Roman and medieval past unearthed in churchyard dig

Image source, Heneb: Gwynedd Archaeology

Image caption, An archaeologist working at the Holyhead site
  • Author, Dale Spridgeon
  • Role, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Parts of north Wales' Roman and medieval past are being unearthed at a chapel site in Holyhead.

Historical artefacts were discovered after planning permission was granted to transform the Grade II-listed Eglwys y Bedd building in St Cybi's Churchyard into a community hub.

St Cybi's was originally the location of a Roman fort and has been called 鈥渁n extremely important and impressive鈥 historic site by archaeologists.

The base of the Roman wall and graves dating back to the 1700s have already been uncovered.

鈥淭he Roman fort was聽built to defend the island from attacks by sea, probably from Ireland, in the late third to early fourth聽century,鈥 said Jenny Emmet, senior planning archaeologist for Gwynedd .

鈥淪t Cybi is thought to have founded a community of monks here in the sixth聽century and Eglwys y Bedd is thought to mark his original burial place."

The dig, which will聽go on for several months, has also brought to light the foot-worn stone threshold to the fort鈥檚 entrance, an early clay pipe bearing a Masonic symbol and pottery shards dating back to the 1800s.

An open day about the excavation will be held this weekend, with a pop-exhibition to follow.