Archaeologists Puzzled by Wealth, Work, and Strange Burials in Welsh Medieval Graveyard

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Ancient Cemetery Near Cardiff Airport Unearths Secrets of Early Medieval Women

Fonmon Castle, Wales – A rare 6th or 7th-century cemetery discovered last year near Cardiff Airport continues to puzzle archaeologists with new findings that challenge conventional understandings of early medieval life.

Excavations at the Fonmon Castle site have revealed that most of the 39 adult skeletons uncovered are female, with their bones indicating both manual labor and surprising access to wealth.

Andy Seaman from Cardiff University, told the BBC:

“Every time we think we understand something, something else crops up and the picture gets more intriguing.”

Adding to the mystery is the discovery of a woman’s body unceremoniously tossed into a ditch, contrasting sharply with the careful burials of the others.

While only two children’s skeletons have been found so far, archaeologists have uncovered artifacts like pottery shards and etched glass, with the glass imported from the Levant and Southern France, hinting at the community’s high status.

Seaman hopes the find will shed light on the lives of everyday people:

“We’re hoping to tell the story of the individuals within the cemetery, but also the broader community. We know a lot about the lives of kings and queens, but much less about everyday people. And never before really have we been able to explore a single community in so much detail and all the interesting inter-relationships.”