On the day the news hit the national newspapers, Stephen Clarke launched the latest book by Monmouth Archaeology Society entitled 'The Lost Lake'.
The book announces the discovery of evidence for prehistoric boat-building and is believed to be the first time that such remains have been recognised along the European Atlantic Seaboard
A huge Ice Age lake had been created by a blockage of the Wye Valley above Redbrook, the shore of the lake ran around the higher ground of Monmouth to Croft-y-Bwla, creating a lake some four kilometres across and at least six metres deep in lower Monnow Street and at Overmonnow.
People lived on the shores of the lake, leaving radiocarbon dates from at least the middle Stone Age, 6,000BC, through the New Stone Age, the Bronze Age and the Iron Age, c100BC.
The book is causing excitement across the archaeological world because of the interpretation of Bronze Age remains on the Parc Glyndwr building site between Rockfield Road and the Watery Lane.
Monmouth AM Nick Ramsay was delighted to launch the new book written by Monmouth archaeologist Stephen Clarke, entitled 'The Lost Lake' at an event held at Monmouth Museum last Thursday evening.
He said: "It was a great honour to be invited to launch Steve's excellent book on British Bronze Age maritime history and the story of the huge Ice Age lake which survived in Monmouth almost to Roman times.
"I was very interested in the excavations on the Parc Glyndwr building site between Rockfield Road and Watery Lane which I was pleased to have been able to visit.
"It's amazing that the discovery of this important site had been overlooked for thousands of years.
"I know that there has been huge archaeological interest in the excavations and the new book from around the world and I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone interested in our local history."
The book can be ordered from Clarke Printing, St James' Square, Monmouth NP25 3DN, 01600 714136.
Pictured below are AM Nick Ramsay, author Stephen Clarke, and marine engineer Gordon McDonald.