Unearth the story of St David, the patron saint of Wales, and join a unique archaeological dig searching for traces of the early medieval monastery he established in the 6th century AD, in a location known as ‘Rosina Vallis’.
This Autumn, you can dig into Pembrokeshire’s past with Ancient Connections and DigVentures. Join our archaeological team as we explore a very special site where the footprints of early medieval buildings may have been found. Are they the remains of St David’s early monastery? With your help, we can find out. Depending on the weather, you’ll get to handle artefacts in the Finds Room, or unearth buried clues and archaeological remains out on our Dig Site. No previous experience required!
When: 10am – 3pm, Monday 07 – Tuesday 29 November 2022 (excluding 11, 17, 18, 19 and 24th November 2022)
Where: Rosina Vallis, Fford Porth Clais (near St Davids), Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire
Who: Anyone aged 17+
Group size: 10
Lead by: DigVentures, on behalf of Ancient Connections
Cost: Free
Safe Dig policies: We’re taking precautions and encourage you to do the same (see additional info)
Our dig site
St David has been the patron saint of Wales since the 12th century. Born in the 6th century, his reputed birthplace is close to what is now the city of St Davids. When the city’s famous cathedral was built nearly 600 years later, it is said to have been placed on the site of a much older monastery established by St David himself.
Can the remains of the wood or stone buildings established by St David be found? It’s easy to assume that by the time the cathedral was built, they would be long-gone. But recent discoveries in a nearby pasture field indicate that traces of this early monastery – or related medieval structures – may yet survive.
Today, this pasture field still bears the name Rosina Vallis (in Welsh Glyn Rhosyn, meaning ‘valley of the swamp’) – the same name often used to refer to the site of his early monastery. In 2021, a geophysical survey revealed a series of rectilinear and sub-circular shapes, which could be the remains of medieval and early medieval buildings. Evidence of an ancient enclosure, and medieval floor tiles, has also emerged from the site. Could they provide new clues to the fate of St Davids early monastery?
Our dig site is perfectly located to find out whether ancient buildings really do lie just below the surface. Excavation has the potential to reveal whether they are old enough to be part of the early monastery, or related medieval structures that may help us learn about the communities living in its wake.
If you’re curious about medieval history, the story of St Davids, and connections between the early religious communities living on either side of the Irish Sea, we’d love you to join our archaeological dig to uncover the past and help us find out.
What we'll do
Weather in November can be highly variable, so what we do each day will depend on the conditions:
- When it’s dry enough, we’ll work outside, using the fair weather to unearth new clues on our Dig Site
- When it’s too cold or wet, we’ll head indoors, using the rainy days to examine and process our discoveries in our Finds Room
So, whatever happens this November, you’ll get to do archaeology and help us investigate Rosina Vallis!
On ‘fair weather’ days: We’ll meet at our Meeting Point, and then head out to our Dig Site where we’ll teach you all the skills and techniques you’ll need in order to search for new archaeological clues with our Dig Team. Together, we’ll investigate four different areas of the site – each one over a different part of the possible buildings identified by the geophysical survey. You’ll learn how to dig, recognise new archaeological layers, identify archaeological features, and record your discoveries. Plus, you’ll be helping to retrieve evidence that has lain buried for millennia – all while having some good old-fashioned outdoor fun.
On rainy days: We’ll meet at our Meeting Point, and then head into the Finds Room where you’ll get to help us examine and process our archaeological discoveries indoors. You’ll learn how to clean, handle, examine, and identify artefacts, and find out what archaeologists do with them next. Plus, you’ll be handling objects that no-one has seen for centuries and helping to process them – all while enjoying plenty of tea and biscuits.
Uncovering the Past, with Ancient Connections
This dig at Rosina Vallis is part of Uncovering the Past – an archaeological project led by Ancient Connections exploring the linkages between Pembrokeshire and Wexford during the Early Medieval period.
The churches, chapels, and cemeteries of these two regions – along with the stories about Saints David and Aidan and their close friendship – are a vivid reminder of the importance of the shared Atlantic sea-lanes that linked the early medieval communities of Ireland and Wales.
So far, Uncovering the Past has been using a combination of geophysical survey (to locate sites of interest) and archaeological excavation (to investigate them further), to reveal new information about the early Celtic Church, Celtic Saints, their followers, pilgrimages, and deep historical links found between many different sites across the two regions.
It is a collaborative investigation of our shared past, and anyone can get involved – whether you live here, or want to visit and learn more about the area – thereby contributing to the cross-border story.
Location
Our meeting point will be along Fford Porth Clais, between St Davids and Porthclais. You’ll receive the exact location of our Meeting Point once you are registered for the dig.
