The remains of more than 240 people, including about 100 children, were discovered under a former department store in Pembrokeshire (UK) among the ruins of a medieval monastery.
Archaeologists believe they have unearthed the remains of Holy Saviour’s Monastery under the former Oakey White store in Haverfordwest, which closed in 2013.
The monastery has been described as a “significant complex of buildings” with dormitories, scriptoriums, stables and a hospital.
Andrew Shobbrook of the Dyfed Archaeological Foundation said: “This is quite a prestigious burial site. There are a variety of people here, from the rich to ordinary citizens.
The remains will be analyzed before reburial. Some bodies have head injuries consistent with combat injuries, such wounds may have been inflicted by arrows or musket bullets.
About half of the remains are children, reflecting the high death rate at the time, according to the BBC. One theory is that the casualties may have been related to the attack by French and Welsh forces led by rebel leader Owain Glyndŵr.
“We know that the city was besieged in 1405 by Owain Glyndŵr and they may have been victims of this conflict,” Shobbrook said.
It is believed that this site may have been used for burials until the 18th century.