ARCHAEOLOGISTS investigating the discovery of remains in Caerleon believe the timbers formed part of a 300-year-old bridge which once spanned the River Usk.

Timber remains were discovered by Environment Agency workers improving flood defences along Isca Road in Caerleon.

Experts from Gwent and Glamorgan Archaeological Trust believe the find is the remains of a bridge recorded as destroyed by a storm in 1772.

The main find consists of one pier of the bridge. It is a piece of oak seven metres long pierced by three mortice holes into which it is thought the tenons of three uprights that would have supported the road would be fitted.

The Environment Agency Wales started work at the Isca Road flood wall in July and it is expected to take around 10 months to complete at a cost of £1.9 million.

Paul Hassan, agency project manager, said: "The foundations of the defences at this point need to be renewed and the river bank stabilised.

"We will be working around the tidal conditions throughout the autumn and winter to complete the work on schedule.

"We do not anticipate any delays due to the recent interesting archaeological discovery here."

Experts from GGAT were involved in excavating and recording a mediaeval timber bridge at Monmouth in 1988 and have noted similarities in the construction techniques used in both bridges.

Neil Maylan, of GGAT, said: "There are similarities in construction techniques between the two bridges, but this probably demonstrates the conservative nature of engineers in the medieval and post-medieval period.

"If a particular design of bridge worked you made all the bridges in that way."

The find has now been re-buried so shoring can be inserted to allow the archaeologists to study the structure safely.

Kate Howell, GGAT project manager, said: "We are hoping to fully uncover the remains of this pier and record it, whilst taking samples of the wood for dendrochronical (tree ring) dating to determine when the bridge was built."