Remains of more than 300 humans found by builders working on a new bar

Hundreds of skeletons have been discovered by a group of builders while digging foundations at a former department store site.

Hundreds of human bodies have been discovered by a group of tradies working at a former department store site in Wales.

The builders were digging the foundations of a new bar as part of work on a new multimillion-dollar redevelopment of Ocky White, a department store that closed in 2013, in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, southwest Wales, when they discovered the skeletons.

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More than 300 human remains – half of them children – were uncovered by builders working on a new bar in Wales. Picture: Wales News Service/Australscope

Archaeologists took over the dig after workmen found the 600-year-old human bones. Picture: Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Dyfed Archaeological Trust

Archaeologists took over the site and soon counted a reported 307 graves – with half of them belonging to children.

Historians believe the ancient burial ground dates back more than 600 years, according to the Daily Mail.

The ruins are thought to be from the mysterious St Saviour’s Priory, founded by a Dominican order of monks in about 1256.

There are also a number of theories the burials could be linked to an attack by Welsh rebel leader Owain Glyndwr in 1405. Owain led a long-running war of independence aimed to end English rule in Wales.

Experts say they found 307 graves at the site of former Ocky Whites department store in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. Picture: Wales News Service/Australscope

The ruins are thought to be from St Saviour’s Priory, founded by a Dominican order of monks in about 1256. Picture: Wales News Service/Australscope

Fran Murphy, head of Field Services at Dyfed Archaeology Trust, which is co-ordinating the dig, described the find as “incredibly significant”.

“Very rarely are there deep excavations in urban areas,” she told Sky News.

“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.”

She said early findings showed some signs of injuries on some of the deceased, 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.”

🙌 Today is a very exciting #FindsFriday!The team at Hfordwest have found what we think is a squashed pattern dish,together with a squashed chalice underneath.They were buried within the hands of a person, possibly a VIP .We're excited to do more research on this one! pic.twitter.com/A71soJ6rLq

— Dyfed Archaeology (@DyfedArch) October 21, 2022

Dyfed Archaeology also identified one body of a person thought to be a VIP.

“The team at Haverfordwest have found what we think is a squashed pattern dish, together with a squashed chalice underneath,” the Trust tweeted on Friday.

“They were buried within the hands of a person, possibly a VIP. We’re excited to do more research on this one!”

Dyfed Archaeological Trust site supervisor Andrew Shobbrook said it’s “quite a prestigious place to be buried”.

“You have a range of people, from the wealthy to general townsfolk,” he said.

“We know that the town was besieged in 1405 by Owain Glyndr and they could be victims of that conflict.”

All the bones are being analysed before they will be reburied at consecrated grounds nearby.