National Archaeology Week: West Angle Cemetery Excavations

Students from Cardiff University in their first or second years of archaeology degrees are participating in the dig.

Image by: Dan Wilson

 

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by Todd Harrison

July 24, 2005

National Archaeology Week got into full swing last week with an Open Day at the trial excavations on a medieval cemetery near West Angle Bay.

Supported by Cambria Archaeology and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, the trial excavation hopes to shed some light on whether the eroding graves, clearly visible protruding from the cliff-face above the beach, represent different zoned areas within a single cemetery, or previous, small cemeteries which had fallen out of use.

Archaeologist Polly Groom, who works for both Cambria Archaeology and the National Park Authority, was on hand to answer questions from the many people who made the trip to Angle for the Open Day.

"We believe that this is a medieval cemetery and the site is eroding out of the cliffs due to coastal activity. The graves are stone-slab lined, known as cist graves, and recent finds at the dig indicate that they may be from between the 7^th and 9^th centuries AD.

"Remains from a similar site at St Brides were dated to the mid 900s AD. This period is also known as 'The Age of the Saints' and was critical for the development of the Christian church in Wales."

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The three-week excavation is being carried out with the aid of students from Cardiff University in their first or second years of archaeology degrees. So far, finds have been pretty slim, but Polly is hopeful that the site may yet divulge something of significance.

"So far the finds have been a little disappointing, but what isn't found can sometimes tell us just as much as what is. So far, we've unearthed a couple of small shards of pottery, dating from between the 10^th and 13^th centuries. One of the shards had some green glazing on it which implies that this may have been a high-class settlement at one time. How these relate to the cemetery, we don't know yet."

The excavation has also unearthed a couple of mysteries. A large number of beach pebbles have been found underneath the plough layer. "These could have been simply left on the surface and ploughed under, but the amount we're finding suggest that there may be other explanations we don't understand yet." said Polly.

Another mystery is the discovery of what could be a small grave well outside the supposed boundaries of the cemetery. A rectangular hole is visible in another eroding cliff-face towards the end of the bay. While the location of the 'grave' is prohibitive of excavation at this time, one possible explanation might be that this is a small child's grave, which would explain both its small size and peculiar location.

"While we won't find out for sure on this dig, it wasn't uncommon in the middle ages for small children who died before being baptised to be buried outside of the cemetery grounds. Religious doctrine of the time dictated that if children were not baptised, they still suffered from Original Sin and therefore must be buried outside of consecrated ground."

The first cist grave was recognised in 1997 when up to four graves were identified within the eroding cliff face. Others have been noted by walkers and by National Park rangers. The burials lie 100 metres northwest of an oval enclosure which may represent the churchyard around the former St Anthony's Chapel, recorded during the later medieval period. The chapel building has gone but the enclosure is still detectable as a low, sub-rectangular earthwork.

Added Polly: "We do not know the size or extent of the cemetery at Angle so hope that these trial excavations will help to clarify it. It will also allow us to rescue any material which is immediately threatened with erosion, and to obtain samples for dating.

A small earthwork was also discovered at the site and a trench was cut to try and ascertain it's purpose. "We don't know what it is! It may be an enclosed part of the cemetery, or a boundary bank, or tumbled walling. It may even be the remains of a building or perhaps a stone dump from when the Victorian fort on Thorn Island was built." said Polly.

Landowner Mr John Allen-Mirehouse has kindly given permission for the dig to take place.

For further information on this dig, contact Polly Groom at the National Park's Pembroke Dock headquarters, 0845 345 7275 or e-mail pollyg@pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk