A team of Chester archaeologists have uncovered significant new evidence about life in Roman Wales.

This year's excavation at the first confirmed Roman villa discovered in North Wales, located in Rossett, has revealed new details about the development of the villa, the people who lived there and evidence of activity that predates the construction of the high-status residence.

It builds on research first sparked by the discovery of a lead ingot by a metal detectorist in 2019.

Subsequent investigations uncovered Roman flooring, ceramics and other artefacts which led to the identification of a substantial Roman villa complex, challenging previous assumptions about the extent of Roman wealth and settlement in the region.

During this year's dig, a range of pottery, coins, animal bones, building materials and painted wall plaster were discovered across the site, pointing to a community with considerable wealth and connections to wider Roman trade networks.

Among the standout discoveries was a complete quern stone, used for grinding grain, which was found in layers beneath the stone-built villa.

However, Ben Swain, project manager and co-site director for DigVentures, explained the location of the quern stone was "just as important as the artefact itself".

"It came from a layer that pre-dates the stone construction of the villa, telling us something about what was happening on the site before the villa was built," he said.

"The villa clearly wasn't the earliest thing here."

Archaeologists also uncovered evidence that the main villa building was altered and expanded over time, rather than being constructed in a single phase.

Excavations revealed a remarkably well-preserved Roman building, containing intact floor levels and remains of a hypocaust heating system.

Dr Caroline Pudney, senior lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Chester and co-site director, said the team were only just beginning to understand "just how dynamic this site was".

"Rather than representing a single moment in time, the archaeology is revealing a villa complex that evolved over generations, reflecting changing needs, ambitions and lifestyles," she said.

Ben explained that the main villa building was likely built in phases and changed layout over time. He said the preservation of the building in 'Trench 1' exceeded the team's expectations, with intact evidence of Roman floor levels and hypocaust heating.

He added: "It's a complex building that appears to have changed significantly through its use-life and it seems likely that, at one point in its life, it functioned as a bath house.

"The people living here had the wealth to construct and maintain features such as hypocaust heating systems and rooms decorated with painted plaster.

"They were enjoying many of the comforts associated with Roman lifestyles and seem to have been part of a community with access to resources and connections beyond the immediate area."

Reflecting on this year's finds, Caroline argued that the quality of the buildings and artefacts reinforces "growing evidence" that Roman influence in the region was "more extensive than previously understood".

She said: "Sites like Rossett are helping to challenge traditional assumptions about the distribution of wealth and status in the western frontier zone of Roman Britain."

Open afternoons drew in visitors from across the region, with fully booked site tours and positive feedback received.

Caroline said being able to make archaeology accessible to the public is a "vital part" of the work the teams do, and has been "one of the most rewarding aspects of this project".

Looking ahead to next season, the team will look to understand what activity in the area looked like before the villa's construction, alongside exploring indications that the complex may be "more extensive and better preserved than originally thought".

"We also need to understand more about what came before the villa and whether there are additional ranges of buildings still waiting to be discovered," Ben said.

The excavation team has now entered the post-excavation phase, analysing finds, environmental samples and archaeological records gathered during the fieldwork.

The results will contribute to a detailed report that will be made publicly available and will help shape plans for further research and excavation in 2027.

Caroline said: "We are only beginning to appreciate the full significance of what survives here, and there is still much more to discover."

Students from the University of Chester worked alongside professional archaeologists, local volunteers and crowdfunding participants throughout the excavation.

The project is being carried out in collaboration with Wrexham Museum, the Portable Antiquities Scheme, PAS Cymru and Heneb: The Trust for Welsh Archaeology.