Cropmarks of a large prehistoric enclosure in the Vale of Glamorgan with the faint footings of a probable Roman villa within.
The heatwave that has gripped the United Kingdom in recent
weeks has led to drought and parched fields across much of the nation.
The dry conditions also revealed long-hidden archaeological
sites buried underground.
The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments
of Wales (RCAHMW) released aerial pictures of crop markings that show a large
number of underground ancient sites.
The crop marks showed prehistoric settlements and Bronze Age
barrows across the Llyn Peninsula in parts of north Wales, the RCAHMW said on
their website.
Cropmarks of a large Bronze Age barrow cemetery on the Llyn Reninsula, Gwynedd.
"A newly discovered early medieval cemetery of square barrows seen in
the south Gwynedd is a very rare monument type for Wales," the RCAHMW
said.
"A newly discovered early medieval cemetery of square
barrows seen in the south Gwynedd is a very rare monument type for Wales,"
the RCAHMW said.
"There was a
surprise in the Vale of Glamorgan where severe drought at a known prehistoric
settlement showed new cropmarks of a Roman villa within its modified
ramparts."
The crop markings become apparent after greener vegetation,
drawing on moisture trapped in the fortification ditches of the old sites,
standing out among the brown, dryer vegetation.
Senior aerial investigator Dr Toby Driver spent hours flying
over the crop marks and documenting the findings.
"I've not seen conditions like this since I took over
the archaeological flying at the Royal Commission in 1997," Dr Driver told
RCAHMW.
"So much new archaeology is showing it is incredible;
the urgent work in the air now will lead to months of research in the office in
the winter months to map and record all the sites which have been seen, and
reveal their true significance."
Much of Britain has been experiencing a heatwave and
unusually dry weather since June.
Extensive cropmarks of prehistoric enclosures in parched grassland on the Llyn Peninsula.
