Ysgol yr Hendre, Llanbeblig, Caernarfon
An early medieval cemetery and Roman construction camp
Archaeological excavations carried out by
Gwynedd Archaeological Trust
Archaeological excavations in 2010 and 2011 prior to the construction of a new school at Llanbeblig, Caernarfon, Gwynedd revealed an early medieval cemetery with five mortuary enclosures. A series of Roman military ovens were also found, possibly representing a camp used by soldiers who built the fort at Segontium. Other features found included a Neolithic pit and medieval pits and gullies.
In 2006 while flying over Caernarfon taking aerial photographs for the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales Toby Driver spotted and photographed a square green mark in the parched grass of the playing fields next to the Tŷ Gwyn housing estate.
Toby recognised the site as an enclosed grave. This is a type of site found throughout western Britain, and usually
dates from the 5th to 7th centuries AD. An opportunity to examine the site more closely came when Cyngor Gwynedd
Council chose the fields at Tŷ Gwyn for the construction of a new school. Gwynedd Archaeological Trust was employed
carry out a programme of work to investigate the area. Initial surveys were undertaken which involved examining
archive records, carrying out geophysical surveys and excavating trial trenches. These revealed the presence
of at least one more enclosed grave, a series of unenclosed graves and other features. Full excavation was undertaken
of the whole area to be developed. The main phase of the excavation started on 5th April 2010 and was completed
on 30th July 2010, with a further shorter phase of excavation between
16th May 2011 and 27th May 2011.
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