Archaeologists have made a significant discovery in North East Wales, uncovering what is believed to be an extremely rare early Medieval longhouse, alongside a Roman settlement.
The excavation, led by a team from the University of Chester, Heneb: the Trust for Welsh Archaeology, and the Portable Antiquities Scheme, took place near the Holt Roman tile and pottery works in Wrexham. While the team anticipated finding Roman-era materials, the discovery of the early Medieval longhouse was unexpected and is considered a rare find in the region.
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The early Medieval longhouse, a long and narrow communal dwelling, was uncovered alongside structural features, building materials, ceramics, and artifacts such as a stamped legionary tile and a fragment of a brooch.
An image from the geophysical survey which highlighted the site’s archaeological potential. Image courtesy University of Chester
Dr. Caroline Pudney, Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Chester, expressed her excitement about the discovery: “We were very hopeful of finding evidence of Roman life due to previous discoveries and geophysical surveys in the area, not to mention the presence of the legionary tileworks a few fields away, but did not expect our excavations to uncover what is believed to be an early Medieval longhouse.”
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This discovery adds a new layer to the understanding of the region’s history, particularly in shedding light on the construction and use of Medieval longhouses in Wales. Mr. Chris Matthews, Project Archaeologist and Geophysicist with Heneb, noted, “While we are yet to begin the post-excavation investigations, during which all the findings will be analyzed, the samples processed and scientific dating obtained, this is potentially a very exciting new find for the region, which could help us to fill in current gaps in understanding about the construction and use of Medieval longhouses.”
A stamped legionary tile, one of the artefacts discovered. Photo courtesy University of Chester
The archaeological dig is part of a broader University of Chester-funded project investigating Roman Wrexham, which began with the first-ever discovery of a Roman villa in North East Wales. This recent find, however, shifts some of the focus to the earlier, lesser-known Early Middle Ages, offering a rare glimpse into life in North East Wales during that time.
A short documentary on the excavations and discoveries is set to be released later this year. To learn more, please visit Heneb.
Top Image: Volunteers and University of Chester students excavating the remains of the possible early Medieval building. Photo courtesy University of Chester
Archaeologists have made a significant discovery in North East Wales, uncovering what is believed to be an extremely rare early Medieval longhouse, alongside a Roman settlement.
The excavation, led by a team from the University of Chester, Heneb: the Trust for Welsh Archaeology, and the Portable Antiquities Scheme, took place near the Holt Roman tile and pottery works in Wrexham. While the team anticipated finding Roman-era materials, the discovery of the early Medieval longhouse was unexpected and is considered a rare find in the region.
The early Medieval longhouse, a long and narrow communal dwelling, was uncovered alongside structural features, building materials, ceramics, and artifacts such as a stamped legionary tile and a fragment of a brooch.
Dr. Caroline Pudney, Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Chester, expressed her excitement about the discovery: “We were very hopeful of finding evidence of Roman life due to previous discoveries and geophysical surveys in the area, not to mention the presence of the legionary tileworks a few fields away, but did not expect our excavations to uncover what is believed to be an early Medieval longhouse.”
This discovery adds a new layer to the understanding of the region’s history, particularly in shedding light on the construction and use of Medieval longhouses in Wales. Mr. Chris Matthews, Project Archaeologist and Geophysicist with Heneb, noted, “While we are yet to begin the post-excavation investigations, during which all the findings will be analyzed, the samples processed and scientific dating obtained, this is potentially a very exciting new find for the region, which could help us to fill in current gaps in understanding about the construction and use of Medieval longhouses.”
The archaeological dig is part of a broader University of Chester-funded project investigating Roman Wrexham, which began with the first-ever discovery of a Roman villa in North East Wales. This recent find, however, shifts some of the focus to the earlier, lesser-known Early Middle Ages, offering a rare glimpse into life in North East Wales during that time.
A short documentary on the excavations and discoveries is set to be released later this year. To learn more, please visit Heneb.
Top Image: Volunteers and University of Chester students excavating the remains of the possible early Medieval building. Photo courtesy University of Chester
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