Around 300 skeletons were found during the rebuilding of Haverfordwest, Wales. Construction workers found the bodies buried under an old department store.
The shop has been closed since 2013, and archaeologists believe an 18thcentury cemetery used to be on the site.
“We knew we would find something because the site is in the medieval center of Haverfordwest. It’s just that nobody knew where she was. But you never know what you’re going to find until you start digging,” Andrew Shobbrook, excavation supervisor, told WalesOnline.
Reconstruction had to be halted to allow specialists to collect the bodies and inspect the site. Archaeologists were able to unearth 307 skeletons.
After six months of excavation and research, experts were able to understand the site’s context and history.
Taking into account the ruins of nearby Haverford Castle, researchers have concluded that some of the bodies are linked to rebel leader Owain Glyndwr’s attack on a religious center in 1405.
This thesis is confirmed by the presence of holes in some skulls, possibly caused by arrows or musket balls, one of the first fireballs.
However, there is also a possibility that the holes were made as part of an ancient medical procedure called trepanation, a surgical procedure that involves drilling into the skull and removing a piece of bone.
Another point highlighted by archaeologists is the large number of child bodies found, showing the high infant mortality rate at the time.
According to Andrew, some bodies were buried in very “moving” ways, such as a child placed with his hands under his head, as well as another small body placed on top of an older adult who had his right arm around him of the baby, in a protective posture.
Andrew, who works on behalf of the Dyfed Archeology Trust, explains the skeletons will not be shown to the public and will be reburied in earth near Haverfordwest.
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