Remains of around 280 human bodies found under former Ocky White department store in Wales
The remains of around 280 human bodies, including babies, have been discovered at a historic site underneath a former department store in a Welsh town.
Archaeologists working in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, say they have unearthed the bodies at the site of a medieval friary.
The discovery was made as part of work on a new multi-million-pound redevelopment of Ocky White, a department store that closed in 2013.
Fran Murphy, head of Field Services at Dyfed Archaeology Trust, which is coordinating the dig, told Sky News the finds date from between the 13th and 16th century.
She said: "It's incredibly significant. Very rarely are there deep excavations in urban areas.
"The study of it will be such an amazing insight into society at the time. It's a little bit overwhelming at times when you see the sheer number of excavated bones!"
Archaeologists say the finds are located at the site of the former St Saviour's Friary, founded in 1256.
Ms Murphy added: "It is a mass of burials of people of all ages and genders - people wanted to be buried there who lived in the town. From tiny babies, you can imagine the mortality rate was very high in that period, so there are large numbers of infant burials.
"There are around 280 individual articulated skeletons. Most of the burials are in shrouds rather than coffins."
Some of the remains have head injuries which may suggest involvement in battle, with one theory that the victims may date from an attack led by Welsh military leader Owain Glyndwr, the last native Welsh person to hold the title of Prince of Wales.
Ms Murphy said: "We have seen some that have suffered from injuries, but whether that's from warfare, a battle or a fight, it's difficult to tell. There is some evidence some people might have had injuries inflicted from battle, but we can't say. As a group, the majority of them don't appear to show evidence of wounds."
The team are now starting a lengthy process of analysing the remains, which could build a picture of what life in Pembrokeshire was like hundreds of years ago.
"It's a little bit out of our comfort zone," said Ms Murphy.
"It's an amazing insight into Haverfordwest which has been a town that was so important in the history of Wales and is little understood. We don't know where the town walls are. It's one of these sort of enigmas. It just shows the depth of archaeology that survives deep underground."
Once studied by specialists the remains will be reburied in consecrated ground.
A spokesperson from Pembrokeshire County Council told Sky News: "Dyfed Archaeology has been working alongside the Principal Contractor on the Western Quayside site since March 2022 and has already uncovered many interesting and important discoveries.
"As Haverfordwest is in the process of changing, this work is a great opportunity for the dig team and the public to look back and find out more about an area in the town that has significant historical value."
