Archaeologists have unearthed an early medieval cemetery near Cardiff Airport in Wales, dating back to the 6th and 7th centuries AD. The site, located on the grounds of Fonmon Castle, contains the remains of approximately 80 individuals and offers insights into a transitional period between late antiquity and the early Middle Ages.
Excavations have revealed that a majority of the adult skeletons are female, exhibiting signs of both manual labor and surprising access to wealth. The skeletons show evidence of fractures, arthritis, and joint diseases, suggesting a life of hard work, possibly in agriculture. However, the presence of imported artifacts, such as fragments of elegant drinking glasses from southwestern France and pottery from North Africa, indicates trade connections and a complex social structure.
Researchers have also found unusual burial positions, including crouched burials, and evidence of feasting rituals, with butchered animal bones and imported glass vessels discovered near the graves. One skeleton was found unceremoniously tossed in a ditch, contrasting sharply with the careful burials of others. These discoveries challenge conventional understandings of early medieval life and raise questions about the roles and status of women in Welsh society during this period. Cardiff University is continuing excavations at the site.