An excavation is often the first experience anyone has of the wonderful world of archaeology – hot, dusty sites, the steady scrape of synchronised trowels and the ever expectant air of imminent discovery...

We began our four-week investigation at Wernfawr, a deserted farmstead near Penybanc outside Llandeilo, during the spring. The site first came to our attention when excavations ahead of the construction of the gas pipeline in 2007, revealed a couple of corn drying ovens. These structures, which were once common near farmsteads, are now rarely seen. A small excavation in 2009 discovered evidence of the catastrophic fire that led to the abandonment of the farmhouse. What can we discover about life on a rural farmstead?