In recent years, new light has been shed on what life in ancient North Wales was really like.

It comes as archaeologists have unearthed some incredible secrets that have lain undiscovered for centuries.

From roman era skeletons to a suspected 3,500-year-old Bronze Age canoe and an Iron Age building understood to be more than 2,500 years old - each discovery has taught us even more about the region's fascinating history.

Here, we take a look at some of the most recent biggest archaeological discoveries in North Wales that have helped unearth parts of the region’s extensive and curious past.

Roman villa

The Rossett field under which the Roman villa is buried

A Roman villa is one of the most recent discoveries in North Wales, buried deep under a field in Wrexham.

The structure was the first of its kind found in north-east Wales and is described as an "exciting addition" to our knowledge about the history of the area during the Roman period.

The discovery came about after Roman artefacts were found in Rossett by local detectorists.

The villa was eventually uncovered by Archeologists from Wrexham Museum, the University of Chester and Archaeological Survey West.

The remains consist of a number of stone and tile buildings surrounding a central courtyard.

A track-way and other related buildings and structures were also found on the site.

Outline of the structure buried under the Rossett field

Other artefacts discovered on the grounds - all dating from the late 1st century to the early 4th century AD - suggests that the villa was occupied for the majority of the period Romans ruled Britain.

The Roman army invaded Britain in AD 43 and quickly pushed northwards and westwards across the country.

The fortress at Chester was established around AD 74 and with relative peace came the establishment of a network of towns and rural settlements.

Most villas were essentially farming establishments, although ranged from relatively simple in design to very grand with mosaic floors, bath houses and underfloor heating systems.

Experts think that the discovery of architectural 'fragments' at the dig suggests that the villa may incorporate at least some of these grander features.

Original parts of Caernarfon town walls

Historical objects dating back to the 13th century have been unearthed at Antur Waunfawr's site in Porth yr Aur during the building works for their health and wellbeing project, Beics Antur.
Historical objects dating back to the 13th century have been unearthed at Antur Waunfawr's site in Porth yr Aur during the building works for their health and wellbeing project, Beics Antur.

Original parts of Caernarfon town walls were discovered during the construction of a new community health centre earlier this year.

Historical objects dating back to the 13th century were unearthed at Antur Waunfawr's site in Porth yr Aur during the building works for their health and wellbeing project, Beics Antur.

Several significant artefacts were uncovered, including a flight of steps, fragments of rare medieval pottery and what seems like a fireplace or doorway.

The yard was formerly owned by local transportation company, Pritchard Bros, and it is adjacent to the medieval town walls, which are designated as a Scheduled Monument by CADW.

Fragments of rare medieval pottery and wine glass.
Fragments of rare medieval pottery and wine glass.

Porth yr Aur (Golden Gate) was the main seaward entrance to the medieval borough and it was an integral component of Caernarfon Town Wall.

Matthew Jones, of CR Archaeology, said a green wine jug handle that was unearthed, which is Saintonge ware, is connected with the wine trade from Gascony, France.

"Their use is in Wales dates from 1280-1310 and is mainly associated with Edwardian towns and Castle sites,” he said.

"The steps are very exciting as they could represent the remains of the original town wall which was later built over in the 14th century, when the gate had to be strengthened due to increased attacks by Welsh rebels in 1297, or after a fire in 1326.

“The doorway, or it may be a fireplace, is really interesting as it could represent an unknown entrance into the gate house.

"If it is a fireplace, it would also be very interesting as it could indicate what activities were going on at the site.”

Roman era skeletons

Human remains dug up from beneath an Anglesey college are thought to date back more than 1,600 years

Roman era human remains buried in dozens of stone-lined 'cist' graves were discovered as part of an archaeological dig under Coleg Menai’s Pencraig Campus in Llangefni 2017.

But it wasn’t until two years later that Dr Irene Garcia Rovira of Archaeology Wales revealed all about the "astonishing finds" as part of the major excavation.

The remains of 86 people were discovered at the ancient burial ground, which experts say have remained in "astonishingly good" condition.

The remains of 86 people were discovered at the ancient burial ground under Coleg Menais Pencraig Campus in Llangefni

They are thought to date back more than 1,600 years.

The archaeologist also says tests revealed how some of the skeletons buried in the cemetery were likely to have grown up hundreds of miles away from Anglesey.

Experts believe the site was used as a cemetery from around the time of the Roman departure from Wales.

Dr Rovira, said: "The cemetery could date back from the 4th century to the 8th century.

A roman coin dating to the 2nd century AD found on the lower limbs of a body

"In Anglesey, the soil is very acidic, so to have this kind of preservation is very unique."

Archaeologists also uncovered a 2nd Century AD Roman coin at the site, as well as decorative bronze Celtic items, including an early medieval broach.

The roman coin was found on the hip of a female sekelton.

Cannonballs, Cistercian ware pottery, and a horseshoe from the Civil War

Two cannonballs were found on site

A range of objects, some of which date as far back as the 16th century, were found at Caernarfon’s Porth Mawr Gatehouse earlier this year.

Two cannonballs, fragments of 16th century Cistercian ware pottery, and a horseshoe from the Civil War were all discovered in February.

The gatehouse was one of the main entrances to historic Caernarfon.

It was derelict for some time, but has since been cleared by Cadw who are transforming the building into holiday apartments.

The Civil War horseshoe

The finds were made during the preparatory stage of this process.

Established in 1283 to consolidate Edward I's conquest of Gwynedd, the castle is best known in modern times as the site of the controversial investiture of Charles, the Prince of Wales, in 1969.

It has since become a World Heritage Site and was designated as Grade I listed in 1983, attracting around 200,000 visitors a year.

Roman artefacts

Last year, several hundred Roman artefacts thought to date back almost 2,000 years were discovered on the outskirts of a Roman fort.

Shards of "highly decorated" pottery were unearthed as part of a dig on the former site of Ysgol Pendalar in Caernarfon, which lies near Segontium Roman Fort.

As well as tableware imported from Gaul - a historical region of Western Europe - ancient cooking pots and amphoras (large pottery jugs used for carrying liquids) have also been discovered.

The director of the excavation, David Hopewell of the Gwynedd Archaeological Trust, said the area appeared to have been part of a trading settlement between the first and fourth century.

Many of the objects found were likely to have been brought in with the army as the fort - established nearly 2,000 years ago as a military base - was used to control the land and coast conquered by the Romans.

A Roman well was also discovered as part of the dig, as well as areas of burning from activity from what is believed to be a civilian settlement.

Discarded axe workings

Archaeologists looking for evidence of neolithic axe work have make an "astonishing" discovery in North Wales.
A team of experts from Gwynedd Archaeological Trust have come across three discarded axe workings in Llanfairfechan, Conwy - made roughly around 5,000 years ago.
Archaeologists looking for evidence of neolithic axe work made an "astonishing" discovery

Archaeologists looking for evidence of neolithic axe work made an "astonishing" discovery after coming across three discarded axe workings.

They were found in Llanfairfechan, Conwy by experts from Gwynedd Archaeological Trust.

They are believed to have been made roughly around 5,000 years ago and are thought to have been thrown away when someone had started to shape the stone into an axe, but it was not good enough.

Hundreds of pieces of debris have also been discovered at the field at Ty’n y Llwyfan Farm, known as 'stone flakes' which is the debris from axe working.

However, it is not known whether people were living permanently in the area, or if they were just visiting to collect axe stone from the area.

The Neolithic period in Britain was about 6000 to 4500 years ago - before bronze and iron metalworking had been discovered.

As a result, stone was very important for making tools.

Iron Age roundhouse

The Iron Age stone roundhouse was discovered at Dinas Dinlle earlier this month

The discovery of this huge Iron Age building, understood to be more than 2,500 years old, was the biggest ever discovered by archaeologists in North Wales.

The 13 metre structure was unearthed at Dinas Dinlle following an excavation on a Gwynedd cliff edge in the summer of last year.

The dig was the first to take place at the National Trust owned hillfort, which could disappear within the next 50 years due to "increasing coastal erosion".

Pieces of Roman pottery were also found at the site, suggesting it was once occupied during the Roman period, or those living at or using the hillfort may have traded with the Romans.

It was also suggested by the Gwynedd Archaeological Trust the structure could have been home to an "important figure" during the Iron Age, that dates from around 750BC to 43AD.

Speaking to North Wales Live at the time, David Hopewell, a senior archaeologist at Gwynedd Archaeological Trust, said: "It's probably the biggest one I've ever seen in 30 years of archaeology."

Bronze Age canoe

A Bronze Age canoe believed to have been discovered under Caernarfon and Bontnewydd bypass site
A Bronze Age canoe believed to have been discovered under Caernarfon and Bontnewydd bypass site

Archaeologists unearthed what is thought to be a 3,500-year-old Bronze Age canoe under the route for the planned Caernarfon and Bontnewydd bypass in Gwynedd.

The artefact, believed to be a timber canoe within a large "burnt mound", is understood to date back to at least 1,500BC

The timber was found preserved within a trough underneath the burnt mound, with tests finding that it was made from the trunk of a single oak tree which had been hollowed out.

Archaeologists say if it is a canoe, or log boat, it would be one of the most significant finds made anywhere in the UK.

Archeologists carrying out work at the site of the Caernarfon and Bontnewydd bypass
Archeologists carrying out work at the site of the Caernarfon and Bontnewydd bypass

To put it into perspective, fewer than 20 Bronze Age boats have been found so far in Britain.

Experts believe the vessels were commonly used to transport people and cargo.

Finds like the log boat confirm that North Wales would have been connected to a wider network, which would have included the rest of the UK and even further afield to Europe.

The discovery could provide a unique insight into settlements in early North Wales, and how human innovation became a driving force in the area.

Bronze Age site

A new excavation has revealed a large bronze age site

A major new prehistoric site was discovered on Anglesey last year.

Experts working at a dig at the Bryn Celli Ddu mound near Llanddaniel discovered the Bronze Age site next to it.

Excavation work suggested the site is an ancient ritual landscape that includes a Bronze age cairn, and had major significance for prehistoric people.

The work uncovered 12 examples of rock art carvings in the landscape around Bryn Celli Ddu, along with a pit filled with pottery and worked stone tools.

Radio carbon dating gave a date of 1,900 BC, with finds of flint tools and a double kerb of large stones - some of them weighing over a tonne each.

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