WALES | Home Front Legacy 1914-18

1914-1918: Treftadaeth y rhyfel yng Nghymru

Cafodd y Rhyfel Byd Cyntaf effaith helaeth ledled Cymru – ni chafodd unman lonydd wrth i’r wlad gyfan baratoi i gyfrannu at ymdrech y rhyfel.

Gan mlynedd wedyn mae’r genhedlaeth a fu’n dyst iddo bron â darfod, a’r hyn sydd ar ôl yw’r gweddillion ffisegol – adeiladau, tirluniau ac arteffactau. Mae gan archaeoleg ran bwysig i’w chwarae o ran deall a chofio’r rhyfel byd-eang hwn.

Yr effaith ar y tirwedd

Roedd effaith y rhyfel yn aruthrol. Roedd ymdrech recriwtio enfawr, a gofyn symud a hyfforddi dynion o bob rhan o’r wlad. recriwtio màs, cynnull a hyfforddi o ddynion ar draws y wlad. Cafodd diwydiannau eu haddasu neu eu ehangu, a gwelwyd newidiadau mawr mewn amaethyddiaeth a choedwigaeth a gafodd effaith enbyd ar ffabrig y tirwedd drefol a gwledig ar draws Gymru.

Archaeoleg yr Ymgyrch Gartref

Astudiaeth o gymdeithasau y gorffennol trwy edrych ar ddiwylliant materol yw archaeoleg. Mae hyn yn cynnwys tirweddau, adeiladau, strwythurau, gwrthgloddiau, nodweddion claddedig, areffactau a dogfennau. Gall astudio yr olion hyn ein helpu i ddeall effaith y rhyfel ar fywydau pob dydd pobl Cymru.

Mae Cadw, Comisiwn Brenhinol Henebion Cymru a’r Ymddiriedolaethau Archaeolegol yng Nghymru yn ymchwilio i’r effaith y cafodd y rhyfel ar ein tirluniau, adeiladau a strwythurau.

Sut i gymryd rhan

Yn ystod blynyddoedd y canmlwyddiant gallwch ymuno â phrosiectau ledled Cymru i ganfod, adnabod a deall safleoedd sy’n ymwneud â’r ymateb milwrol neu’r ymateb sifil i ryfel.

Mae Cyngor Archaeoleg Prydain wedi datblygu pecyn cymorth cofnodi a chanllawiau ar-lein i’ch helpu i gofnodi gweddillion y Rhyfel Byd Cyntaf yng Nghymru. Cofrestrwch yma er mwyn dod o hyd i’r app cofnodi neu i lwytho ffurflen gofnodi electroneg ar gyfer Cymru i lawr, ac anfonwch eich canfyddiadau o’r safleoedd i’r Ymddiriedolaethau Archaeolegol.

Mae Cadw, Comisiwn Brenhinol Henebion Cymru a’r Ymddiriedolaethau Archaeolegol yng Nghymru i gyd yn cydlynu amrediad o weithgareddau a digwyddiadau ynglŷn â’r Rhyfel Byd Cyntaf. Os hoffech gymryd rhan neu os hoffech wybod beth sy’n digwydd yn eich ardal chi, cysylltwch â’r Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol leol i gael rhagor o wybodaeth.

Cysylltiadau yng Nghymru

Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Clwyd-Powys
Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust
www.cpat.org.uk 01938 553670

Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Dyfed
Dyfed Archaeological Trust
www.dyfedarchaeology.org.uk 01558 823121

Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Morgannwg-Gwent
Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
www.ggat.org.uk 01792 655208

Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Gwynedd
Gwynedd Archaeological Trust
www.heneb.co.uk 01248 352535

CBA Cymru
www.archaeologyUK.org/cbawales

Comisiwn Brenhinol Henebion Cymru
Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales
www.cbhc.gov.uk
www.rcahmw.gov.uk 01970 621200

Cyngor Archaeoleg Prydain
www.homefrontlegacy.org.uk

Cymru’n Cofio Wales Remembers
www.cymruncofio.org www.walesremembers.org

RNAS Llangefni Airfield, Anglesey courtesy Gwynedd Archaeological Trust

1914-1918: The legacy of the war in Wales

The First World War was an overwhelming event, which had widespread effects across Wales – no area was left untouched as the whole country geared up to contribute to the war effort.

One hundred years on the generation that witnessed it has almost gone, and what we are left with are the physical remains – buildings, landscapes and artefacts. Archaeology has an important role to play in understanding and remembering this global conflict.

The impact on the landscape

The impact of the war was huge. There was mass recruitment, mobilisation and training of men across the country. Industries were adapted or expanded, and changes took place in agriculture and forestry, which profoundly affected the fabric of the urban and rural landscape across Wales.

The archaeology of the Home Front

Archaeology is the study of past society through material culture. This includes landscapes, buildings, structures, earthworks, buried features, artefacts and documents. Studying these remains can help us understand the impact of the war on the everyday lives of the people of Wales.

The Welsh Archaeological Trusts, Cadw and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales are all exploring the effects the war had on our landscapes, buildings and culture.

How you can get involved

During the centenary years you can get involved with projects across Wales to discover, identify and understand sites that relate to either the military or civil response to war.

The Council for British Archaeology has developed the online recording toolkit and guidance on this Home Front Legacy website to help you record First World War remains in Wales. Register here to access our recording app or download the electronic recording form for Wales and submit your findings on sites to the Welsh Archaeological Trusts.

Cadw, the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales and the Welsh Archaeological Trusts are all coordinating a range of activities and events relating to the First World War. If you would like to become involved or want to know what is happening in your area then contact your local Welsh Archaeological Trust to find out more.

See Cadw’s website for more on the Home Front Legacy 1914-18 campaign in Wales.

Contacts in Wales