Bronze Age cremations found beneath a Cardiff park
The remains were found during an archaeological dig at Trelai Park in Cardiff, where excavations are taking place as part of the Caerau and Ely Rediscovering (CAER) Heritage Project.
The project is led by Cardiff University in partnership with community organisations, schools and residents.
Dr Oliver Davis, co-director of the CAER project, said: "The discovery of these cremations is hugely exciting and is yet another example of the rich history that lies so well preserved under Trelai Park."
He said the proximity to an ancient roundhouse suggests the site may have held ceremonial significance.
The cremations are believed to date back to around 1500 BC.
A well-preserved roundhouse was discovered at the site two years ago, with evidence of an even earlier structure found beneath it.
An open day will be held at the site on Saturday, June 28, from 10am to 2pm.
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South Wales Argus
a day ago
- South Wales Argus
Bronze Age cremations found beneath a Cardiff park
The remains were found during an archaeological dig at Trelai Park in Cardiff, where excavations are taking place as part of the Caerau and Ely Rediscovering (CAER) Heritage Project. The project is led by Cardiff University in partnership with community organisations, schools and residents. Dr Oliver Davis, co-director of the CAER project, said: "The discovery of these cremations is hugely exciting and is yet another example of the rich history that lies so well preserved under Trelai Park." He said the proximity to an ancient roundhouse suggests the site may have held ceremonial significance. The cremations are believed to date back to around 1500 BC. A well-preserved roundhouse was discovered at the site two years ago, with evidence of an even earlier structure found beneath it. An open day will be held at the site on Saturday, June 28, from 10am to 2pm.
Wales Online
a day ago
- Wales Online
Bronze Age burial site found during dig in popular Cardiff park
Bronze Age burial site found during dig in popular Cardiff park A new structure containing cremated human remains has been discovered adjacent to an ancient roundhouse that is situated on the site Volunteers and students work to excavate the site (Image: Vivian Thomas ) During an archaeological dig under a popular Cardiff park in 2022, a roundhouse that dates back to around 1500 BC was discovered. It was an amazing discovery and is believed to be the oldest house at Cardiff. Last year's dig focused on excavating around the roundhouses to find out how people lived 3,500 years ago. You can read more here. Now, on its fourth dig volunteers have unearthed a Bronze Age burial site, just underneath a a popular playing field in Cardiff. The team behind Caerau and Ely Rediscovering (CAER) Heritage Project have once again returned to Trelai Park, where a new structure containing cremated human remains has been discovered adjacent to the roundhouse that was previously found. CAER is made up of a collaboration between Cardiff University, Action in Caerau and Ely (ACE), local schools, residents and heritage partners. Never miss a Cardiff story by signing up to our daily newsletter here . A number of pits have been located next to the foundations of this smaller building, with at least three containing a small amount of cremated human remains. Volunteers are now working to piece together the significance of the latest finds, which suggest the site could be more expansive than previously thought. The well-preserved roundhouse that was initially discovered two years ago dates back to 1500 BC. Last year, evidence of an even earlier roundhouse was found underneath it, suggesting the house had been replaced at some point. Article continues below There is also evidence of a timber circle further down, which experts believe may date to the Early Bronze Age around 2000-1600 BC. An aerial shot of the dig, now in its fourth year (Image: Vivian Thomas ) CAER co-director Dr Oliver Davis, who leads Archaeology and Conservation at the University's School of History, Archaeology and Religion, expressed his excitement about the discovery. He said: "The discovery of these cremations is hugely exciting and is yet another example of the rich history that lies so well preserved under Trelai Park. "This area, which we already knew was only 200 metres away from a Roman Villa, has clearly been an important place over thousands of years. "It's providing us with a window onto some of the very earliest Cardiff residents who were living here in Caerau and Ely over three millennia ago. The work now begins to carefully dig through each layer, sifting through the materials we are finding here on an hourly basis. It's a real team effort." Archaeology volunteers uncover Bronze Age burial site (Image: Vivian Thomas ) The excavation site at Trelai Park, commonly used by sports teams and dog walkers, is located just half a mile from Caerau Hillfort, a significant national heritage site where previous discoveries have uncovered Neolithic, Iron Age, Roman, and medieval artefacts. Alice Clarke, 36, from Caerau, has dedicated five years to volunteering with the CAER Project and is set to continue her passion by working at the CAER Heritage Centre post-excavation. She shared: "It's really fascinating. We've found a lot of quartz here so far. I will also work at the CAER Heritage Centre after the dig, cleaning all the finds that come in big bags. I love doing it. It's given me confidence – it's nice to get out and meet friends." A flint scraper found at this year's dig (Image: Vivian Thomas ) Hannah Secker, 19, hailing from Grangetown, recently completed her A Levels and aspires to delve into archaeology and ancient history at university. She said: "There is quite an exciting atmosphere here and everyone has been so welcoming. I had no archaeological experience before coming here and it's been great to speak to students about their degrees. It's unbelievable finding artefacts that could be 3,000 years old and thinking about the people that have walked on this ground before us." CAER co-director Dr David Wyatt also remarked on the discoveries made at Trelai Park: "The finds from Trelai Park just keep coming. When you piece these latest discoveries with the Roman Villa that's a short walk away and the more recent sporting history here, it's not difficult to argue that Trelai could be one of the most important parks for heritage in South Wales. "It really has all the potential to be a popular and thriving tourist attraction which could hugely benefit the local communities." Article continues below Mike Tate, headteacher of Cardiff West Community High School, just a stone's throw away from the site, remarked: "As a school we see real value with our links to this project. Our pupils learn about the history of the area in which they live and they, literally, get their hands on the past. The experiences through the project bring subjects in school to life and can ignite engagement for our pupils. We are really pleased to continue this work." There will be an open day at the heritage centre on Saturday, June 28, between 10am and 2pm. You can find more information here.
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Archaeologists baffled as they uncover 'mystery' Pharaoh's tomb in Egypt
The tomb of an unknown pharaoh has been discovered by archaeologists in Egypt - but the king's name has been lost to the ages, with researchers now scrambling to find out who he was Archaeologists were left scratching their heads after unearthing the tomb of an unknown Egyptian pharaoh seven metres under the surface, with the identity of the mummified sovereign perplexing experts. The newfound tomb, nestled in the ancient Mount Anubis region of Abydos, is casting fresh light on regal burials within the necropolis. Amidst the continuing mysteries, faded carvings depicting the deities Isis and Nephthys were spotted alongside the entryway to the burial chamber, yet another puzzle for archaeologists. Researchers noted another extraordinary find - a set of yellow bands, which they believe would have once displayed the ruler's name in hieroglyphics. Similarities between the unearthed adornments and glyphs with those found at King Senebkay's grave have caught the attention of scholars, reports the Express. "The king's name was originally recorded in painted scenes on plastered brickwork that decorated the underground entrance to the limestone burial chamber," said Josef Wegner, an Egyptologist from the University of Pennsylvania who oversaw the dig, in his discussion with Live Science. "However, the hieroglyphic texts were damaged by ancient tomb robbers, and not enough survives to read the king's name." According to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, this crypt is speculated to be over 3,600 years old and connected to a monarch from an era marked by conflict and turmoil. During this period, the Hyksos dynasty held sway over lower Egypt. The Hyksos, a name translating to "rulers of foreign lands," were a people from western Asia who introduced pivotal technologies, including the horse and chariot. The tomb itself was constructed from a limestone burial chamber overlaid with mud brick vaults, reaching an impressive height of approximately 5m. Mohamed Abdel Badie, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector, noted that the newly unearthed tomb appears significantly larger than other mausoleums from the Abydos Dynasty discovered to date. The identity of the tomb's occupant remains a mystery, but it is believed to belong to one of the kings who ruled prior to Senebkay, according to Badie. This groundbreaking discovery follows closely on the heels of another major archaeological find – the Royal burial site of Egyptian pharaoh Thutmose II. The same excavation also revealed a pottery workshop dating back to the Roman era in the village of Banawit, located north of Abydos. Abydos is one of the most ancient cities in Egypt, with its history stretching back to the Abydos Dynasty, a succession of kings who governed Upper Egypt between 1700 and 1600 BC. Anna-Latifa Mourad-Cizek, an archaeologist at the University of Chicago, underscored the potential of this find to reshape our understanding of a relatively obscure period in ancient history. She pointed out that there is currently "a very limited body of evidence" regarding this region and its rulers, rendering the discovery of the tomb "highly significant." However, much work remains to be done to fully unravel the secrets of this ancient site.
