. Venture into Elan’s Jurassic park, learn the skills of our stone age ancestors and witness the casting crafts of the Bronze Age. Learn how the Romans marched, camped and fought as they conquered Wales. See the medieval artisans creating furniture, leather work and see everyday life from the 12th to 15th Century. Watch the reenactment of a 12th century ambush as a Norman lord seeks revenge on a Welsh prince. Meet the Victorian navies and villagers. Visit a Victorian doctor and learn about disease,medicine and surgery from 150 years ago. Learn how the Victorian dams were built and how they were guarded during the 2 world wars. Also meet some of the national and regional leading heritage and archaeology groups, organisations and Trusts. Demonstrations throughout the day of replicating archaeological artifacts, traditional skills, 3D CGI video launch of the latest interpretation of Esgair Perfedd roman marching camp, Cwm Elan Victorian lead and zinc mines and hear about the latest archaeological discoveries at Elan Valley.