An archaeological dig which uncovered what is believed to be the earliest house in Cardiff has resumed in a city park.

A heritage project is digging at Trelai Park near Caerau Hillfort, a site of national significance.

Last year’s initial dig revealed that the roundhouse, near Cardiff West Community High School, dates back to about 1,500 BC.

The latest excavations will focus on the floor of the roundhouse, which has remained largely intact beneath the park’s playing fields for 3,500 years.

Prior to the last dig, experts were hoping it would reveal what happened to people once they had moved on from the Hillfort, between the late Iron Age and early Roman period.

Caerau and Ely Rediscovering (CAER) Heritage Project co-director Dr Oliver Davis said: “We’re opening up further what we believe could be the earliest house discovered in Cardiff.

“The dig last year showed us that the floor of the roundhouse is remarkably well-preserved, giving us the chance to examine the surface that people were walking on 3,500 years ago.”

Michelle Powell of Action in Caerau and Ely said the digs brought “local people together to discover our incredible heritage”.

Scott Bees, 34, is a first year student on the BA ancient history and archaeology course.

A dad to five daughters aged six to 15, who lives with his family in Ely, he said: “My wife decided to go back to college a year before me and she persuaded me to do the same. I wanted to show my kids that you can always go for your dreams.”

Regular volunteer Jacque Young, who has lived in Caerau for more than 50 years, said: “I’ve loved getting involved. It’s exciting thinking this can be found on your own doorstep.”

Students from Years 7 and 8 at Cardiff West Community High School will also take part in the dig.

Head teacher Martin Hulland said: “Our students are proud to be involved once again in uncovering the rich heritage of their area.”

The dig will go on until 7 July, with an open day on 24 June.

A former Bristol Zoo car park has been sold to fund the first phase of construction of a new conservation zoo.

Money from the sale of the car park, once used for zoo visitors and staff, will fund the first phase of construction of a new conservation zoo at Wild Place Project.

The brownfield site, that has been out of use since September, has been acquired by the Hill Group.

The group says it plans to build 62 homes at the site.

At the Wild Place Project, to be called Bristol Zoo Project from summer 2023, the Bristol Zoological Society is creating new visitor facilities and play areas.

Homes for new species, a conservation campus for students and scientists and facilities for the breeding of highly-threatened animals are also part of the plans.

Justin Morris, chief executive of Bristol Zoological Society, said: “The sale follows Bristol City Council’s decision to grant planning permission for West Car Park at the end of last year.

“As Clifton residents since 1836, we want to leave behind a legacy that we can all be proud of.

“It is great to see the progress being made on the redevelopment of this historically-important location.”

An application for a judicial review on the decision was refused, which means planning permission for the site is now beyond challenge.

The Monument to 1300 Years of Bulgaria, which is also known as the Founders of the Bulgarian State Monument, is a large Cubist style monument that commemorates the foundation and also existence of the Bulgarian Empire, and it is located on a plateau above the tenth largest city in the Republic of Bulgaria, Shumen.

This interesting monument is 140 meters (459 feet) long and 70 meters (230 feet) tall, for which construction some 2,300 cubic meters (81,224 cubic feet) of earth were excavated, and 2,400 tons of reinforced steel together with 50,000 cubic meters (1,765,733 cubic feet) of concrete used for the completion.

This grandiose monument is visible for about 29 kilometers(18 miles) away, and stands above 457 meters (1,500 feet) above sea level, overlooking the city.

The first time for the construction of the monument was in 1977 during the preparations of the 1300th anniversary since the establishment of the Bulgarian State which was in 681.

Later in 1979, the construction began, completing the construction in 1981. Designed, as well as built by the sculptors Krum Damyanov and Ivan Slavov, architects Georgi Gechev and Blagoy Atanasov, artists Vladislav Paskalev and Stoyan Velev, and design engineer P. Hadzhov, the monument consists of two groups of concrete blocks separated by small spaces.

Together with 21 sculptures, they symbolize the establishment, development and progress of Bulgaria between the 7th and 10th century.

The first staue is of Khan Asparuh, who is considered to be the founder of Bulgaria. Standing with his sword stuck in the ground, hands raised and pointing in different directions to where the Bulgarian State will be, then followed by the statues of Tervel, Krum, and Omurtag, who were Bulgarian khans.

Surrounded by fragments of old Byzantine chronicles, there is a wise thought that is inscribed beneath them, and it reads: “Even if a man lives well, he dies and another one comes into existence. Let the one who comes later, upon seeing this inscription, remember the one who had made it… And the name is Omurtag, Kanasubigi.”

The Christianity’s symbol is also present at the upper part of the monument, finishing with a granite lion statue on top of the memorial. There are 11 figures that represent the Golden Age of Bulgaria under the reign of Simeon the Great, surrounded by men of letters, boyars, and soldiers.

Even though it is built in time of Communist rule, nowadays it has a prefect maintenance where no spot would be seen, and from time to time it is used as a place for wedding ceremonies.

A true historical fairytale-like memorial, that is visited by everyone who goes to Shumen, and wants to learn as much as possible from the ‘Giants’ that are carved out of concrete.