The mysterious medieval cemetery where people dined among the graves

A rare medieval cemetery near Cardiff Airport in Wales has revealed many unsolved mysteries about the people who lived and died there.

Artifacts found in the ground suggest that they socialized, ate, drank or even celebrated among the graves, while a small, round stake made of bone could be evidence of people playing games.

A team of archaeologists has spent the past two summers digging at the site, which is believed to date from the 6th or 7th century. So far, 18 of the approximately 70 graves have been excavated – and the skeletons found raise even more questions about the community.

While some were buried on their backs as usual, others were buried on their sides – and some were placed in a crouching position with their knees drawn to their chests.

The findings are causing the team quite a headache. They don’t know if this means the cemetery has been in use for a long time and the way people were buried has changed, or if some people were placed in unusual positions to make them look different. . .

The well-preserved skeletons also provide insight into the life of the community.

“We have a number of teeth that are severely worn in strange ways, which could indicate teeth are being used as tools,” says Summer Courts, an osteoarchaeologist from the University of Reading.

Speaking to the BBC, she said people may have used their teeth to make textiles, leather or baskets.

“They’re pulling something through their front teeth,” she said.

In the cemetery, located on the grounds of Fonmon Castle, in addition to the remains of animal bones, fragments of plates, cups and pottery imported from abroad were uncovered.

Dr. Andy Seaman, a specialist in early medieval archeology at Cardiff University, says the wealth of artefacts suggests it was not just a place to bury the dead.

“We tend to think of cemeteries as sort of enclosed spaces that we don’t really visit, but they would probably have played a central role in life in the past,” he told the BBC.

“And it’s not just a place where people are buried, but it’s a place where communities come together. They bury their dead, but also engage in other activities and social practices, including eating and drinking – and feasting.”

Given the quality of the objects found in the graves, including fine glass believed to have come from Bordeaux, France, it is also possible that those buried in the cemetery were high-ranking individuals.

“The evidence we have here is that people have access to very high quality imported goods that can only be obtained through trade or exchange networks if people with great wealth bring them here,” says Dr. Tudur Davies. , from Cardiff University.

“What exactly is going on? Who are these people buried here?’

These are the questions being asked tomorrow at 8pm in the BBC episode of Digging For Britain, which focuses on the cemetery.

In addition, further DNA research is being conducted to find out who exactly was buried there and when.