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One of the finest examples of secular Hiberno-Urnes art from England and Wales was discovered by a diver on the offshore reef known as The Smalls (Welsh Gwales), Pembrokeshire, in the Irish Sea. The guard was probably made in Ireland about ad 1100–25 in a distinctive Hiberno-Scandinavian decorative style and technique with niello and silver inlays, and it illustrates the skills of a master craftsman or saer working for secular and ecclesiastical patrons. The findspot is now designated as historic wreck site under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1976 (no. 38).

In 1998 a massive gold signet ring was found by metal detecting in the parish of Raglan, Monmouthshire (Gwent), close to Raglan Castle. Now generally known as the Raglan ring, it is a remarkable example of late medieval goldsmiths’ work. This paper considers its motifs, legend, date and stylistic affinities. Its findspot is close to the castle-building programme at Raglan continued by William Herbert (executed 1469), who projected his position as premier supporter of the House of York in a variety of ways. Possible ownership is discussed, as is its wider context (including newly discovered signet rings from Wales).

The Viking maritime expansion from Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway, and Sweden) marks one of the swiftest and most far-flung cultural transformations in global history. During this time (c. 750 to 1050 CE), the Vikings reached most of western Eurasia, Greenland, and North America, and left a cultural legacy that persists till today. To understand the genetic structure and influence of the Viking expansion, we sequenced the genomes of 442 ancient humans from across Europe and Greenland ranging from the Bronze Age (c. 2400 BC) to the early Modern period (c. 1600 CE), with particular emphasis on the Viking Age. We find that the period preceding the Viking Age was accompanied by foreign gene flow into Scandinavia from the south and east: spreading from Denmark and eastern Sweden to the rest of Scandinavia. Despite the close linguistic similarities of modern Scandinavian languages, we observe genetic structure within Scandinavia, suggesting that regional population differences were already present 1,000 years ago. We find evidence for a majority of Danish Viking presence in England, Swedish Viking presence in the Baltic, and Norwegian Viking presence in Ireland, Iceland, and Greenland. Additionally, we see substantial foreign European ancestry entering Scandinavia during the Viking Age. We also find that several of the members of the only archaeologically well-attested Viking expedition were close family members. By comparing Viking Scandinavian genomes with present-day Scandinavian genomes, we find that pigmentation-associated loci have undergone strong population differentiation during the last millennia. Finally, we are able to trace the allele frequency dynamics of positively selected loci with unprecedented detail, including the lactase persistence allele and various alleles associated with the immune response. We conclude that the Viking diaspora was characterized by substantial foreign engagement: distinct Viking populations influenced the genomic makeup of different regions of Europe, while Scandinavia also experienced increased contact with the rest of the continent.

The question of Viking settlement in Wales has been a matter of debate for some time. Henry Loyn’s view that some Scandinavian speakers must have been present on the mainland of Wales depended largely on place-name and literary evidence. Davies has suggested that there must have been some Scandinavian settlement in N. Wales during the first half of the 10th century, though possibly at this time comprising no more than a few small communities. The usual starting point for an assessment of archaeological evidence for Viking-age settlement in Wales during this period is a combination of topographical and place-name evidence. The regular reporting of coins and lead weights of Viking type from three different fields at Glyn, Llanbedrgoch, resulted in a fuller investigation of their context by the National Museums & Galleries of Wales, starting in 1994.

The Viking maritime expansion from Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway, and Sweden) marks one of the swiftest and most far-flung cultural transformations in global history. During this time (c. 750 to 1050 CE), the Vikings reached most of western Eurasia, Greenland, and North America, and left a cultural legacy that persists till today. To understand the genetic structure and influence of the Viking expansion, we sequenced the genomes of 442 ancient humans from across Europe and Greenland ranging from the Bronze Age (c. 2400 BC) to the early Modern period (c. 1600 CE), with particular emphasis on the Viking Age. We find that the period preceding the Viking Age was accompanied by foreign gene flow into Scandinavia from the south and east: spreading from Denmark and eastern Sweden to the rest of Scandinavia. Despite the close linguistic similarities of modern Scandinavian languages, we observe genetic structure within Scandinavia, suggesting that regional population differences were already present 1,000 years ago. We find evidence for a majority of Danish Viking presence in England, Swedish Viking presence in the Baltic, and Norwegian Viking presence in Ireland, Iceland, and Greenland. Additionally, we see substantial foreign European ancestry entering Scandinavia during the Viking Age. We also find that several of the members of the only archaeologically well-attested Viking expedition were close family members. By comparing Viking Scandinavian genomes with present-day Scandinavian genomes, we find that pigmentation-associated loci have undergone strong population differentiation during the last millennia. Finally, we are able to trace the allele frequency dynamics of positively selected loci with unprecedented detail, including the lactase persistence allele and various alleles associated with the immune response. We conclude that the Viking diaspora was characterized by substantial foreign engagement: distinct Viking populations influenced the genomic makeup of different regions of Europe, while Scandinavia also experienced increased contact with the rest of the continent.

Previously unpublished Roman pottery from the Thames Estuary was studied by the author in 1985 and 1986 for the voluntary body Marine Archaeological Surveys (MAS) and is presented as a contribution to wider initiatives on the Roman archaeology of this important social and economic artery between South-East England and the wider world. The purpose of this paper is to complement the ongoing review by Michael Walsh of Roman wrecks in UK waters (a research partnership between Southampton University and the British Museum) and that of the ‘Pudding Pan’ assemblage, much of which is in private collections.

1. The Llangorse crannog is an unique example of an Irish monument type constructed in Wales. The combination of artefact dating, dendrochronology and historical sources suggests it was constructed in the late 9th century by the king of Brycheiniog and destroyed in AD 916 by a Mercian army. 2. Wave erosion, seasonal water level fluctuations, root growth, and tourist activity all pose a serious threat to the site where anaerobic conditions have preserved timbers, artefacts (including unique cloth finds and bone), and environmental indicators which are currently unique in Wales and of international historical importance. 3. Only a small part of the site has been archaeologically investigated and management strategies to preserve the site without conflicting with other environmental interests are still under consideration. 4. The archaeological investigation of Llangorse crannog has provided an opportunity to study the early medieval environment of the lake, including rates of erosion and colonization by vegetation of the island. 5. The vulnerability of the crannog is discussed, and strategies for conservation reviewed. Copyright © 1999 National Museums and Galleries of Wales

Les fouilles realisees par Charles Mc Burney et John Clegg au debut des annees 60 dans le grotte de Coygan (Laugharne, Sud du Pays de Galles) revelaient une sequence d'occupation mousterienne, dont les principales decouvertes etaient des haches a bout coupe, stratifiees pres de la base de l'accumulmation d'une taniere de hyene. L'occupation humaine devrait etre comprise dans une periode d'environ 64-38000 BP selon les temoins stratigraphiques, favorisant une datation pour la periode la plus ancienne, avant 50000 BP. Quant a la taniere, elle a probablement ete occupee de 40000 BP au moins (voire 60000 BP) jusqu'a environ 24000 BP

This chapter examines Irish and Anglo-Saxon metalwork in Wales during the pre-Viking period from 400 to 850. The findings indicate that the conscious creation or adaptation of distinctive glitter in metalwork was used to convey the social position, legitimacy, and cultural leanings of some groupings during the early medieval period. The chapter also explains that while it can be argued that the native material culture of some people of Wales became progressively distinctive in parallel with a growing sense of self-identification as Cymru, highly complex patterns of regional variation and expressions of identity appear to have existed.

The archaeological examination of early shipping can together with related studies offer much information about economic and technological change during poorly documented periods. The Goodwins Archaeological Survey is a multi‐disciplinary group representing the disciplines of archaeology, history and offshore survey. It was established in 1982 not to investigate specific sites or known wrecks off the coast of Britain, but to initiate the regional survey of one important, and potentially highly informative area, the Goodwin Sands. This report is not intended as a comprehensive guide to surveying techniques in marine archaeology, but rather the presentation of a project that looks forward in the long term to establishing archaeological and historical research priorities, and encouraging controlled data collection.