Filmed in association with University of Wales’ Institute of Digital Learning (IDL), it examined the Gwent roots of the legendary British monarch of round table fame – both the real figure, who may have been a 5th or 6th century local warlord, and the mythical Arthur championed in countless folk tales.
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"The Stonehenge bluestones clearly came from west Wales – I don’t hear any question about that. At the very least there’s that Welsh connection, and there could be more."
As many as 21 Roman villas are known in south Wales, but until now archaeologists didn't believe that the Romans had built villa-sized dwellings as far north as Aberystwyth, in Ceredigion.
One of the most well-excavated Roman villas in Wales is Caermead villa north of Llantwit Major, on the south coast in South Glamorgan.
The villa is built around an 'L' shaped courtyard and there are several buildings of different sizes for various domestic and agricultural purposes. The villa was discovered in 1888 but it wasn't excavated fully until 1938-48.
There is evidence of neolithic or Iron Age humans at Llantwit Major, but archaeologists believe that the Roman villa dates from the first century AD, while the foundations of the stone structures were put down during the second century. The villa is notable for its mosaic floors. The villa was abandoned during the fourth century. It is not thought that the villa was connected with Saint Illtud, who founded an abbey at Llantwit Major in the fifth century AD, in anyway.
Lodge Hill Fort is the site of an ancient hillfort, above Caerleon on the outskirts of the city of Newport, Wales. Speculation has it that it may once have been the site of Camelot - the castle of the legendary King Arthur.
It was built and occupied by early Welsh tribes. The warlike Silures were resident there around the time of the Roman invasion of the area. They put up a fierce resistance to the Romans, but the Silures and Lodge Hill were eventually subdued - either by force, or by persuasion.
It's been speculated that, after the Romans left, the fort may have been reoccupied by a local warlord who led resistance against a Saxon takeover of the area. This warlord may have been King Arthur, and Lodge Hill could have been the actual site of Camelot, although it's impossible to be sure.
Archaeological investigations of the fort site in the summer of 2000 were led by Dr Ray Howell from the University of Wales. Numerous small finds were made, and numerous layers of occupation were discovered. Lodge Hill featured in the University of Wales Institute of Digital Learning's video Reclaiming King Arthur, featuring Dr Howell.
'Reclaiming King Arthur' - a video produced by the University of Wales, Newport, aims to bring to life the legend of King Arthur, by examining historic evidence and the literary tradition which points to Gwent as the home of this famous character as well as to introduce an international audience to the history of this South Wales site. In the video - available for all to see on the University's Instititue of Digital Learning website - Dr Ray Howell examines the relevance of King Arthur as most widely known through legend, myth, historical evidence, literature and the literary tradition which include explanation of how Caerleon in Newport can stake its claim to Arthur’s round table, following 200 years of Roman occupation and how the legend has inspired writers throughout the centuries since... .
A garrison of as many as 5500 legionnaires would have inhabited this fort at its peak, so the complex was extensive. Within its walls was a barracks, baths, drill halls, workshops and granaries. A small town built up round about the fort, and there were shops on its streets, selling all from food and drink to pottery and other goods to the soldiers. An amphitheatre – the remains of which are still visible – was used by the army for training and to stage gladiatorial shows. Since it wasn't permitted for burials to take place within the town itself, the roads leading in and out of Caerleon have been found to be lined with graves.
The legion was frequently absent from the garrison as they were often called to fight in Scotland, and there is evidence that the city fell into substantial disrepair in the phases when they were away. When the Romans finally departed in the 3rd century AD a lot of the buildings were knocked down before they left.
Historians and archaeologists are having to rethink the 
'Reclaiming King Arthur' - a video produced by the University of Wales, Newport, aims to bring to life the legend of King Arthur, by examining historic evidence and the literary tradition which points to Gwent as the home of this famous character as well as to introduce an international audience to the history of this South Wales site. In the video - 
