Footprint of large Roman villa found beneath Margam country park near Port Talbot

Archaeologists have identified the footprint of a large Roman villa beneath Margam country park on the outskirts of Port Talbot, a find that suggests the area may have been an important agricultural centre rather than a marginal frontier zone. Ground-penetrating radar revealed the hidden structure, which has been labelled "Port Talbot’s Pompeii" by the project team.

Alex Langlands, an associate professor of heritage and history at Swansea University and project lead for ArchaeoMargam, said the radar suggested it could be the largest villa of its kind in Wales and called it "a lifetime find for me, the park and the community." He said the discovery changes the story of Romano-British Wales, which has largely been told through legionary forts and military sites.

The villa appears to sit within an enclosure about 43 metres by 55 metres, with a substantial building to the south-east that may have been a large agricultural storage building or a meeting hall. Langlands said the remains may be comparable to the grand stately villas in Gloucestershire, Somerset and Dorset and added: "I think we’re in the fourth century" while noting the site cannot yet be precisely dated.

Surveys indicate floor surfaces and wall foundations are intact, and the park’s long use as a deer park has helped protect the site from intensive ploughing.

Key Topics

Culture, Margam Country Park, Roman Villa, Port Talbot, Alex Langlands, Archaeomargam