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Archaeologists have hailed the finding of a medieval wall at an Anglesey church as “very exciting.”

The discovery was made by archaeologist Matt Jones during work to install a new electricity cable at St Ffinan’s Church, near Talwrn, Anglesey.

The present church was built in 1841, but the excavation uncovered the foundations of a demolished medieval church underneath it.

The trench work was being carried out for the Diocese of Bangor.

The seven metre section is of a substantial 1-metre wide stone wall which had survived to a height of three courses.

It was built using facing stones of local limestone and gritstone.

Mr Jones said 19th Century sources dated the foundations of the old church to 620AD although the wall could have belonged to an different date.

Mr Jones, of C R Archaeology, based at Mochdre, Colwyn Bay, said: “It’s very exciting. It was a very big surprise really. It definitely goes back to the 12th Century. There is a 12th Century font in the church.”

(Image: not tm)

He said that the previous church probably had links with Llywelyn Fawr before Edward I and later could have possible links with the Tudors as well.

During the excavations, a large quantity of human remains were found dumped outside the old wall which could have been disturbed when the Victorian building was being erected.

Mr Jones said: “We came across human remains, skulls, shoulders and others which were moved by the Victorian builders and which we have now re-buried in a safe place.”

As well as older artefacts, Mr Jones found evidence of the Victorian builders including iron cleats from work boots and a tin button, all used as backfill.

Mr Jones said: “We have got a newspaper report in 1840 saying they were building a new church and knocking down a dilapidated old church.”

Although Mr Jones’ present work at the church has now been completed, he said he would like to carry on finding out more about the site.

He added: “We may do that in our free time.”