Time Team unearths new evidence at Caerwent

The hilt of a knife made out of bone depicting two gladiators fighting, a bath house, a villa and some shops – sound like something from Roman Holiday? Well these were exactly what were unearthed at Caerwent Roman Town, near Chepstow last week when Channel 4’s award winning programme Time Team visited in a bid to discover more about the remains of what was once the largest centre of civilian population in Roman Wales. Presented by Tony Robinson, this episode will be broadcast in early 2009.

Cadw, the Welsh Assembly Government’s historic environment service, allowed cameras onto the Roman site for the three day archaeology dig which was led by a team of more than fifty, including chief archaeologist Professor Mick Aston, Phil Harding, members of Wessex Archaeology and volunteers from the local Chepstow Archaeology Society.

The excavations, where seven different trenches were dug up at three different locations, aimed to uncover more about parts of the town which had previously never been excavated. Of specific interest were two areas – a plot directly off the high street near the temple, baths and forum in the centre of town and another plot in the north west of the town.

Long thin buildings were found in several places, believed to be shop buildings on the high street. In the north of the town, what is believed to be a Roman villa was unearthed which probably had painted walls and mosaic on the floor showing that wealthy people lived in the suburbs. Nearby, a bath house was discovered, possibly belonging to the villa.

Along with the beautifully carved pen knife, other artefacts uncovered included coins, glass, ceramic, human and animal bones, lead patches used for repairing, Samian ware and bits of mosaic. Now the excavation is over, archaeologists will reinstate the earth and cover up all the walls. All finds will go to the National Museum of Wales and an archaeological report will be published.

Tony Robinson said

‘It’s lovely to be here in Caerwent. It’s a very interesting site and a real big deal for Time Team to be allowed to dig here as it’s a special heritage site and now a part of the Cadw jewellery box.’

Tom Scott from Time Team, added

‘The site appealed to us as it is one of the best preserved Roman towns in the UK and this was a golden opportunity for us to find out more about it. This type of town, a “civitas capital” is one of around 15 in the UK. Most of these had later towns built on top so you can’t see the town walls, but Caerwent is beautifully preserved. To be able to see the town walls on the south side – up to four metres high – is amazing, definitely the best in the country. This heritage site is extremely important and that’s why it is so heavily protected.

‘We’ve discovered some interesting things and originally we didn’t know people lived all over the town – especially in the north west part – but, discovering the villa and bath house, it seems as if they did…and in some style too!’

Phil Harding, presenter and field archaeologist with Wessex Archaeology, commented

‘It’s great to be back here in Caerwent. I was last here in 1973 when there wasn’t as much interest in heritage as there is now and the site has been very well preserved by Cadw.’

Rick Turner, Inspector of Ancient Monuments, Cadw, said

‘The Time Team dig has left Cadw with a fund of new information which will certainly add to what we know already about the history of this fascinating Roman town.

‘With Time Team, we have the chance to share with the whole nation the wealth of our local heritage. It will help us greatly in promoting Caerwent Roman Town as a major site of local historical importance and inform the public of the need to preserve the site for future generations.’