The year 2001 has proved to be an exciting time for Archaeologists in Wales. Three new Roman discoveries and a possible Iron Age Site have been found.
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The first Site is in Johnstone near Carmarthen in West Wales. Builders unfortunately smashed a Roman Funeral Urn whilst digging the foundations for a council depot using a mechanical digger on land belonging to Carmarthenshire District Council. The urn which has been subsequently reassembled is shown below. Fortunately the workmen recognised the importance of the items and contacted the local museum in Abergwili. The burials are believed to date from the first or second century AD, when Carmathen was a Roman settlement. |
Investigations by Archaeologist revealed the urn contained a mixture of bones and ash, thought to belong to an adult and a child. The site is believed to be an isolated find and probably was a family burial from an outlining farm. Other items found at the site included a glass bottle, carved bone handles and two oil lamps. The oil lamps were in excellent condition and the makers mark identified them as being imported from Northern Italy. All artefacts are being sent to Lampeter Museum for examination but will eventually be returned to Abergwili for display. The remaining construction work will be overseen by Archaeologists who hope to uncover more finds.
The second Site is the Fort of Segontium near Caernafon, a satellite fort of the main Roman force based at Chester. During the removal of the remains of a 19th Century farmhouse, a carved stone robbed from the Roman Site and reused in the farmhouse was found which clearly shows a bearded figure grasping a spear and shield. Experts believe that it could represent a Roman Warrior or Mars the Roman God of War. The Stone has been sent to Cardiff Museum for restoration but will be return to the Museum at Segontium when complete.
The Third Site is close to Caerleon once a Roman garrisoned Town home of the most impressive Roman remains in Wales. Excavations at Caerleon already have unearthed an Amphitheatre, Baths and a Gatehouse and the small Town boasts an excellent Museum. The new site next to the river usk which was been developed by the Welsh Rugby Union for a centre of excellence for rugby has uncovered the remains of a Roman road and housing. The National Assembly has stepped in and is calling for the WRUs planning permission to be put on hold until the site is fully investigated.
The last discovery we will look at is in West Wales, again in Carmarthenshire. A group of French Archaeologists working with experts from the National Trust have found evidence that gold mining at Dolaucothi previously thought to have been started by the Romans may in fact date from the Iron Age, this however needs to be confirmed from further excavations which could take several years.