Evidence from earlier years' excavations has shown an increase in Viking-style metalwork and other artefacts at the site during the 10th century. The adult skeletons seem to be aged about 25-35. None had been decapitated, or had other cut-marks to the bone. But if their throats had been cut, it wouldn't mark the skeleton,' Dr Redknap said. Further research at Llanbedrgoch will now focus on the bodies, to try and establish cause of death, sex, age, family relationships and medical condition.
Plans are afoot to reconstruct one face from the skull.
It consists of three timber buildings, lying in an area that was damp and boggy for much of the year during the Iron Age. They are thought to represent the temporary homes of cattle farmers using the Levels for summer pasture. The buildings, at Barnard's Farm between Newport and Chepstow, contain evidence of domestic occupation, such as datable pottery and quernstones. Outside, the hoof-prints of Iron Age cattle survive in the surrounding ditch. Cattle appear to have been standing by the edge of the ditch and sinking in.