Archaeologists have uncovered remarkable new evidence of life in Roman Wales, revealing fresh insights into the development, occupation and significance of the first confirmed Roman villa discovered in North Wales.
The latest excavation at Rossett, near Wrexham, was led by the University of Chester and DigVentures, with support from a successful crowdfunding campaign. The findings are helping researchers piece together the history of this nationally significant site and challenge long-held assumptions about Roman settlement and prosperity in the region.
Interest in the site began in 2019, when a metal detectorist discovered a Roman lead ingot. Subsequent investigations by the University of Chester and Archaeological Survey West uncovered Roman flooring, ceramics and other artefacts, leading to the identification of a substantial villa complex.
This year's excavation has provided further evidence of how the villa developed over time, the lifestyles of its inhabitants and human activity at the site long before the impressive stone-built residence was constructed.
Students from the University of Chester worked alongside professional archaeologists, local volunteers and crowdfunding supporters, gaining valuable practical experience in excavation, archaeological recording and finds processing.
The project is being undertaken in collaboration with Wrexham Museum, the Portable Antiquities Scheme, PAS Cymru and Heneb: The Trust for Welsh Archaeology.
Discoveries reveal a longer history of occupation
Among the most significant discoveries was a complete quern stone, traditionally used for grinding grain. Remarkably, it was recovered from archaeological layers beneath the stone-built villa, providing compelling evidence of activity predating its construction.
Ben Swain, Project Manager and co-Site Director for DigVentures, explained:
"The complete quern stone was a star find this year, but where it was found was just as important as the artefact itself. It came from a layer that pre-dates the stone construction of the villa, telling us something about what was happening on the site before the villa was built. The villa clearly wasn't the earliest thing here."
Dr Caroline Pudney, Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Chester, Academic Lead and co-Site Director, highlighted the wider significance of the discovery:
"Finds like the quern stone allow us to look beyond the villa itself and begin exploring the much longer history of human activity in this landscape. Each season of excavation is revealing new layers of the story and helping us understand how communities adapted and developed in this part of Roman Britain."
Evidence of an evolving Roman villa
Excavations have also revealed that the villa was not constructed as a single building project. Instead, it underwent several phases of development, with rooms and structures adapted to meet changing needs over time.
One particularly exciting discovery was a remarkably well-preserved Roman building containing intact floor levels and surviving evidence of a hypocaust, an underfloor heating system associated with Roman comfort and luxury.
"The main villa building was built in phases and changed layout over time. Different parts of the building were adapted and likely served different functions," explained Ben.
"The preservation of the building in Trench 1 exceeded our expectations. We found intact Roman floor levels and evidence of hypocaust heating surviving. It's a complex building that appears to have changed significantly through its use-life and it seems likely that, at one point in its life, it functioned as a bath house."
The discoveries are transforming archaeologists' understanding of the villa, suggesting a complex and evolving settlement rather than a residence built and occupied in a single period.
"What is particularly exciting is that we are beginning to understand just how dynamic this site was," Caroline explained.
"Rather than representing a single moment in time, the archaeology is revealing a villa complex that evolved over generations, reflecting changing needs, ambitions and lifestyles."
A glimpse into wealth and everyday life in Roman Wales
A diverse collection of artefacts, including pottery, coins, animal bones, building materials and painted wall plaster, offers further insight into the lives of those who occupied the villa.
Together, these discoveries suggest a prosperous community whose inhabitants enjoyed many of the comforts associated with Roman living and maintained connections with wider trade networks.
"The people living here had the wealth to construct and maintain features such as hypocaust heating systems and rooms decorated with painted plaster," Ben explained.
"They were enjoying many of the comforts associated with Roman lifestyles and seem to have been part of a community with access to resources and connections beyond the immediate area."
The findings are particularly important for understanding the extent of Roman influence in North Wales, a region where evidence of high-status Roman residences has historically been limited.
"The quality of the buildings and artefacts reinforces the growing evidence that Roman influence in this region was more extensive than previously understood," Caroline observed.
"Sites like Rossett are helping to challenge traditional assumptions about the distribution of wealth and status in the western frontier zone of Roman Britain and are showing that communities here were closely connected to the wider Roman world."
The excavation also provided an invaluable learning environment for archaeology students, allowing them to contribute directly to an active research project.
"Providing students with the opportunity to work on an active research excavation is invaluable. They have contributed to every aspect of the project while developing the practical skills and experience that are essential for careers in archaeology and heritage."
Bringing archaeology closer to the community
The excavation attracted considerable public interest, with guided tours and open afternoons welcoming visitors from across the region.
Public open afternoons were fully booked, while enthusiastic feedback demonstrated the strong local interest in the site's history and the opportunity to participate in its discovery.
For the research team, public engagement remains an essential part of the project.
"One of the most rewarding aspects of this project has been sharing discoveries with local communities," Caroline reflected.
"Making what we do and find accessible to the public is a vital part of archaeology, and it has been fantastic to see so many people taking an interest in the history of their area and supporting the research."
Further discoveries could lie ahead
Although the latest excavation has answered important questions about the villa's development and occupation, it has also opened up new avenues for investigation.
Evidence of earlier activity raises intriguing questions about who occupied the site before the villa was built, while the scale and preservation of the surviving remains suggest that further structures may still be waiting to be discovered.
"We've uncovered tantalising clues about activity that took place before the villa was constructed, but we're still trying to understand exactly what that looked like," Ben explained.
"There are also indications that the villa complex may be more extensive and better preserved than originally thought.
"I'd love to return to the building in Trench 1 to learn more about its layout, function and relationship to the wider villa complex. We also need to understand more about what came before the villa and whether there are additional ranges of buildings still waiting to be discovered."
The research team has now begun the post-excavation phase, during which artefacts, environmental samples and archaeological records will undergo detailed analysis.
The findings will inform a comprehensive report, which will be made publicly available, and help guide plans for further research and excavation in 2027.
"Rossett continues to raise fascinating questions about Roman settlement in North Wales," Caroline concluded.
"The post-excavation analysis will help us understand the site's development in greater detail and guide future investigations. We are only beginning to appreciate the full significance of what survives here, and there is still much more to discover."
Sources : University of Chester