ARCHAEOLOGISTS are hoping to uncover some of the secrets of the remains of important buildings uncovered outside Caerleon.

Over the next six weeks, a team of volunteers and academics from Cardiff University will be working on a suburb of monumental buildings outside the Roman fortress, which was uncovered last year.

The team is hoping to find out more about when the buildings, thought to include market-places, warehouses, baths and possibly temples, were built, what they were for and what happened to them after the legion left Caerleon.

Channel Four's Time Team will also be visiting the site to lend a hand over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Students detected the remains of walls below the ground in fields outside the fortress outlining a series of huge buildings between the amphitheatre and the River Usk in August last year.

Experts had believed the area was largely unoccupied during the Roman era and the discovery was described as being of international importance.

During last year's six-week dig various items were uncovered, including a set of Roman body armour - one of only four such discoveries ever in Britain - around 60 Roman coins and thousands of metal objects such as brooches, belt buckles and buttons.

This year's dig runs until September 1, and visitors can find out how the archaeologists are getting on during site tours at 11am and 2.30pm every day apart from Wednesday.

Visitors are welcome throughout the Bank Holiday weekend August 27 to 29 between 10am and 4.30pm. There will also be displays of the latest finds and family activities.

Opportunities are available for over 16s to take part in the dig. For more information email jonespl1@cardiff.ac.uk