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Treasure discovered from Bronze Age and Roman era in South Wales and Powys

Published

1 year ago

July 11, 2023

FIVE treasure finds, including three hoards and two grave groups from the Bronze Age and Roman era, were declared as treasure on Tuesday 11th July 2023 by Patricia Morgan, the Area Coroner for South Wales Central.

A burial group from the Bronze Age consisting of a small gold penannular ring and fragments of a burnt wooden comb (Treasure Case 17.13) was unearthed by Rubicon Heritage Services (Red River Archaeology Group) during archaeological excavations in the St Nicholas and Bonvilston Community on 28th July 2017. The discovery was made as part of the archaeological work preceding the A4426 Five Mile Lane improvements road scheme, funded by the Welsh Government and executed by Cyngor Bro Morgannwg – Vale of Glamorgan Council. The two artifacts were found accompanying a human cremation burial in a small burial pit. The burial and the artifacts were meticulously recorded before being removed. A license was obtained from the Ministry of Justice, allowing the removal of the ancient human remains.

The gold penannular ring, measuring just 1.1cm in diameter, is a beautifully crafted piece decorated with a finely worked chevron or herringbone pattern. It represents an early example of a hair-ring, believed to have been used for hair decoration. The fragmentary wooden comb, with eight narrow and parallel teeth, is in a fragile state. It is an incredibly rare organic artifact that survived due to its charred state. These two objects, dating back to the Middle Bronze Age (1300-1150 BC), were carefully chosen as grave goods to accompany the deceased in the afterlife.

Adam Gwilt, the Principal Curator for Prehistory at Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales, commented, “This cremation burial, with its accompanying gold ring and wooden comb, provides us with a glimpse into life and death during the Bronze Age. The gold ring is an early, well-crafted, and small example of its kind, offering new insights into the development of hair-rings as early forms of jewelry in Britain and Ireland. This grave is just one example of the wealth of prehistoric burial evidence being discovered across the Vale of Glamorgan, highlighting the richness, diversity, and significance of this archaeology and enhancing our understanding of the past.”

Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales is interested in acquiring this discovery after an independent valuation by the Treasure Valuation Committee. The artifacts will become part of the broader collection and archive from this archaeological excavation, which is destined for the national collection.

David Gilbert, the Project Manager for Rubicon Heritage Services (Red River Archaeology Group), stated, “The gold ring is undoubtedly the most eye-catching object accompanying the cremation. However, the most important artifact is what may initially seem more mundane: the wooden comb. It is an unparalleled find in Wales, if not the UK. Together, these objects add a human element to our work, highlighting their significance to the person buried with them. They demonstrate the attention to detail and pride in appearance often missing from depictions of prehistoric people on television or in films. This discovery emphasizes the significant contribution made by commercial archaeology to advancing our detailed knowledge of the history of Wales.”

Another Roman burial was excavated by Rubicon Heritage Services (Red River Archaeology Group) in April 2017, as part of the archaeological work preceding the A4426 Five Mile Lane improvements road scheme, funded by the Welsh Government and executed by Cyngor Bro Morgannwg – Vale of Glamorgan Council. The burial included a silver crossbow brooch, the remains of an iron sword, and hobnails from a pair of shoes. This find underscores the valuable contribution of commercial archaeology in expanding our understanding of Wales’ history. The silver crossbow brooch, over 300 years old, falls under the remit of the Treasure Act (Treasure Case 17.06).

Crossbow brooches, a common type of Roman bow brooch, are predominantly made of copper alloy, although examples made of silver or gold exist. The sword discovered belongs to the longer type used by the Roman army in the third and fourth centuries AD, corresponding with the dating of the brooch.

Evan Chapman, the Senior Curator for Archaeology at Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales, stated, “To the best of my knowledge, this is the first example of a Roman silver crossbow brooch found in Wales. Crossbow brooches appear to be associated with the late Roman army and civil service, possibly originally serving as badges of office. However, it has been suggested that elements of military dress, including crossbow brooches, were embraced by the wider elite. The presence of the sword supports the military connection in this case. Regardless of direct affiliation with the Roman army, the silver brooch indicates an individual of elite status.”

Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales is interested in acquiring these objects following an independent valuation by the Treasure Valuation Committee. The artifacts will remain together with the rest of the finds from the excavations, which are already destined for the national collection.

Rachel Morgan, the Project Archaeologist for Rubicon Heritage Services (Red River Archaeology Group), remarked, “The burial of a young man in military attire was an unexpected discovery within a Roman field system. The silver crossbow brooch found with the individual signifies his important status within the military or wider society. His death occurred sometime between the mid-3rd to late 4th century, during which the brooch had become a symbol of imperial administrators. Therefore, he was unlikely to have been an ordinary soldier and evidently possessed significant wealth. Isotope analysis also revealed that he was not from the local area but likely grew up further east, possibly from the Welsh borders or beyond. The question arises: what was this wealthy man doing on a farm in south Wales when he died?”

A Bronze Age hoard of tools and weapons (Treasure Case 20.22) was discovered by Richard Griffiths on 17th December 2020 while using a metal detector in a boggy field in the Coychurch Higher Community, Bridgend. The hoard consists of seven bronze artifacts, including four fragmented socketed axes, a spearhead, a palstave, and a casting jet. Dating back to the Late Bronze Age (1000-800 BC), the hoard was originally buried in a small and isolated pit, likely as a religious offering to the gods. Relatively few hoards from this period are known in the uplands of south Wales, making this find crucial in enriching our knowledge of the people who lived in the area around 3,000 years ago.

An investigation of the findspot was carried out in August 2022 by a team from Amgueddfa Cymru and the Portable Antiquities Scheme Wales (PAS Cymru), with assistance from the finder.

Richard Griffiths, the metal detectorist who discovered the hoard, expressed his excitement, saying, “I was thrilled to find this Bronze Age hoard, and it’s truly special to know that my find is now a part of our shared history. To think that I was the first person to hold these objects since the last person who used them, thousands of years ago, is a remarkable feeling. I enjoyed being involved with the museum archaeologists during their geophysics work and the small dig. It was fascinating to see how they carefully dug and recorded everything. The unexpected discovery of the buried spearhead added another interesting twist to the story!”

Chris Griffiths, a researcher at Amgueddfa Cymru, who led the investigation of the findspot, commented, “The opportunity to study the location of this hoard was invaluable, and we are extremely grateful for the cooperation of the landowner and Richard throughout this process. The discovery of a bronze spearhead during the investigation was the ‘icing on the cake,’ providing us with fascinating insights into how Bronze Age people interacted with this upland landscape.”

Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales is interested in acquiring this find after an independent valuation by the Treasure Valuation Committee.

David Howell, the Engagement Officer for the Portable Antiquities Scheme in Wales (PAS Cymru), stated, “For 25 years, the Portable Antiquities Scheme in Wales has been working to preserve knowledge and information about Welsh archaeology. During this time, PAS Cymru has recorded over 90,000 artifacts, establishing connections with the metal-detecting community and finders in general, to ensure that information about Welsh archaeology and history is recorded and shared with the nation.”

A Bronze Age hoard (Treasure Case 21.15) was discovered by Peter Anning while metal-detecting in a pasture field in the Pontprennau Community, Cardiff, on 30th October 2020. The hoard was initially reported to Mark Lodwick through the Portable Antiquities Scheme in Wales (PAS Cymru). It includes four fragments of a blade from a single leaf-shaped sword and two casting jets, which were generated during the casting of bronze artifacts in clay molds. The sword fragments belong to a type known as an Ewart Park sword, and one of the casting jets was created during the casting of a South Wales type socketed axe. These findings indicate that the hoard dates back to the Late Bronze Age, around 1000-800 BC. The artifacts were deliberately buried together in a small pit, most likely as a religious offering.

The Museum of Cardiff is interested in acquiring this hoard for its collection, pending an independent valuation by the Treasure Valuation Committee. The sword would be the museum’s first of its kind and a valuable addition to their Bronze Age archaeology collection, which already includes a socketed axe. The casting jets will contribute to the narrative surrounding the production of such axes in Bronze Age Cardiff. By acquiring this hoard, the museum will be able to expand their storytelling of this era and their collection from the Pontprennau area of Cardiff.

Chris Griffiths, a doctoral student at the University of Reading and Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales, commented, “It is rare to find multiple joining pieces of swords from south Wales, making this hoard from Pontprennau Community, containing four blade fragments from a single sword, a significant new discovery. Prior to burial, the sword appears to have been deliberately broken into pieces, with some missing fragments possibly being recycled to create other objects. The way in which this sword was broken, combined with the presence of two casting jets, suggests the involvement of a local bronzesmith in creating this hoard, allowing us to imagine the lives of people who lived in this part of Cardiff around 3,000 years ago.”

A small hoard of Roman coins (Treasure Case 21.18) was found by Shawn Hendry and Chris Perkins in May 2021 while using metal detectors in a pasture field in the Glascwm Community, Powys. The coin group comprises six silver coins, known as denarii, ranging in date from 32 BC to AD 161. The coins feature representations of Mark Antony, as well as the emperors Titus, Hadrian, and Antoninus Pius. The latest coin in the group could have been minted as late as AD 161, indicating that the coins were likely lost together between AD 145 and 165. Most of the coins were in circulation for a long period before they were lost, and the earliest coin, belonging to Mark Antony (32-1 BC), is highly worn. The coins were probably lost as a small purse group or as a small hoard.

The Radnorshire Museum is interested in acquiring this hoard, following an independent valuation by the Treasure Valuation Committee.

Amgueddfa Cymru is a charity and a family of seven national museums and a collections center located across the country. The aim of the organization is to inspire everyone through Wales’ story, at the museums, in communities, and online. Admission is free, thanks to funding from the Welsh Government, and everyone is welcome.

To learn more about Amgueddfa Cymru’s seven museums, follow them on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.

Community

Pembrokeshire second homes tax to fund vital local projects

Published

2 hours ago

November 5, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

NEARLY £0.6m in grants has been awarded to 10 Pembrokeshire groups using money from the second homes council tax premium after it received the backing of senior councillors today, November 4.

At the November 4 meeting of the county council’s Cabinet, members considered ten applications for funding through the Enhancing Pembrokeshire Large Grant Applications.

In order to be considered for funding, applications are points-based, with one, Haverfordwest Tennis Club just missing out on the 20 points criteria by one point.

The Enhancing Pembrokeshire Grant, launched in 2018 supports local communities; funded via a portion of the charges raised through the second homes premium.

To date, Pembrokeshire County Council has awarded £4,482,374 to 272 projects attracting match funding of £4,948,984, investing a total of £9,431,358 into Pembrokeshire communities.

In July 2023, Cabinet agreed an officer led grant panel determine the outcome of applications below £15,000; those up to £100,000 coming to Cabinet.

The internal grant panel considered 10 applications, one criticised for arriving slightly late, of which nine met the grant criteria and required scoring threshold of 20 or above.

A report for members said there was an underspend last year of £274,326 rolled into this financial year’s allocation of £400,000; the nine projects for a total value of £766,434 requesting grant support of £560,032.31.

Fishguard and Goodwick Young Persons Project requested £77,106 for a £96,383 project to help young people aged 11-25 to raise self-esteem and improve their employability skills through activities/lifelong learning.

Arts Care Gofal Care Development requested £56,695 for a £70,868 project for an inclusive dance and performance programme for adults and children with learning disabilities.

Garth Youth and Community Project ‘You Matter’ wanted £73,069.60 for a £91,337 project enhancing peoples overall mental and physical wellbeing through sporting/games/food activities.

Transport group PACTO – whose application had arrived slightly late – wanted £39,991 for a £50,535 project to meet Welsh Government zero emission transport targets by 2035 by purchasing and managing a ‘Green Bus’ for Bloomfield Community Centre, Narberth; the centrepiece of a net-zero project in Pembrokeshire, promoting sustainable, accessible transport for those with mobility challenges and those with other barriers to conventional transport.

Acts West Wales Cilrath Acre sought £46,992 of £62,092 for a community growing project, which offers volunteer and learning opportunities, giving people the chance to grow food, learn new skills and meet others.

Fishguard Sea Cadets sought £50,000 of £70,000 to secure the land that adjoins its unit to provide safer, more organised outdoor training, and a secure storage area.

Pembroke Dock Cricket Club asked for £58,400 of £73,000 for new changing rooms, the current becoming beyond repair, and lacking adequate inclusive access.

PLANED Pembrokeshire Local Food Partnership (PLFP), a partnership between PLANED, PAVS and Pembrokeshire County Council that brings together producers/growers, organisations and communities, creating an active, sustainable food system for Pembrokeshire sought £57,779.17 for a £72,224 project.

The largest amount was from Kilgetty Begelly Community Council, asking £100,000 towards a £179,995 scheme to create a new play park to enhance the village and increase accessibility to the wider communities including the Kingsmoor Common Gypsy Traveller site.

One proposal, which failed the criteria by just one point, was Haverfordwest Tennis Club, seeking £31,208 in funding for a £39,207.72 scheme for floodlights and wheelchair access.

That proposal is currently subject to an ongoing planning application and the scheme would only benefit club members, the report says.

Following a plea by Deputy Leader Cllr Paul Miller, members agreed to include the tennis club application, subject to it gaining planning permission, and the applicants including a Welsh language policy.

Members backed all ten projects receive funding, for a total of just over £590,240.

Second homes in Pembrokeshire currently pay a 200 per cent council tax premium, which will be reduced to 150 per cent from the next financial year.

Community

Pembroke man born in prison after mum’s wrongful conviction battles aggressive cancer

Published

1 day ago

November 4, 2024

Sarah Jane Absalom

BETHAN CARTER-HEWINS has spoken to The Pembrokeshire Herald about the her husband’s Josh’s desperate fight to conquer a very rare and aggressive cancer.

She said: “Josh is my life. He’s my absolute everything and it’s awful to watch him suffer. He doesn’t deserve anything bad in this world as he has so much to live for.”

***Josh and Bethan Carter-Hewins in hospital (Pic: Supplied)***

Two weeks ago Josh, was told that the intense chemotherapy treatment he’d been receiving to treat his rare and aggressive Burkitt Lymphoma, had failed.

The 27-year-old, who was born in a prison in 1996 after his mother was wrongly convicted of arson, was told that his cancer had spread. As a result of its aggression, he was told that he isn’t eligible for further treatment.

“So essentially, Josh was sent home from hospital to die,” his wife, Beth, told The Pembrokeshire Herald.

“But Josh is the strongest person I know – his mind is so powerful and even when he’s physically down, he’s determined not to stop. Our fight is far from over.”

Josh has learnt to battle emotional hardship throughout his life after his mother, Annette Hewins, was jailed following her wrongful conviction for causing the death of a mother and two children in 1995. She was just three months pregnant with Joshua at the time of her arrest, and she gave birth to him while she was in custody.

Josh and his siblings were subsequently put into foster care and spent their childhood in the Crymych area and Carmarthenshire.

He moved to Pembroke after meeting Beth in secondary school, and in May, 2023, the couple were married in Pembroke Castle.

***Happier times: Josh and Bethan Carter-Hewins on their wedding day (Pic: Supplied)***

But Josh began feeling unwell two years earlier when he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, which is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. He later developed chronic liver disease and in 2023, he underwent a liver transplant.

“Everything seemed to be going well but when we were on holiday in Greece earlier this summer, he began feeling unwell again,” continues Beth.

“His symptoms were very similar to that of his ulcerative colitis with stomach pain, bloating and a general fatigue so initially, this is what we believed it was.”

But further analyses showed that Josh, who is employed as a CAD technician and account manager for the traffic light company, CORE highways, was suffering from the extremely rare post transplant lymphoma – Burkitt Lymphoma.

“Josh’s initial reaction was ‘Let’s get this done’, and he’s shown the most incredible strength right from the beginning.”

His intensive chemotherapy treatment began in June of this year.

“He was initially on EPOCH, which is a slow infusion that goes in over 24 hours five times a week, but quite early on it became apparent that it wasn’t working,” explains Beth. “So he had the choice of either sticking with it or moving onto another extremely intense chemo, called R-IVAC and R-CODOX-M.

“He chose the extreme chemo as he knew he’d be strong enough to cope, and he was.”

Josh was treated at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff.

***Josh is raising funds for lifesaving treatment (Image: Supplied)***

“It was a horrific chemo and very toxic on the gut and the liver, which are both very sensitive areas for Josh as a result of his liver transplant and the ulcerative colitis. But he coped incredibly well and his gut and liver functioned near perfectly all the way through.”

But two weeks ago Josh was given a scan that showed his intensive chemotherapy had failed and his cancer was showing up in more places than before.

He was also told that the only option available to treat the cancer is CAR-T cell therapy.

“But unfortunately Josh isn’t eligible because his lymphoma is driven by being immunosuppressed,” said Beth. “He isn’t eligible for bone marrow transplants nor stem cell transplants because his disease isn’t under control and it’s too aggressive.

“But when we received this news, we knew that our fight was far from over.

“Josh wasn’t going to accept this, so he did his own extensive research and found a drug – Glofitamab – which has been used to treat a very small number of Burkitt’s lymphoma cases across Canada, Copenhagen, Sweden and the USA. And all those cases have gone into remission.”

Sold under the brand name Columvi, this bispecific monoclonal antibody is used for the treatment of large B-cell lymphoma.

“But it isn’t licensed for use on Burkitt’s lymphoma, which means that to treat Josh, it has to be given unlicensed. His consultant has reached out to the drug company to try and obtain physical data confirming its treatment of Burkitt’s and to try and build a case for the NHS to fund it. But the company didn’t have the data because all the cases had used the drug unlicensed, through private hospitals.

“We’re currently desperately trying to reach out to the NHS and the drug company, Roche, to ask them to grant the use of the drug on compassionate grounds. This has been done before, although it’s very rare.

“We’re also talking with private hospitals across the UK and abroad to try and get Josh the very best option. Obviously this isn’t cheap, but how can we put a price on Josh’s life?”

The treatment is expected to cost in excess of £50,000, with the result that Beth has set up a gofundme link- ‘Joshua’s fight for life; Burkitt’s Lymphoma.

“We’ve had some incredibly difficult conversations over the last few weeks – conversations that no young couple should have to have, but that just comes with those waves of emotion that we’re dealing with,” continued Beth.

“In all honesty, I don’t know how I’m feeling at the moment. One day I;m full of hope, and then the next day it’s complete and utter sadness and this feeling of =dread creeping up behind me, that I’m not ready to face.

“But we’re both so overwhelmed and touched by all the love and support we’re getting. And this is really helping us through.

“Despite what has happened, we’re both totally determined, and we’re not stopping until we’re heard.

“Josh is totally ready to face whatever is coming next.”

To support Josh click here.

Community

Royal British Legion’s Wales Festival of Remembrance pays tribute to Armed Forces

Published

2 days ago

November 3, 2024

Tom Sinclair

WALES came together on Saturday (Nov 2) in a moving tribute to the Armed Forces community at the Royal British Legion’s Wales Festival of Remembrance. For the first time, the event took place at the International Convention Centre (ICC) Wales in Newport.

Hosted by broadcaster Sian Lloyd, the evening honoured several significant anniversaries, including the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the 25th anniversary of the end of the war in Kosovo, and the 10th anniversary of the end of UK operations in Afghanistan. A special tribute also marked 80 years since the liberation of ‘s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands by the Royal Welsh Regiment.

The event featured stirring performances by musical theatre group Welsh of the West End and classically trained soprano Laura Sidney. Choral contributions came from Barry Male Voice Choir, Cardiff Military Wives Choir Caerdydd, and Bristol Military Wives Choir, all accompanied by the Regimental Band and Corps of Drums of The Royal Welsh.

Honoured guests included D-Day veterans Jim Miller and John Fiddler, who received a warm welcome from the audience. Other notable attendees were The Rt Hon Jo Stevens, Secretary of State for Wales; Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister; Brigadier Robert Aitken CBE, Lord Lieutenant of Gwent; and Colonel James Phillips, Veterans’ Commissioner for Wales, alongside senior military personnel.

Philippa Rawlinson, Director of Remembrance at the RBL, remarked: “In a year when we’re marking significant Second World War anniversaries, it’s important we also take time to remember the service and sacrifices of more recent conflicts and the younger generation of the Armed Forces community. Events like the Royal British Legion’s Wales Festival of Remembrance provide an opportunity to both honour the memories of those who have served in our Armed Forces in the past, whilst remembering those still serving today who protect our democratic freedoms and the way of life we all enjoy.”