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A remarkable archaeological find has emerged in Wales, where experts have uncovered the largest Roman villa ever discovered in the country. Described as an “amazing discovery,” this villa lies beneath a well-known park and has been compared to “Port Talbot’s Pompeii” due to its exceptional preservation and significance. The site, located in Margam Country Park, was identified through ground penetrating radar surveys that revealed extensive remnants of the structure just under a meter below the surface.
Dr Alex Langlands, who leads the project and is Co-Director of Swansea University’s Centre for Heritage Research and Training, expressed astonishment at the scale of the find. “My eyes nearly popped out of my skull,” he said. The villa, found within a historical deer park, was remarkably intact since the land has remained unploughed and undeveloped for centuries. This preservation offers a unique glimpse into Wales’ ancient past. The team, which includes members from Swansea University, Neath Port Talbot council, and Margam Abbey Church, emphasized the discovery’s importance in enriching the national historic narrative.
The villa itself is impressively large: about 572 square meters in size, featuring a corridor villa design with two wings and a veranda along its front. Dr Langlands described the layout as having six main rooms connected by two corridors leading to eight additional rooms at the rear, suggesting it was likely the residence of a prominent local figure. The villa was probably the hub of a substantial agricultural estate, bustling with activity. Surrounding the villa were defensive enclosures and a sizeable aisled building, which researchers believe may have functioned as either a barn or a meeting hall.
Christian Bird from TerraDat, the company that conducted the geophysical surveys, noted that the imaging was “remarkably clear,” successfully mapping the villa’s structure and surrounding features in three dimensions. The exact location of the villa is being kept confidential to protect it from potential looters. Conservation is currently the priority before any excavation can begin. Comparing the find to Pompeii, Dr Langlands highlighted the potential for the villa to reveal a wealth of information about life from the Roman period through to possibly the 5th century AD. The discovery challenges previous assumptions about Roman presence in south Wales and points to Margam being a significant center of power during that era.
The find has already sparked excitement locally, with community members eager to learn more at an upcoming open day at Margam Abbey Church. Residents like Margaret Jones expressed awe that beneath familiar park grounds lies such a remarkable piece of history, bringing pride at a time when the area has faced economic challenges. Archaeologists and heritage officers are hopeful that further exploration, possibly involving community digs, will deepen
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