Roman villa is 'largest ever found in Wales...

HOLLY MORGAN Reporter [e-mail]

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A 'huge' Roman villa has been found in the grounds of Margam Country Park, but its precise location is being kept secret

ARCHAEOLOGISTS have discovered the largest Roman villa ever found in Wales in what is being described as an extraordinary find with the potential to become "Port Talbot's Pompeii".

The discovery was made in Margam Country Park after ground-penetrating radar revealed a large structure buried less than a metre below the surface. The site lies within a historic deer park that has never been ploughed or developed, meaning the remains appear to be exceptionally well preserved.

The project involved researchers from Swansea University, Neath Port Talbot council and Margam Abbey Church, who say the find offers unprecedented insight into Wales' Roman past. Details have been shared ahead of a public announcement later this month.

Project lead Dr Alex Langlands said: "This is an amazing discovery. We always thought that we'd find something dating to the Romano-British period, but we never dreamed it would be so clearly articulated and with so much potential in terms of what it can tell us about the elusive first millennium AD here in South Wales.

"Margam is famous for its nationally significant monuments and for having evidence of Bronze Age, Iron Age, Medieval and post-Medieval heritage. But we knew practically nothing about what was going on in the Romano-British period. This is the missing piece of the puzzle.