Dig reveals exciting discoveries (From Western Telegraph)

Dig reveals exciting discoveries

Archaeology students on their first real 'dig' have made exciting discoveries of an early Christian burial ground at Angle.

The site excavation near West Angle Bay - co-ordinated by the Pembroke-shire Coast National Park Authority and Cambria Archaeology - has confirmed the location of a substantial cemetery, but not in the place it was expected to be.

National Park archaeologist Polly Groom said: "Our initial investigations, close to the cliff bank where stone graves had originally been noted, did not reveal anything.

"When we moved to a new dig location a little further from the cliff edge we made several significant discoveries. We expect this site to date from the ninth to tenth centuries AD, but we are collecting samples for dating to confirm this.

"This burial site also has some odd features which we don't yet fully understand. It may be that the burials are placed into an earlier monument - if this is the case, then it is a tremendously exciting discovery. We hope the next few days will confirm this."

It has been a very rewarding dig for the ten archaeology students from Cardiff University - their first live fieldwork.

"They have been great workers," said Polly.

"After initial disappointment, the site really has come up trumps."

The dig has been a popular draw for holidaymakers on the nearby beach and local residents and an open day earlier brought in many visitors.

A regular visitor has been Mr Ted Owens, of Pembroke Dock, a well-known local history enthusiast. Ted knows the site well and had identified the cliff face graves on previous visits.