Fonmon Cemetery-Context, Continuity and Communities within Early Medieval Glamorgan

 

Discovery Background

The discovery of a large early medieval period (410-1066) cemetery near Fonmon Castle has caused quite a stir within the archaeological community-so much so that as well as doing the rounds in the local and national press, the site was featured in an episode of the popular archaeology tv program Digging for Britain.

Excavations carried out over two seasons by the author’s alma mater Cardiff University, and Reading University, in 2022-2023 (more are planned) have revealed the site of an enclosed mass burial dating (provisionally) to the sixth and seventh centuries AD. An estimated seventy graves have been discovered so far, with more still thought to be in the vicinity. What was particularly interesting was, according to Dr Andy Seaman of Cardiff University, was that this burial site was not just a place to dispose of the dead but was also a place where communities seemingly came together for feasting and games. There is even evidence of metalwork occurring on site. This is something more akin to prehistoric communities than those from the early Medieval period.

(A burial from Fonmon. Credit-Cardiff University)

Archaeological sites from the early medieval period within Glamorgan are rare, but not unknown. These particular idiosyncrasies however were not expected as there is no known precedent within the local archaeological records.

This site poses many interesting questions regarding the relationship between Fonmon and other early medieval sites within the Vale of Glamorgan, but also deeper questions relating to the formation of this small part of Wales and the origins of the communities formed by our common ancestors after the Romans left south Wales.

Late Roman-early medieval period

Following the withdrawal of Roman governance from Britain in around the early fifth century AD, most-if not all vestiges of Romanisation were lost. Roman socio-economics, architecture and culture seemingly disappeared overnight. This is the enigmatic period in history referred to as the Dark Ages.

Contemporary literature referring to this sub-Roman period in Wales is non-existent. With almost no written information available it is to archaeology that we look to in order to try to understand the early transition from Romano-British society to the emergence of early Welsh society and its kingdoms. Not an easy task.

Depopulation

During this period depopulation is thought to have occurred-something that is reflected directly in the archaeological record. A good example of this depopulation can be seen through the number of known Romano-British farmsteads that have been excavated or discovered throughout the Vale of Glamorgan. These farmsteads or estate centres in regard to the larger ones, are in themselves a fascinating study. They show a great deal of variation in the extent of Romanisation on the indigenous British population. We can see this effect through not only the material culture-monetary economy and transaction being a good example as coin finds tend to be numerous, but perhaps more interestingly through architecture.

Architecturally Romano-British farmsteads were for the most part comprised of the traditional British roundhouse as constructed in both the Bronze Age and the Iron Age. Many of the more prosperous ones however gradually were rebuilt into something resembling a Roman villa and exhibited features found in Roman villas such as plastered walls and hypocaust systems. The villas at Llandough and Whitton Lodge are good examples of this. Very few of these estate centres however, and certainly none of the other of the smaller Romano-British farmsteads, show much in the way of activity after the late Roman period.

It was as if the inhabitants seemingly disappeared overnight. Certainly, the main economic mainstay of Roman Britain, agriculture, did not seem to be a driving factor in early medieval Welsh society as there was no standing army to feed and the larger Romano-British settlements, such as civitas capital Venta Silurem (Caerwent), and the numerous Roman military garrisons such as Cardiff and their associated Vicus settlements went into terminal decline almost as soon as the Romans left Wales.

The emergence of the kingdom of Morgannwg

So what came next? This period is regarded by archaeologists and historians alike as something of a mystery - indeed, it has been the focus of a great deal of archaeological and academic interest over the years as it is so poorly understood.

According to medieval Welsh sources, the western portion of former Silurian territory was in the early fifth century a petty kingdom ruled by a king called Glywys. This large tract of land was supposedly named after him and was subsequently referred to as Glywysing - later to be called Morgannwg. This western portion of former Silurian territory was, according to twelfth century sources divided up into seven portions or cantrefi, (Seven Cantrefs of Glamorgan) with each cantref according to tradition, named after the sons of King Glywys.

It is possible however that King Glywys never actually existed, and like his contemporary King Arthur, is the product of legend. But what is certain is that by the latter part of the early medieval period the Welsh kingdom of Morganwg was well attested to in documentary records.

Christianity and Religious settlements

Despite the historical records regarding the formation of Morganwg being sketchy at best, we do know for certain that this period in Welsh history saw the beginnings of the spread of Christianity throughout Wales with Glamorgan in particular having the distinction of being home to not only numerous pre-eminent early religious establishments such as Llantwit Major and Llancarfan, but also home to a number of much venerated Saints such as Llltud, Cadoc and Baruc.

Written records regarding this early period in Welsh history, which were all written during the latter part of the early medieval period, do not give us any information about the ordinary folk who inhabited Glamorgan at this time. We do know however that this small corner of Wales was unaffected by ‘barbarian incursion’ or colonisation as seen in England in the fifth and sixth centuries, meaning that the people who were buried at Fonmon, and other early Medieval cemeteries throughout Glamorgan, are likely to be ethnic descendants of the Romano-British Silurians.  

Llandough Early Medieval Cemetery

Most of the known early medieval cemeteries within Glamorgan appear to have strong associations with monastic/religious sites. St Baruc’s holy shrine on Barry Island is a good example of this. The best example however is to be found at Llandough near Penarth.

In 1994 in advance of a housing estate development, archaeologists uncovered the remains of a vast sub-Roman, early Medieval cemetery comprising the remains of over one thousand individual inhumation burials adjacent to the church of St Dochdwy. These Christian burials, the earliest of which is thought to date to the fifth century ascertained using radiocarbon dating and the presence of imported Bii amphorae which was found in five graves, coincided with the foundation of an early Christian monastery in the vicinity.  

Located near to this cemetery were the remains of a Romano-British villa which was occupied until the early fourth century AD. It is highly probable that there was some continuity of settlement at Llandough during the transition from the Romano-British period to the early Medieval period.

Osteoarchaeology (study of bones) has revealed many interesting aspects of the population at Llandough during the early Medieval period. One particularly interesting aspect was the study of fractures. The extant fractures were for the most part consistent with injuries relating to agricultural practice rather than with acts of aggression meaning that conflict and violence here appeared to be very rare indeed. And just as interestingly was the presence of gout in some individuals-strongly suggestive that a number of people here partook in excessive alcohol consumption.

Secular Settlements-Atlantic Trading Estate

Another example of, albeit brief, continuity from a Romano-British community to a sub-Roman period community within Glamorgan is to be found in the Romano-British-early sub-Roman cemetery at the Atlantic Trading Estate on the outskirts of Barry. This multi-period site has not had the benefit of systematic archaeological study but has been uncovered piecemeal since the late nineteenth century. Also uncovered in the vicinity are what are thought to have been the remains of buildings leading archaeologists to infer that this cemetery had a strong association with a ‘prestigious Roman settlement’, likely a villa.

The burials, forty five in total, appeared to be markedly Roman in character and were represented by both earlier cremation burials in glass urns, and later inhumation burials ranging from the late third to late sixth century. Other burials found within the area contained high-status grave goods such as late Roman gold coins and gold finger rings. There appears to have been some brief continuity at this site after the Roman withdrawal as the burials indicate, but shortly after this period sometime during the late sixth century AD the last small glimmer of the light of civilization spluttered and flickered and was eventually extinguished. Did it burn itself out? Or was it snuffed out?

The mass abandonment of important agricultural estate centres, and their smaller farmstead subsidiaries, lends an important question. Given that this part of Roman Britain was unaffected by Barbarian incursion, where, when and how did the elite of early Glamorgan morph from estate owners to the early rulers of Morgannwg, and who exactly were these rulers and was there any relation between them and the cemetery at Fonmon?

Dinas Powys Hillfort-A new Centre of Power

Dinas Powys hillfort is considered by archaeologists to have been an important high-status power-centre during the early medieval period. Lesley Alcock, who conducted excavations at the site in 1953-58, regarded Dinas Powys as being the site of a ‘princely household’, perhaps even the home of the chieftain of the newly formed kingdom of Glywysing. The excavated remains date from the fifth through to the seventh centuries AD. This occupation coincided with a period when fortified hillfort locations were readopted as centres of power after Roman withdrawal from Britain.

(Dinas Powys hillfort. Credit, Roman-Britain)

The settlement at Dinas Powys after recent (2023) re-analysis has been shown to have been much better defended than previously thought. The importance of Dinas Powys was inferred not only by its fortified hilltop location, but also by the fact that the site was rich in high-status finds. Archaeologists have found imported Mediterranean pottery dating to the fifth century, and Merovingian glass and pottery from the sixth and seventh centuries. These finds as well as showing us the status and importance of its inhabitants, also show us how trade networks changed during this poorly understood period.

In addition, evidence was uncovered to show that there were hearths for industrial activity with metal production occurring on site, and that Dinas Powys was home to both a blacksmith and an Irish jeweller who crafted high-status items made from bronze and gold. Stock raising also appeared to have formed a large part of the economy at Dinas Powys. Although economically underdeveloped compared to most sites in Anglo-Saxon England, Dinas Powys represents an important early medieval centre of power and hence important in any discussion upon the early Medieval period in Glamorgan, and perhaps beyond.

Knight asserts that there was very much an amicable relation with the fortified site at Dinas Powys and the monastic site at Llandough during the sixth century (Knight 2005). Seaman asserts that Dinas Powys and Llandough may have formed a part of a ‘polyfocal central zone’ (Seaman 2013).  Could the descendants of the elite at Llandough have re-located to Dinas Powys during the sub-Roman period? And could they have had influence over a wider area?

Fonmon Burial Site

One thing that is striking about the burial site at Fonmon is that it appears to have existed in isolation. The burial site at Llandough for example has Romano-British antecedents and was associated with an early monastic establishment and appeared to have had direct links with Dinas Powys hillfort. The late Roman, sub-Roman burial site at Atlantic Trading Estate also had a clear context of an associated ‘prestigious villa’, or estate centre.

It is of course perfectly possible that there did exist some sort of localised context for this intriguing site that has yet to be discovered but for now we can only work within the remit of our current knowledge. The burial site at Fonmon however is located between two important early Christian monastic sites, those of Llantwit Major and Llancarfan respectively. Perhaps there was some connection between them although this for the time being must remain speculative.

What has particularly intrigued archaeologists was the unusual burial positions and the unexpected artefacts found within this cemetery.

(Archaeologists at Fonmon. Credit, BBC, Kevin Church)

Burial Positions

The vast majority of burials discovered at Fonmon were standard inhumation burials (body lying flat on its back), something which is typical for both the late Roman period and for the sub-Roman period and has a strong association with Christianity. The majority of graves found at Llandough for example exhibit this type of inhumation burial. There were, however, a number of burials that deviated from this norm at Fonmon.

One burial was found in a crouched position. A very small number of burial variations were also encountered at Llandough. One body was found on its side and four were found ‘flexed’). None of the bodies at Llandough however were found in a crouched position. This discovery has intrigued archaeologists and is regarded as being significant. Who was this person who was subject to this unusual burial practice, and why?

The crouched burial position is interesting as it’s something that is strongly associated with late Iron Age burials, in particular that of the ‘Durotrigian-type’ inhumation burial practice as found in Dorset. This crouched type of Durotrigian inhumation burial was in use well into the Roman occupation and are often found with items such as ceramics, jewellery and joints of meat.

Exotic Glass, Games and Feasting

The discovery of an’ Ice cream shaped glass cone’ originating from Bordeaux in France is both fascinating and significant. Such items were the sole preserve of the elite as we have seen from the hillfort at Dinas Powys.  Although not unequivocal, the presence of exotic glass found at Dinas Powys and at Fonmon makes it very tempting to draw the conclusion that there was some sort of relationship between the two places-or at least that it shows that they utilized similar, if not the same, trading/exchange networks. Despite this possibility, it would be somewhat simplistic to base this inference upon the presence of the glassware alone, but certainly the presence of this exotic glassware at two relatively near locations is significant and it is not unreasonable to assume that there might have been some sort of relationship in existence.

The evidence for feasting and games at early medieval burial sites within Glamorgan is something that is (to our knowledge) unprecedented within the local archaeological record and is strongly indicative of various communities coming together to feast, and in this instance, perhaps play games as the small wooden peg, or games counter suggests. Another intriguing aspect was the presence of metal working hearths on this site. Why was this?

Conclusion

As is so often the case in archaeology, the evidence serves to ask more questions than to provide answers. That a community or communities came together at Fonmon is certain, but for a large cemetery to exist seemingly in isolation with no antecedents or contemporary context during this period in early Medieval Glamorgan is without president.

It is likely that these people were, for the most part at least, ethnically of Silurian descent. As only a small number of the estimated seventy graves have been fully excavated, we can expect further excavations to elicit more information. The analysis of the Skeltons at Fonmon has barely begun, and it will be interesting to see what information both DNA analysis and osteoarchaeological examination can yield. For example, a cursory examination of the worn teeth of one individual showed that they were likely engaged in some type of manufacturing activity such as leather making, using their teeth as a sort of grip.

Was the community or communities these people belonged to as seemingly peaceful as that of Llandough? Did they suffer from malnutrition? Did these individuals drink alcohol to excess? Were they kin as has been shown with the burials at Atlantic Trading Estate? 

The excavations at Fonmon are set to continue next Summer, and we look forward to seeing if further digging can shed more light on this ancient, forgotten and mysterious community.

 Mark and Jonathan Lambert are archaeology graduates of Cardiff University and are published authors. They have been writing about and researching local history for the past 20 years and have a wealth of knowledge. All articles are original compositions - we hope you enjoy our content. Enquiries: hiddenglamorgan@outlook.com

 ©Jonathan and Mark Lambert 2024

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