Archaeologists taken aback by collection of ‘shipwreck’ skeletons off UK coast

Britain is filled with historic wrecks and relics that have yet to be found.

Thousands of years of habitation have made for a vast archaeological record, spanning prehistory to the Victorian era.

Sometimes, these remains make themselves clear not from human effort but because of natural forces, such as coastal erosion.

This was true of the astonishing find made along a cliff edged at Cwm Nash along the Glamorgan Heritage Coast in Wales.

There, researchers found what they believe to be part of a ship crew who lost their way in the choppy waters hundreds of years ago.

A team from Cardiff University found the skeletal remains of at least six people, their bones made visible through the erosion of the land they were trapped in.

The remains of people previously found at the site dated from the 16th century.

Speaking at the time of the find in 2019, Bioarchaeology expert Professor Jacqui Mulville said: “Our latest thinking is that these are Tudor or Stuart men who may have been the victims of shipwreck.

“We aim to tell more of their stories and return their identities to them through ongoing post-excavation analysis.”

She said other bones had already been lost to the sea. 

The parish of Monknash, where the remains were found, was granted a burial licence in 1609, and previous radiocarbon dating of remains found there hailed from the late 16th Century or the early 17th Century.

A team of archaeologists from the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust (GGAT) worked with Cardiff University to remove the remains from the land.

Geologists and ecologists from Natural Resources Wales also helped as the cemetery is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The intricate excavations were carried out over eight days.

A few years later, in 2022, yet more remains were found by a group of walkers.

Cwm Nash is one of Wales’ hidden gems, a perfect place to see peregrine falcons that nest on the cliffs.

High up on the cliff faces, many bones stick out, the cliff tops are thought to be a burial site both for the local community and also for the various shipwreck victims during the 16th and 17th centuries.

While badly damaged, many of the bones remain in good condition due to the preserving qualities of the soil.