Description

In March 2007, an archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Channel 4’s ‘Time Team’ at the site of ‘Harold’s House’, Portskewett, Monmouthshire, South Wales (NGR 349800 188100; SAM No. MM029), to investigate a series of upstanding earthworks traditionally believed to be the site of a hunting lodge belonging to Harold Godwinson, later King Harold II of England.
The aim of the evaluation had been to investigate the nature of the earthworks and ascertain whether any remains of the putative hunting lodge remained, or whether the remains belonged to a later medieval manorial complex. The project was also designed to investigate the nature of a now infilled tidal inlet which flowed to the west of the Site, and also a dam or causeway which sealed off the northern end of the inlet. The evaluation comprised the excavation of six trial trenches, combined with geophysical survey, landscape survey and geoarchaeological (auger) survey.