Archaeology in the News:
Excavations Return to Rossett Roman Villa
Archaeologists are returning to Rossett Roman Villa, near Wrexham in North Wales, for a new season of excavation aimed at revealing more about this important Roman site.
The villa is particularly significant as the first confirmed Roman villa discovered in North Wales. Its discovery has helped to challenge previous ideas about Roman settlement in the region and suggests that wealthy rural communities may have extended further into Wales than previously thought.
Discovering the Villa
Investigation of the wider area began following the discovery of a Roman lead ingot by a metal detectorist near Wrexham in 2019. Subsequent archaeological work identified Roman flooring, ceramics and other artefacts which suggested that a high-status Roman building might be nearby.
Further investigation confirmed the presence of a villa complex.
Excavations have since uncovered pottery, coins, animal bones and building materials, together with evidence for heating systems, decorated interiors and fine plasterwork. Imported pottery and high-quality building materials also suggest that the people who occupied the villa were wealthy and connected to wider Roman trade networks.
Returning to Rossett
In September 2026, archaeologists from DigVentures and the University of Chester are returning to investigate previously unexplored areas of the villa complex.
The excavation hopes to answer some of the questions that remain about the site, including its overall layout, how individual rooms were used, when the villa was built and how long it remained occupied.
Researchers also hope the archaeology may reveal more about the people who lived and worked there and how the villa fitted into the wider economy and settlement of Roman Wales.
The project is being undertaken in collaboration with Wrexham Museum, the Portable Antiquities Scheme, PAS Cymru and Heneb: The Trust for Welsh Archaeology.
Why Rossett Matters
Rossett provides an important opportunity to explore Roman life in an area where villas were previously thought to be largely absent.
As more of the site is investigated, the evidence has the potential to contribute to a much wider understanding of Roman settlement, wealth and rural life in North Wales.
It is also a good example of how archaeological investigation can change our understanding of the past. What began with the discovery of a single Roman object has developed into the investigation of a substantial villa complex and an opportunity to reconsider the nature of Roman occupation in the region.
Follow the Excavation
Further information about the project and updates from the excavation can be found through DigVentures:
Rossett Roman Villa – DigVentures
The University of Chester has also published further information about the 2026 excavation:
Archaeological dig returns to site of Roman villa in North Wales – University of Chester
