Technology
Mystery over secret 800-year-old tunnels discovered under medieval Welsh abbey
MYSTERIOUS medieval tunnels have been uncovered by electrical technicians working in south Wales.
A Western Power Distribution team was attempting to move an electrical pole when they found the creepy tunnel system near a 12th Century abbey.
The mysterious tunnel system was unknown to locals[/caption]
Tintern Abbey is located in the village of Tintern, in the Wye Valley, Monmouthshire.
All electrical work has now been called off so an archaeological excavation can be carried out.
The engineers had been digging a trench as part of investigation work on a customer’s property when they noticed a tunnel.
Local residents and authorities had no idea the tunnels existed.
Engineers found it running underground next to a river[/caption]
Archaeologists have maps of the village that date back to the 18th Century but the tunnel system isn’t mentioned on them either.
According to the BBC, Western Power technician Allyn Gore said: “Nothing had shown up on any of our drawings or records to indicate there was anything unusual about the site.
“Shortly after the excavation work began, the digging team made the extraordinary discovery of what they initially thought to be a cave.”
The tunnel’s were found when electrical technicians began digging on a customer’s property[/caption]
He added: “I have been involved in other excavations where we have discovered old wells and cellars not shown on any plans, but nothing as exciting and impressive as this.”
The tunnels were found underneath a footpath that runs along the side of stream.
They’re said to follow the path of the stream along the valley.
Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic and cultural heritage service, will now investigate the tunnels.
At 4ft (122cm) high then investigation will have to involve a lot of crawling.
It’s not clear how long the investigation will take but it could be years.
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In other news, the mystery of how the decapitated head of a Stone Age woman got stuck at the edge of an Italian cave shaft may finally be solved.
New analysis of the remains of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh has revealed he may have been brutally murdered on the battlefield.
And, human skeletons have been discovered on a 1717 pirate shipwreck just off the coast of Cape Cod in the US.
What do you make of the medieval tunnel mystery? Let us know in the comments…
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