A collaborative effort involving archaeologists from the University of Chester, Heneb: the Trust for Welsh Archaeology, and the Portable Antiquities Scheme has resulted in the momentous discovery of the remnants of a Roman settlement alongside a singular Medieval longhouse in Wrexham, situated in the northeastern region of Wales.
This image from the geophysical survey highlights the archaeological potential of the site in Wrexham, North East Wales. Image credit: University of Chester.
During an extensive excavation conducted at a location proximate to the Holt Roman tile and pottery works in Wrexham, North East Wales, the team exhumed structural configurations and artifacts dating back to both the Roman epoch and the early Medieval period.
Furthermore, the unearthed remains included the architectural framework of an early Medieval longhouse, characterized by its elongated and narrow design intended for communal habitation.
“Anticipating the discovery of vestiges of Roman habitation was a given, considering prior findings and geophysical assessments in the vicinity, not to mention the proximity of the legionary tileworks just a few fields away. However, the unveiling of what is posited to be an early Medieval longhouse through our excavations was beyond our expectations,” stated Dr. Caroline Pudney, a distinguished senior lecturer in archaeology at the University of Chester.
“The identification of a Roman settlement is of paramount significance in augmenting our comprehension of Roman Wrexham. While early Medieval longhouses have been documented in other parts of Wales, the excavation of evidence pertaining to such a structure in North East Wales represents an exceptionally rare occurrence.”
Among the artifacts recovered by the team were a marked trackway, various structural elements, construction materials, pottery shards, including a tile bearing a legionary imprint, and a fragmented piece of a brooch.
“Although the post-excavation analysis, which will encompass the thorough examination of all discoveries, sample processing, and the acquisition of scientific dating, is still pending, this find is poised to be a profoundly significant new contribution to the region’s historical narrative. It holds the potential to illuminate current lacunae in our understanding concerning the construction methodologies and practical utilization of Medieval longhouses,” remarked Chris Matthews, a project archaeologist and geophysicist affiliated with Heneb.
“This investigative dig was initiated subsequent to preliminary trial trenching undertaken by the Holt Local History Society between the years 2013 and 2017, during which a substantial collection of Roman ceramics and other antiquities were retrieved.”
“An in-depth appraisal of these recovered artifacts prompted Heneb and the University of Chester to conduct advanced geophysical surveys, which subsequently amplified the site’s archaeological promise.”
“Notwithstanding the challenges posed by less-than-ideal geological conditions, these surveys, employing high-resolution magnetometry, successfully delineated a distinct layout of a grid-patterned settlement and associated road networks, in addition to clearly defined rectangular edifices situated just beyond the settlement’s perimeter.”
