Archaeologists believe the burial ground discovered under the former Ocky White store in Haverfordwest would have been part of St Saviour’s Priory in the medieval era. The shop itself closed in 2013.

It is thought the site may have been used as a burial ground all the way up to the 18th Century.

Andrew Shobbrook, who supervised the dig on behalf of the Dyfed Archaeology Trust, explained: "We knew pretty much we were in a cemetery."

”We knew we would find something because the site is in the medieval core of Haverfordwest," Andrew told WalesOnline. "It's just no-one knew where it was. But you never know what you're going to find until you start digging."

While the building work was temporarily put on hold, archaeologists moved in and unearthed 307 skeletons – some of them with small holes in their skulls.

Andrew said his team made some "touching" discoveries – such a child laid to rest with their hand placed under their head and another small body laid on top of an older adult, one that had its right arm placed protectively around the infant.

One of the volunteers, 71-year-old Margaret Newton, said: "It's a privilege to be able to wash their bones and find out more about them.

”You would be amazed at how well the teeth are preserved because they had no sugar in those days. It's absolutely fascinating and I'm really enjoying it.”

Andrew said at least a third of the remains belonged to children, which is an indication of the high infant mortality rate in the mid-1200s.

After six months of digging the information collected is now "part of a puzzle" helping to paint a picture of Haverfordwest's history since the medieval period. The skeletons are laid in what is thought to be the Priory of St Saviours, founded by a Dominican order of monks in 1246, and which remained in use until the 16th Century.

With the ruins of Haverford Castle nearby, it’s possible some of the bodies may have been connected to the attack by Welsh rebel leader Owain Glyndwr in 1405.