Mass grave with 300 skeletons discovered under former department store in Pembrokeshire | The Sun

A MASS grave with 300 skeletons has been discovered under a former department store in Pembrokeshire.

Builders working on a food complex accidentally discovered the remains of hundreds of humans at the site under the former Ocky Whites building at Haverfordwest.



Archaeologists who have taken over the site have since found that half of the remains belonged to children.

Historians believe the ancient burial ground dates back more than 600 years.

The ruins are thought to be from the mysterious St Saviour's Priory, founded by a Dominican order of monks in about 1256.

Site supervisor Andrew Shobbrook, from Dyfed Archaeological Trust, said: "It's quite a prestigious place to be buried. You have a range of people, from the wealthy to general townsfolk."

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A number of theories are being explored about how the site came to be used.

One idea is the site was made into a mass grave after a raid on the town by Welsh prince Owain Glyndwr, in the early 15th century.

It is possible the site was used for burials all the way up to the 18 century, MailOnline reported.

Mr Shobbrook said: "We know that the town was besieged in 1405 by Owain Glyndr and they could be victims of that conflict."

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The bones are currently being looked at by a team of archaeologists and will later be reburied at an appropriate location nearby.

A squashed pattern dish with a squashed chalice underneath was found at buried in the hands of a person.

Dfyed Archaeology believes this could represent a person holding it was of significance.

In a post on Twitter, the organisation said: "We're excited to do more research on this one."

Archaeologist Gaby Lester said: "Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be involved in something so big. 

"The site is showing itself to be massive part of the history of Haverfordwest and Pembrokeshire.

"It can be slightly overwhelming at times but it's also quite humbling to be part of that person's journey."

The site is known as Ocky Whites after the department store which formerly occupied the space.

Ocky White was a popular shopping complex for more than 100 years before its premises was shut down in 2013, costing 40 people their jobs.

A bar and rooftop terrace will sit atop of a three-storey food and beverage emporium once complete.

It comes after discovery of a mysterious mass grave containing 80 bodies which was discovered on a building site has sparked demands for answers.

Some of the skeletons were found with their hands tied behind their backs at West End Farm near Buckingham.

The unnerving discovery was made during archaeological work on the site ahead of the planned construction of a care home.



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