Home / Science / Roman Treasure Unearthed in Welsh Housing Estate
Roman Treasure Unearthed in Welsh Housing Estate
8 Nov
Summary
- A 2,000-year-old Roman settlement with a jewellery workshop was found.
- Dozens of artefacts, including pottery, coins, and jewellery, were recovered.
- The discovery reshapes understanding of Roman-native relationships in Wales.
A substantial Roman settlement, complete with a jewellery workshop dating back nearly 2,000 years, was unexpectedly discovered in Mancot, Flintshire, during mining surveys for a new housing estate. Heneb, the trust for Welsh archaeology, hailed the find as one of the most significant in the county, yielding a large collection of Roman artefacts. These included brooches, moulds, pottery, and coins, some of which are being conserved and analysed at the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff.
The excavation site on Gladstone Way, now covered by new homes, revealed that the settlement extended beneath Mancot village. Project manager Chris Matthews stated the find changes the understanding of the area's history, particularly regarding Roman-native relationships. Previously, limited archaeology near Chester led to debates about this relationship, but discoveries like this one are suggesting it was more integrated.
The site possibly originated in the Iron Age and saw continuous occupation. Evidence from coins, including one from Emperor Commodus (AD 177-192) and another depicting Constantine (reigning approx. 200 years later), supports this prolonged occupation. The jewellery workshop indicates local industry, producing items for Roman society, possibly servicing Chester and trading as far as mainland Europe, evidenced by recovered pottery fragments.
Experts in Cardiff are studying the brooches to understand their manufacturing, materials, and origins. These artefacts are expected to return to Flintshire for public display, potentially at Mold Museum in 2027. This discovery marks the beginning of potentially more Roman finds in north-east Wales, bringing excitement to local archaeologists and museum managers.
