A TEN-day excavation in Caerwent has uncovered a number of discoveries while introducing disadvantaged people to archaeology.

Between 23rd July and 1st August, the Services Archaeological and Heritage Association (SAHA) hosted an archaeological excavation in Caerwent Roman Town, South Wales. Participants included several students, former members of the armed forces and other non-military uniformed services, teachers, refugees and a young man currently in foster care.

The group of 25 were working on private property on land that is ‘unscheduled’: an area of land that is not protected under the 1979 Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act.

The 10-day excavations produced a multitude of exciting artefacts including coins, dress pins, pottery, animal bone, intact and damaged walkways, while diggers found and recorded the well-preserved main Roman road running through the town.

The most important part of the practical work was the mapping and recording of a well-preserved Romano-British dwelling that originally was dated to the fourth century. However, the dig actually identified two buildings dating to the mid-second century and the third century.

It appears the second century structure was destroyed by a large fire that was so intense it had turned a piece of sand stone into glass which adds to the mystery of the building and why it was destroyed.

As a result of the excavations that took place in the late 19th century, the area was littered with large quantities of Victorian debris. Both Roman pig bones as well as the remains of Victorian meals ,presumably eaten during the last excavations, were found, along with more recent things such as a button from a British Army uniform, (pre-1953 as identified by one of the veterans), and one belonging to a worker from the Great Western Railway Company.

The exciting aspect of this building was the intact and damaged tessellated floors one of which had animal bones containing an arrow head within the remains. The dig did identify the lost “Rich Mosaic” floor, but it appears large parts of it were destroyed by the 19th century excavators.

The project established that the original plans of the building drawn up in 1893 are not entirely accurate and this will affect the interpretation of other excavations within the town dating to the late 19th Century.

On Saturday 28th July an open day was held, where approximately 250 people of all ages, came to Caerwent to learn more about the project. The entire day, the refreshments, logistics of the tours, tile painting and colouring in for the children, as well as talks and demonstrations showing the ‘finds’, was planned and managed by participants.

SAHA, a part of registered charity Solider On!, aims to give veterans, members of non-military uniformed services and those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds the opportunity to learn a series of skills including excavation, land survey, drawing and mapping techniques and building recording on a site of national importance.

The charity runs circa eight projects per year in different regions and is funded through donations. Soldier On! needs to raise approximately £4,000 to deliver each project.