Iron Age Dog and Mysterious Women’s Cemetery Discovered in Wales

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Archaeologists have uncovered a ritually buried animal skeleton and a second prehistoric settlement at Fonmon Castle, a well-known tourist site in Wales. The ongoing scientific analysis focuses on remains from the Vale of Glamorgan location, where a previous excavation revealed an ancient cemetery offering fresh insights into Early Medieval Welsh life. Evidence of ritual feasting was found among approximately half of the 80 burials recovered so far, and now the bones of a ritually buried dog have come to light.

Cardiff University researchers conducting a new excavation discovered part of an Iron Age settlement just west of the castle, with the initial find being a ditch marking the entrance to the site. The dog’s skeleton was deliberately placed at the bottom of this ditch, likely as a protective ritual for the settlement. Dr Andy Seaman, a Reader in early medieval archaeology at Cardiff University, explained that the complete dog skeleton’s placement at the enclosure entrance aligns with similar Iron Age sites across Britain, where dogs served as symbolic guardians.

Radiocarbon dating places the dog’s remains between 700 and 500 BC, a period from which few Welsh sites have been identified, making this an important discovery. The team will also analyze pottery fragments and numerous animal bones found in the trench, which appear to be waste deposits from the settlement, offering clues about the economy, farming, and environment of that era. Last year’s excavation at the original burial site, dating to the 6th or 7th century, revealed dozens of skeletons in unusual positions, with nearly all identified as women.

Researchers noted signs that some of these women engaged in heavy labor, while others showed evidence of wealth and luxury. Osteoarthritis was present in some bones, and one skeleton belonged to a person of notably short stature. One woman’s bones were found thrown into a ditch, contrasting with the careful burial of the others. A total of 39 human skeletons have been found in graves carved from limestone bedrock at the site.

Dr Seaman acknowledged the mystery surrounding why only women’s skeletons have been uncovered, suggesting men might be buried elsewhere within the cemetery. “We’ve now established that the site has good research potential,” he said, emphasizing its ability to shed light on the poorly understood early Iron Age in the region. Plans include opening more trenches to search for evidence of houses inside the enclosure and to excavate additional sections of the ditch for further clues.

He described the new site discovery as a fascinating addition to Fonmon’s history, pushing its story back beyond the Roman period into prehistoric times. “It shows that the castle was not the first community to exploit that particular part of the landscape,” he added. Bioarchaeologist Katie Faillace, also from Cardiff University, highlighted the progress in understanding the cemetery’s inhabitants, noting that initial isotopic analysis suggests many were local to the area.

Faillace pointed out that some individuals showed joint degeneration consistent with osteoarthritis, and one had extremely short stature. DNA testing is underway, with lab results expected to reveal more details in the coming months. Parts of Fonmon Castle date back to Norman times, and since its purchase in 2019 by Nigel Ford, it has been opened to the public as a visitor attraction and events venue.

Ford invited the Cardiff University team to investigate the site, with initial surveys beginning in 2021. “We’re very excited by how the archaeological investigations have panned out,” he said, noting that no one anticipated the significance of the medieval cemetery find or the evidence of Iron Age occupation. “This highlights just how long people have been drawn to settle in this area, making the castle seem a relatively recent addition.” He looks forward to the next stage of excavation in 2025, hoping it will reveal more about both the medieval cemetery and the Iron Age enclosure.