Roman fort discovered in remote Welsh location may house 1,000 soldiers

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 29 Oct, 11:57 · Archive

An ancient Roman fort near Frenni Fawr in Pembrokeshire could have held up to 1,000 auxiliary soldiers.

A Roman fort discovered in remote Pembrokeshire, Wales, could have held up to 1,000 auxiliary soldiers, according to archaeologist Mark Merrony of Oxford's Wolfson College. The fort, located near Frenni Fawr, was announced by Wolfson College in October following recent excavations. Merrony identified the site using satellite imagery in 2024 and described its location as being in the "middle of nowhere." He initially estimated the fort could house 500 troops but revised this upward, noting it is larger than Housesteads on Hadrian's Wall, which held 1,000 troops.

Excavations uncovered two Roman coins from the late fourth century, along with ceramic roofing tiles and what Merrony believes could be floor tiles or underfloor heating materials. The fourth-century coins suggest activity continued during Emperor Magnus Maximus's rule of Britain from 383 to 388 AD. However, Merrony believes the fort's presence is more significant than the coins themselves, as he thinks the fort was almost certainly founded in the first century.

The discovery may connect to the Mabinogion, a medieval collection of Welsh tales and legends. One story in the Mabinogion recounts the Roman emperor establishing a military camp near Frenni Fawr, potentially linking the archaeological find to ancient legend.

How it is being reported

• Mysterious Roman fort discovered in remote area could prove ancient legend has roots in realityMark Merrony, an archaeologist at Oxford, told Fox News Digital the Pembrokeshire Roman fort could have held 1,000 auxiliary soldiers, rivaling garrisons on Hadrian's Wall.New York Post · 29 Oct, 11:39
• Mysterious Roman fort discovered in remote area could prove ancient legend has roots in realityMark Merrony, an archaeologist at Oxford, told Fox News Digital the Pembrokeshire Roman fort could have held 1,000 auxiliary soldiers, rivaling garrisons on Hadrian's Wall.Fox News · 27 Oct, 13:00

In this story: Mark Merrony · Wolfson College, Oxford · Pembrokeshire · Wales · Emperor Magnus Maximus · Hadrian's Wall · Frenni Fawr

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