Drawing the Line: What’s Wat’s Dyke? Practice and Process

Often neglected and misunderstood, there are considerable challenges to digital real-world public engagement with Britain’s third-longest linear monument, Wat’s Dyke (Williams 2020a). To foster education understanding regarding of Dyke’s relationship the broader story Anglo-Welsh borderlands, but also encourage monument’s management conservation, we proposed creation a comic heritage trail (Swogger Williams 2020). Funded by University Chester Offa’s Association, selected one prominent stretch where is mainly damaged fragmentary yet remain well-preserved monumental sections. Around Wrexham, navigates varied topographies including following crossing river valleys, it accessible in vicinity North Wales’s largest town. In this article outline dialogue decision-making process behind map 10-panel comic: What’s Dyke? Wrexham Comic Heritage Trail 2021; Swogger 2021a–b). particular, consider stages taken adapt from initial plan producing bilingual guide response circumstances surrounding COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. This resource, published online Welsh English, guides visitors locals alike along central around town Bryn Alyn hillfort north Middle Sontley south. The thus responds highly fragmented nature monument utilises linearity as gateway explore complex borderlands prehistory present day. Building on earlier discussions 2019), illustrates potential future projects which use comics monuments features (from ancient trackways roads railways canals) constructed across world recent times.