Workmen laying tarmac for a new car park have discovered the hidden remains of a bronze age village.
Stone pits of a 3,600-year-old settlement were unearthed at the site of a new visitors’ car park at the historic Offa’s Dyke.
The ancient village was found just yards from the 176-mile long earthen barrier on the border of England and Wales.
Workmen laying tarmac for a new car park at the historic Offa’s Dyke (pictured) have discovered the remains of a bronze age village
But the ancient settlement, discovered by archaeologists in the village of Brymbo, North Wales, is thought to be thousands of years older than the eighth century Offa’s Dyke.
The discovery came 60 years after a skeleton known as Brymbo Man was dug up in the same village.
Archaeologists found man-made stone pits and charred pieces of seed, wood charcoal and grains near to where Brymbo Man was found in August 1958.
They had been overseeing work by Wrexham Council to alleviate parking problems in the area and the pits were found while top soil was being removed ready to lay tarmac.
Work on the new car park was halted after the settlement was found.
Ian Grant, of the Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust, said: ‘While we were monitoring the works I was looking to see if I could see anything associated with Offa’s Dyke.
‘We didn’t find any nice bling or treasure, but we certainly retrieved material that you could date as there were lots of charred remains.
‘It’s a good spot for a bronze age village because it has such a stunning view.’
The discovery was made in the village of Brymbo in North Wales – where the skeleton known as Brymbo Man (pictured) was dug up 60 years ago
The charred remains have now been sent off for analysis to try to establish when they date from.
Brymbo councillor Paul Rogers said: ‘The find is an important piece of the jigsaw in the village’s history.
‘It has generated interest in the community with a lot of residents feeling that it’s another positive piece of our history.’
Brymbo Man was found by local workmen while digging a pipe trench.
National Museum of Wales experts excavated a stone-lined box in which they discovered the incomplete remains of a skeleton, a small earthenware pot and a flint knife.
Experts estimated he was 35 when he was killed by an arrow in his head and lived at about the same time as the hidden village 3,600 years ago.