Mysterious new finds at a medieval cemetery in Wales have brought archaeologists closer to solving the mystery of the women buried at the site.
Researchers have uncovered what appears to be a small structure as well as domestic and decorative artefacts, including exquisite coloured glass beads.
Fifty-eight skeletons have now been found at the site, dating back to the 6th or 7th century. Unusually, almost all of them belonged to women.
The new finds add to the growing evidence that this burial ground was part of a religious community of early women.
Photo by Kevin Church/BBC News
Over the past four years, archaeologists have been excavating the site at Fountmont Castle, near the end of the runway at Cardiff Airport.
Burials made in shallow graves carved into the limestone taboo to reuse the grave – the bodies were simply pushed aside,” he adds.
Artefacts found at the site are revealing more and more details about the people buried here.
Photo by Kevin Church/BBC News
All the items were taken to a laboratory at Cardiff University.
Conservator Nicola Emmerson is carefully cleaning the soil from a luxury copper brooch.
“Further tests are required, but it’s probably bronze,” she says. – We also think it could have been gilded – that is, coated with a thin layer of gold.
The ends, she explains, were covered with green enamel.
It was a very decorative brooch. I think it’s a very special find for this place,” Emmerson adds.
Next to this medieval piece of jewellery, the team also found a bone stud with intricate ornamentation and a crest, skilfully trying to see if it could be an example of very early Christianity.
“This is a period when history has not yet been written down,” says Dr Seaman.
“We don’t really understand the early church cells – how they functioned, how they looked, how they were organised,” he adds. “We know it well from later periods, but at this point in history it’s all poorly understood. So it’s a really exciting opportunity.”
Archaeologists will continue excavations later this year.