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THE ABERYSTWYTH ARCHAEOLOGICAL SECTION Members of the Cardiganshire Antiquarian Society will have become aware in the last three years of the creation of an Aberystwyth Archaeological Section, to which they have been invited to give the support of their names if they have an interest in that field. It seems appropriate to give, before another year passes, an explanation of tne need for a separate section, and a definition of its scope. This can best be done by first summarising the history of the former Aberystwyth Archaeological Society during its ten years of independence before embodiment in the Antiquarian Society. The formation of a new group was first suggested in the autumn of 1955, at the close of a short excavation directed by the present writer near Penrhyn-coch.1 The site was that of a previously unrecorded Bronze Age ring cairn, which had recently been ploughed over in the course of grassland improvement. The primary purpose, of examining the remains before further damage might be done, was backed up by the knowledge that there were several people in the Aberystwyth area who would welcome the opportunity to take part in an excavation. About a dozen volunteers attended regularly at weekends and on weekday evenings. The results stimulated a request for a course of evening lectures during the winter months, in order to back up the practical experience with some theoretical knowledge of archaeology. This evening class, which was arranged by the Extra-mural Depart- ment of the University College of Wales, attracted additional members, and a public showing of archaeological films in March 1956 further augmented the attendance at the first full meeting of the Aberystwyth Archaeological Society in April. Thirty-six members gathered to hear a statement of the aims and objects of the Society, and due prominence was given to the relation- ship between the new group and the long-established Cardiganshire Antiquarian Society. There had already been a meeting with the officers and other representatives of the county society, to examine every aspect of the need for an independent group. Views were frankly expressed on both sides, as follows The Aberystwyth Archaeological Society felt that it would be better able to carry out activities concerned with its special interest of field archaeology by remaining independent of a large society, whose interests were spread over a wider field, were more historical than archaeological, and in archaeology were more academic than practical. Furthermore, this special interest would be better expressed if centred territorially on Aberystwyth rather than diffused over the county. The Cardiganshire Antiquarian Society felt that such a group of locally interested Ceredigion, 1956, pp. 11-23 1957, pp. 118-23.