Dr Jeffrey Davies and Dr Toby Driver at excavated remians of roman villa Abermagwr near Aberystwyth wales uk
Archaeologists have discovered a 4th Century Roman villa near Aberystwyth. It is the most north-westerly villa found in Wales and has forced experts to reconsider the whole nature of Roman settlement across mid and north Wales. Findings indicate Abermagwr had all the trappings of villas found further south, including a slate roof and glazed windows. "The discovery raises significant new questions," said Dr Toby Driver and Dr Jeffrey Davies, excavation directors. Archaeologist at the excavated walls The 2010 excavation confirmed the villa, after its likely origins were first spotted in 2006 The villa is likely to have belonged to a wealthy landowner, with pottery and coin finds on the site indicating occupation in the late 3rd and early 4th Centuries AD. It was roofed with local slates, which were cut for a pentagonal roof. The walls were built of local stone and there was a cobbled yard. The confirmation of the villa comes after Royal Commission aerial photography during the drought of 2006 suggested marks of a building and a ditch which could be an important historical monument. Dr Driver and Dr Davies, while filming for BBC2 Wales' Hidden Histories programme in 2009 conducted a geophysical survey of the field. It revealed a vast ditched enclosure and annex, as well the buried footings of a winged stone building. * Vessels in black burnished ware * Practical kitchen pottery, imported from Dorset * Fine ware bowls from Oxfordshire * Three coins of Constantine I, minted in the first quarter of the 4th century AD Dr Driver, of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales and Dr Davies, formerly of Aberystwyth University, had previously excavated at the nearby Trawscoed Roman fort, which had been abandoned by AD 130. "Our trial excavations this year have confirmed the remains of an imposing Romano-Brit
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