Fferm Llwydfaen, Dyffryn Conwy 2

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0:00:06 > 0:00:10- My name's Dr Iestyn Jones. Some - of you might know me as an actor.

0:00:10 > 0:00:14- I'm passionate - about archaeology and history...

0:00:14 > 0:00:17- ..which led me - to obtain a doctorate in the field.

0:00:18 > 0:00:22- For more than 10 years, I've worked - as a professional archaeologist.

0:00:22 > 0:00:27- Throughout this series, I'll visit - sites up and down the country...

0:00:27 > 0:00:32- ..that have never been excavated - before, to uncover Wales' history.

0:00:36 > 0:00:40- In the previous episode, - we travelled to the Conwy Valley...

0:00:40 > 0:00:43- ..to try and uncover - our lost history.

0:00:43 > 0:00:47- This part of Wales, - which is steeped in history...

0:00:47 > 0:00:51- ..has witnessed ferocious battles - over the centuries.

0:00:51 > 0:00:54- The River Conwy - has been a natural border...

0:00:54 > 0:00:59- ..separating languages, religion, - culture and power over the years.

0:00:59 > 0:01:01- It is the starting place - for our story.

0:01:05 > 0:01:08- We came here, to Llwydfaen Farm...

0:01:08 > 0:01:12- ..some two miles from the sea, - on the banks of the River Conwy.

0:01:15 > 0:01:17- Why excavate this field?

0:01:18 > 0:01:21- There's nothing to see here - - not yet, at least.

0:01:21 > 0:01:24- But in 2006, - bald patches appeared...

0:01:24 > 0:01:28- ..where the sun had scorched - and discoloured the grass.

0:01:28 > 0:01:31- Most of the markings - were amorphous...

0:01:31 > 0:01:34- ..making it hard - to decipher the shapes.

0:01:34 > 0:01:39- But one of the shapes - proved very interesting.

0:01:39 > 0:01:43- You don't need a degree - to know that this outline...

0:01:43 > 0:01:46- ..resembles a small church.

0:01:46 > 0:01:49- But who built it?

0:01:50 > 0:01:52- And why isn't there a record of it?

0:01:52 > 0:01:57- One theory is that the Normans - sought to establish a church...

0:01:57 > 0:02:00- ..on the western banks - of the River Conwy.

0:02:00 > 0:02:05- It's believed the Welsh - burnt the church to the ground...

0:02:05 > 0:02:08- ..before the Normans completed it.

0:02:08 > 0:02:12- Careful excavation - has revealed many vital clues.

0:02:14 > 0:02:16- A possible Roman object.

0:02:16 > 0:02:19- Many iron nails - that have badly rusted.

0:02:19 > 0:02:22- A coin...

0:02:23 > 0:02:24- ..with a clear face.

0:02:24 > 0:02:27- But at the end of the fourth day...

0:02:27 > 0:02:32- ..it all changed when we unearthed - Samian pottery from the Roman era.

0:02:33 > 0:02:36- This is the crossing point - of the River Conwy.

0:02:37 > 0:02:40- We're at a crossroads - in terms of the dig too.

0:02:41 > 0:02:44- We came here, expecting to find - an early medieval church...

0:02:45 > 0:02:49- ..yet Roman artefacts are being - unearthed from the two trenches.

0:02:49 > 0:02:51- It's prompted us to reconsider.

0:02:52 > 0:02:55- Could this be - a Roman building at Llwydfaen?

0:03:02 > 0:03:06- It's going to be hard work - explaining this remarkable site.

0:03:06 > 0:03:11- Thank goodness the local volunteers - are enthusiastic, hard-working...

0:03:11 > 0:03:13- ..and more importantly, back!

0:03:15 > 0:03:19- Having discovered the Samian pottery - and Roman coins...

0:03:19 > 0:03:21- ..our focus has now shifted.

0:03:21 > 0:03:26- It's possible that this building is - much older than a medieval church.

0:03:27 > 0:03:30- Instead of digging - for a 12th-century church...

0:03:30 > 0:03:34- ..we might be uncovering - a building dating back to 200-400AD.

0:03:35 > 0:03:38- Despite it being a huge - responsibility, it's very exciting.

0:03:41 > 0:03:45- Perhaps the clues are hiding - in the foundations themselves...

0:03:45 > 0:03:47- ..as well as the artefacts?

0:03:47 > 0:03:52- Studying the method used to lay - the foundations may provide clues.

0:03:52 > 0:03:55- The mortar and the bonding - are significant.

0:03:58 > 0:04:03- I've asked Rhys Mwyn to move from - the first trench to the second.

0:04:03 > 0:04:06- He seems to be having fun.

0:04:06 > 0:04:12- What we've found here - are iron nails...

0:04:14 > 0:04:16- ..that have badly rusted.

0:04:17 > 0:04:21- What we have here...

0:04:21 > 0:04:23- ..is a line of burnt clay.

0:04:23 > 0:04:26- You can see the orange hue.

0:04:26 > 0:04:31- I wonder if this wall - is part of the building?

0:04:31 > 0:04:34- That's a question - that needs to be answered.

0:04:34 > 0:04:38- We're going to - clean this area carefully...

0:04:38 > 0:04:42- ..to try and remove this - orange layer that has been burnt.

0:04:42 > 0:04:47- The earth will be stored in a bucket - so that it can be analysed.

0:04:49 > 0:04:52- Rhys discusses the site with Bill...

0:04:52 > 0:04:56- ..who has a keen interest - in North Wales slate.

0:04:56 > 0:04:58- Now then, Bill...

0:04:58 > 0:05:02- ..we expected to find a - Norman church when we arrived here.

0:05:02 > 0:05:06- An incomplete church - dating back to the 12th century.

0:05:06 > 0:05:11- Since we've been here, - we've discovered coins...

0:05:11 > 0:05:16- ..Roman pottery, and plenty - of these, which are roof slates.

0:05:16 > 0:05:20- I'd like to ask your advice.

0:05:20 > 0:05:23- Is it possible - that these are Roman roof tiles?

0:05:24 > 0:05:29- In my opinion, there's no doubt - that these are Roman slates.

0:05:30 > 0:05:35- Some 400 of them - were discovered in Tremadog.

0:05:35 > 0:05:38- My wife and I cleaned them.

0:05:38 > 0:05:43- A blacksmith - bore a hole for a square nail.

0:05:44 > 0:05:46- You're holding some nails there.

0:05:46 > 0:05:48- Yes, we found these recently.

0:05:48 > 0:05:52- That one looks old, - but the other is in good condition.

0:05:52 > 0:05:54- Would that be Roman too?

0:05:54 > 0:05:58- Yes. - The blacksmith made square nails.

0:05:58 > 0:06:01- We find - small fragments of them during digs.

0:06:01 > 0:06:04- When crushed, - you can tell they're square.

0:06:04 > 0:06:09- The hole has been bored - underneath the slate and upwards.

0:06:09 > 0:06:14- The bored hole is there and - a wooden peg is inserted into it...

0:06:14 > 0:06:17- ..so that another slate - can lay on top of it.

0:06:17 > 0:06:22- But the hole on a Roman slate - has been bored from the top down.

0:06:22 > 0:06:24- So they had something to learn.

0:06:24 > 0:06:27- Yes, they've learnt a lot from us!

0:06:27 > 0:06:31- It changes things if this is - a Roman building with a roof.

0:06:31 > 0:06:35- You wouldn't find slates - in an unfinished building.

0:06:35 > 0:06:39- It's hardly likely slates would - be added to an incomplete church.

0:06:39 > 0:06:42- Without a roof, there's no shelter.

0:06:42 > 0:06:44- No, it's an incomplete.

0:06:47 > 0:06:50- I'm pleased that Bill - is working with us today.

0:06:51 > 0:06:54- It reinforces what we all believe.

0:06:54 > 0:06:56- This building had a roof.

0:06:56 > 0:07:01- There's no definite proof that - the building had been burnt down...

0:07:01 > 0:07:03- ..though geophysics suggests that.

0:07:03 > 0:07:07- The roof tiles prove - that the structure was complete.

0:07:07 > 0:07:10- The way the tiles - had been bored and shaped...

0:07:10 > 0:07:13- ..allows us to date the building.

0:07:13 > 0:07:16- It's very possible - that this is a Roman building.

0:07:20 > 0:07:24- Further down the river, there is - more evidence of Roman occupation.

0:07:31 > 0:07:35- I've walked a mile south - from our site in Llwydfaen.

0:07:35 > 0:07:38- This is Caer Rhun...

0:07:38 > 0:07:41- ..the ancient Roman fort - of Canovium...

0:07:41 > 0:07:43- ..that was home to 500 warriors.

0:07:44 > 0:07:46- In that direction is Segontium...

0:07:47 > 0:07:50- ..the principal fort - of Northwest Wales.

0:07:50 > 0:07:54- Across the River Conwy - in that direction is Deva, Chester.

0:07:55 > 0:07:58- The location of this fort - is situated between the two.

0:08:03 > 0:08:06- The building of this fort - began in 75AD.

0:08:06 > 0:08:11- Later, at the turn of the second - century, the site was fortified...

0:08:11 > 0:08:13- ..following a fire.

0:08:14 > 0:08:18- It was built from stone, with - sturdy walls and defensive towers.

0:08:18 > 0:08:22- The fortification was capable - of withstanding attacks.

0:08:34 > 0:08:38- During the 13th century, this church - was built in the corner of the fort.

0:08:39 > 0:08:43- Integrated into the wall near - the entrance is a prominent stone.

0:08:43 > 0:08:47- Sandstone, carved by hand...

0:08:47 > 0:08:50- ..bearing the signs of hard labour.

0:08:50 > 0:08:55- It's believed that this stone - was originally used in Canovium...

0:08:55 > 0:08:57- ..and recycled.

0:08:57 > 0:09:00- There's a similarity - between this stone...

0:09:01 > 0:09:05- ..and the stone that was unearthed - in our trench in Llwydfaen.

0:09:05 > 0:09:08- I'm leaving Caer Rhun - from the northern gate.

0:09:08 > 0:09:11- The Roman road - carries straight on ahead...

0:09:11 > 0:09:15- ..while the modern path - takes me in this direction.

0:09:15 > 0:09:19- The Gwynedd Archaeological Trust - conducted a geophysics study here...

0:09:20 > 0:09:24- ..showing various buildings - on each side of the road...

0:09:24 > 0:09:27- ..that were probably - shops and taverns.

0:09:27 > 0:09:29- No-one knows for certain - what was here.

0:09:30 > 0:09:33- But there was certainly - a neighbourhood here...

0:09:33 > 0:09:36- ..which archaeologists - refer to as the vicus.

0:09:39 > 0:09:43- Along this path, further down - the river and through the vicus...

0:09:43 > 0:09:45- ..is Llwydfaen.

0:09:46 > 0:09:49- But why is our Roman building - outside the fort's walls?

0:09:50 > 0:09:53- Why, to all intents and purposes, - does it stand alone?

0:09:56 > 0:09:58- I'm here - at the museum in Llandudno...

0:09:59 > 0:10:03- ..where there's an exhibition of - artefacts unearthed at Caer Rhun...

0:10:04 > 0:10:05- ..or Canovium.

0:10:07 > 0:10:09- 1,800 years ago...

0:10:09 > 0:10:12- ..many of these items were junk.

0:10:12 > 0:10:14- Everyday items that had broken.

0:10:14 > 0:10:18- Amphora, which were vessels - to hold wine and oil.

0:10:18 > 0:10:21- This is an oil lamp - in prime condition.

0:10:21 > 0:10:24- There are countless coins.

0:10:24 > 0:10:27- Even this piece of glass - has survived.

0:10:28 > 0:10:31- This is the pottery - we unearthed at Llwydfaen.

0:10:33 > 0:10:37- This is a bowl from Canovium, - which is incredibly similar.

0:10:37 > 0:10:42- These simple items belonged - to people who walked these streets.

0:10:42 > 0:10:46- They have since become - archaeological treasures.

0:10:49 > 0:10:51- Caer Rhun, Canovium...

0:10:52 > 0:10:55- ..is the only Roman site - in the Conwy Valley.

0:10:59 > 0:11:01- Until now.

0:11:05 > 0:11:05- .

0:11:08 > 0:11:08- Subtitles

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0:11:10 > 0:11:15- Welcome back to Llwydfaen. I'm happy - to welcome a very important visitor.

0:11:16 > 0:11:20- Joining me is Dr Toby Driver - from the Royal Commission.

0:11:20 > 0:11:23- Toby, you found the site. - Tell me how you found it.

0:11:23 > 0:11:28- Every dry summer, and we don't get - that many of them in Wales...

0:11:28 > 0:11:32- ..we're up in a light aircraft, - looking for new discoveries...

0:11:32 > 0:11:35- ..as the drought - starts to bite around Wales.

0:11:36 > 0:11:38- We came to North Wales - in early July.

0:11:38 > 0:11:41- The silage crops - had come off the field...

0:11:42 > 0:11:45- ..and we were hoping to see - some new discoveries...

0:11:45 > 0:11:47- ..but not in the Conwy Valley.

0:11:48 > 0:11:51- We weren't expecting - anything north of the Roman fort.

0:11:51 > 0:11:55- We saw this building perfectly - marked out in the field.

0:11:55 > 0:11:59- Extraordinary. The pattern of - a church, the footprint of a church.

0:11:59 > 0:12:02- There's a lot of excitement - in the aircraft.

0:12:02 > 0:12:06- The pilot gets excited, you get - excited, and you have to focus.

0:12:07 > 0:12:11- But big stone buildings coming up - like that in a drought year...

0:12:11 > 0:12:13- ..are still very rare.

0:12:13 > 0:12:17- Occasionally we'll get - a new Roman fort or a Roman villa...

0:12:18 > 0:12:22- ..but we've never had a lost church.

0:12:22 > 0:12:26- I agree with you in terms of the - apse and it looking like a church.

0:12:26 > 0:12:31- Now we've excavated it - and all the materials coming out...

0:12:31 > 0:12:34- ..seem to be of a Roman date, - how do you feel?

0:12:34 > 0:12:37- I was planning to come up here...

0:12:37 > 0:12:40- ..to visit the excavation - of a medieval church...

0:12:40 > 0:12:44- ..but that story's changed, so I - won't say anything about it now...

0:12:45 > 0:12:47- ..until we see what the finds say.

0:12:47 > 0:12:49- But how interesting...

0:12:49 > 0:12:53- ..for the people who built this - all those years ago...

0:12:53 > 0:12:58- ..and did all the engineering - and built this special place.

0:12:58 > 0:13:01- It would've been - highly important in its day.

0:13:01 > 0:13:03- Now we've got cows grazing over it.

0:13:04 > 0:13:08- How does it fall out of memory? - It's an interesting bit of history.

0:13:08 > 0:13:10- History right beneath our feet.

0:13:11 > 0:13:15- One of the most exciting features - of the site is this pit...

0:13:15 > 0:13:17- ..outside the building.

0:13:17 > 0:13:22- I call it a pit because no-one knows - what it is. Could it be a well?

0:13:22 > 0:13:27- This stone, like many others in - the pit, has been cut with a sickle.

0:13:27 > 0:13:31- We know the stone - was transported from Cheshire...

0:13:31 > 0:13:35- ..so this building - would've been very important.

0:13:37 > 0:13:40- It has a clay ridge - stretching to the bottom.

0:13:40 > 0:13:44- As we dug deeper, more and more - fragments of pottery emerged.

0:13:45 > 0:13:47- Some were a considerable size.

0:13:47 > 0:13:51- They were - certainly pieces of Roman pots.

0:13:54 > 0:13:59- The volunteers were in their - element during the excavation.

0:13:59 > 0:14:03- This fragment is a piece - of black decorative pottery...

0:14:04 > 0:14:06- ..known as black burnished ware.

0:14:06 > 0:14:10- It's unequivocal proof - of our building's Roman character.

0:14:14 > 0:14:17- Unlike the Samian ware pottery - from France...

0:14:17 > 0:14:21- ..this black pottery - came from Britain.

0:14:21 > 0:14:25- Dorset, more than likely. It's - commonly found on Roman sites.

0:14:28 > 0:14:31- Anita Daimond from - Gwynedd Archaeological Trust...

0:14:32 > 0:14:34- ..has come to visit us today.

0:14:34 > 0:14:37- What I find odd...

0:14:38 > 0:14:40- ..is that - this building stands alone.

0:14:41 > 0:14:44- There's nothing obvious - to see around here.

0:14:44 > 0:14:47- Yes, that's what's interesting - about this site.

0:14:48 > 0:14:51- We know - there are Roman remains in the area.

0:14:51 > 0:14:53- We have our own historical record...

0:14:53 > 0:14:56- ..and within that, - we have spots on the map...

0:14:57 > 0:14:59- ..showing a Roman fort...

0:14:59 > 0:15:02- ..situated two miles down the road.

0:15:02 > 0:15:06- We also know there are - Roman roads in the vicinity.

0:15:06 > 0:15:10- We know they lead from - the north of the fort.

0:15:10 > 0:15:14- There's another road - on the other side of the river.

0:15:14 > 0:15:17- We think there are Roman roads - in this area...

0:15:17 > 0:15:22- ..although we haven't yet - discovered them on the ground.

0:15:22 > 0:15:26- If you uncover the roads, then - there might be other remains too.

0:15:26 > 0:15:30- Finding this building - is a small part of that story...

0:15:30 > 0:15:34- ..which helps us understand - what went on in this area.

0:15:34 > 0:15:38- It's like a jigsaw, - putting all the pieces together.

0:15:38 > 0:15:41- Everything we find - will be archived...

0:15:41 > 0:15:45- ..and it will be available - for everyone to see in the future.

0:15:45 > 0:15:50- For centuries, this picturesque area - has witnessed many bloody battles.

0:15:50 > 0:15:55- Before Roman occupation, natives had - to build defensive fortifications...

0:15:56 > 0:16:00- ..to safeguard their territory, - property and families.

0:16:01 > 0:16:05- History has taught us that the - Romans never shied away from battle.

0:16:06 > 0:16:08- Not by a long way.

0:16:08 > 0:16:11- Everyone in this area - would've realized...

0:16:11 > 0:16:15- ..that the Romans - would try to seize their land.

0:16:15 > 0:16:18- We're high above our site - in the Conwy Valley.

0:16:19 > 0:16:21- The River Conwy is behind me.

0:16:21 > 0:16:23- This is Pen-y-Gaer hillfort.

0:16:24 > 0:16:28- During the Iron Age, people lived - here before the Romans arrived.

0:16:28 > 0:16:31- It's an - incredibly defensive location.

0:16:31 > 0:16:35- There are - obvious ditches and hedgerows.

0:16:36 > 0:16:41- A hedge-like structure made of stone - encircles the entire site.

0:16:42 > 0:16:44- White quartz stone has been used.

0:16:45 > 0:16:47- This hillfort - could be seen from afar.

0:16:47 > 0:16:51- At the entrance, - there are chevaux-de-frise...

0:16:51 > 0:16:55- ..ground defences - of upright, pointed stones...

0:16:55 > 0:16:59- ..designed to stall those - who attempted to attack the site.

0:16:59 > 0:17:02- It's a formidable location.

0:17:02 > 0:17:06- The Romans - must have attacked this site.

0:17:06 > 0:17:09- A Roman road, which - connects Canovium, Caer Rhun...

0:17:10 > 0:17:14- ..with Segontium, Caernarfon, - runs past this hillfort...

0:17:14 > 0:17:19- ..through Bwlch y Ddwy Faen, - where, many years ago...

0:17:19 > 0:17:23- ..they uncovered a milestone - with 'Canovium' inscribed on it.

0:17:24 > 0:17:26- It's now housed - in the Museum of London.

0:17:27 > 0:17:30- It's an excellent example - of a Roman milestone.

0:17:30 > 0:17:33- Unfortunately, time is against us.

0:17:33 > 0:17:38- We must turn our attention - to recording the data.

0:17:38 > 0:17:42- Within 24 hours, this site - will be buried once again.

0:17:42 > 0:17:46- Though the excavation - has unearthed this building...

0:17:46 > 0:17:49- ..it must now - be buried for posterity.

0:17:49 > 0:17:53- If we were to leave it - exposed to the elements...

0:17:53 > 0:17:56- ..any evidence found here - would vanish forever.

0:17:56 > 0:17:59- Having carefully logged the data...

0:17:59 > 0:18:04- ..the site will be safeguarded - for future generations...

0:18:04 > 0:18:07- ..who might come here to excavate.

0:18:07 > 0:18:11- We must take photographs, measure - and record every stone, nail...

0:18:11 > 0:18:14- ..coin and pottery fragment.

0:18:14 > 0:18:18- Darryl and Sam, - our geophysics team...

0:18:18 > 0:18:23- ..must measure the depth of every - ditch and plot their location.

0:18:23 > 0:18:26- Some of the finds - will have to be cleaned.

0:18:26 > 0:18:29- I'll take - some of the artefacts to experts...

0:18:30 > 0:18:32- ..in order to date this site.

0:18:32 > 0:18:37- I've already sent photographs - of the clearest coin we found...

0:18:37 > 0:18:42- ..to an expert in Cardiff, and the - response has been very interesting.

0:18:44 > 0:18:47- This is the face - of the young emperor Elagabalus...

0:18:47 > 0:18:50- ..or Marcus Aurelius - Antonius Augustus.

0:18:50 > 0:18:53- He died at the tender age of 18.

0:18:53 > 0:18:57- At 14, he became emperor of - one of the most powerful empires...

0:18:57 > 0:19:01- ..the world has ever seen, - in the year 218.

0:19:01 > 0:19:03- He reigned for a mere four years.

0:19:04 > 0:19:08- Of course, he didn't have a beard - at 14 years of age...

0:19:08 > 0:19:10- ..but once he matured...

0:19:10 > 0:19:14- ..the coins were adapted - to depict his maturing face.

0:19:14 > 0:19:19- At 18 years of age, Elagabalus - was killed by the Roman army...

0:19:19 > 0:19:23- ..in a plot - orchestrated by his own grandmother.

0:19:26 > 0:19:28- But what about the building itself?

0:19:29 > 0:19:32- We've unearthed - its stone foundations.

0:19:32 > 0:19:36- We also retrieved - the remains of a slate roof.

0:19:36 > 0:19:40- It has an apse, found only - in some Romanesque buildings.

0:19:40 > 0:19:45- But what's confusing is that there's - no other building in the vicinity.

0:19:57 > 0:20:01- Perhaps this building's secret - can be found further away?

0:20:09 > 0:20:13- In Italy, in the stronghold - of this powerful empire...

0:20:14 > 0:20:18- ..which ruled over vast areas - of Europe, Africa and Asia.

0:20:18 > 0:20:20- Rome.

0:20:32 > 0:20:34- Housed in a museum - in Vatican City...

0:20:35 > 0:20:38- ..is a sculpture - of Mithras slaying the bull.

0:20:39 > 0:20:43- Mithras was a god worshipped solely - by males in the Roman army.

0:20:43 > 0:20:47- The apse is a feature - in many Roman temples.

0:20:47 > 0:20:52- Archaeologists discovered Mithraeum - in Segontium, Caernarfon...

0:20:52 > 0:20:54- ..but nowhere else in Wales.

0:20:55 > 0:20:58- Is it a mere coincidence - that our building...

0:20:58 > 0:21:02- ..is situated a stone's throw - from a fort housing 500 warriors?

0:21:02 > 0:21:05- Could Llwydfaen - be the site of a Roman temple...

0:21:06 > 0:21:09- ..that has been concealed - for more than 1,500 years?

0:21:10 > 0:21:12- Or is it - another type of Roman building...

0:21:13 > 0:21:15- ..that is - completely unique in Wales?

0:21:16 > 0:21:20- We came here in search of a - Norman church from the Middle Ages.

0:21:21 > 0:21:24- But after all the excavation work...

0:21:24 > 0:21:28- ..it's evident - that it's a unique Roman building.

0:21:28 > 0:21:32- It changes - the history of this area forever.

0:21:32 > 0:21:34- But why is it there?

0:21:35 > 0:21:38- Why does it stand alone - in the centre of a field?

0:21:39 > 0:21:42- There is only one reason for this.

0:21:42 > 0:21:44- The river.

0:21:49 > 0:21:55- The River Conway holds the key - to Llwydfaen Farm's ancient history.

0:21:55 > 0:21:58- From the Roman era - until relatively recently...

0:21:58 > 0:22:03- ..boats sailed along the river, - past our site, to Canovium fort.

0:22:03 > 0:22:07- It's possible there was a harbour - near the Llwydfaen estate.

0:22:07 > 0:22:12- Goods were transported along the - river. It was a source of commerce.

0:22:13 > 0:22:16- Canovium is situated - next to the only place...

0:22:16 > 0:22:20- ..where it's possible to cross the - river and rule all access routes.

0:22:21 > 0:22:22- If this is a Roman temple...

0:22:23 > 0:22:26- ..it's consistent - with other examples in Britain...

0:22:26 > 0:22:31- ..that have been built on - the banks of very important rivers.

0:22:31 > 0:22:33- But why does it stand alone?

0:22:35 > 0:22:38- Perhaps the river offers a solution.

0:22:38 > 0:22:43- Over the years, the river - has flooded its banks many times...

0:22:44 > 0:22:47- ..to create the river - that exists here today.

0:22:47 > 0:22:51- But underneath the metres of earth, - sand and mud on its banks...

0:22:52 > 0:22:55- ..is the river - still concealing one big secret?

0:23:16 > 0:23:18- S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.

0:23:18 > 0:23:18- .