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A group of first year university students have made one of the most significant archaeological finds of recent times after unearthing the remains of a wealthy Roman family.

The amateur archaeologists discovered a 1,700-year-old grave containing five Romans in a farmer's field near where a 4th century villa was found last July.

Although more than 700 Roman villas have been discovered in Britain, it is the first time the people who lived in them have ever been uncovered.

Students from Bournemouth University discovered the grave (pictured) 300ft (91 metres) from where a 4th century villa was found in Winterbourne Kingston near Blandford, Dorset. It contained the 1,700-year-old skeletal remains of two adult males, two adult females and an elderly female

Experts have described the find as 'hugely significant' and say it could provide vital clues to who was living in Britain around 350 AD.

Around 85 students made the discovery after carrying out a study on a corn field near Winterbourne Kingston near Blandford, Dorset.

The students, from Bournemouth University, had been investigating land close to where a Roman villa was discovered last year.

As part of their degree course, they had been trying to establish whether people who lived in Roman villas were British or European.

They were able to map the ground by carrying out a geophysical survey, in which low-level electrical currents are passed through the soil to create a virtual picture of what lies beneath.

To their surprise they found a small enclosure around 300 ft (91 metres) from the villa - and after excavating the site they discovered the skeletal remains of two adult males, two adult females and an elderly female.

It is thought there are three generations of the same wealthy family who lived in the villa around 1,700 years ago.

The bodies' proximity to the villa suggests they were the owners of the property. This is a sign of wealth, and experts believe they were likely Roman politicians, states people or tax collectors (artist's illustration pictured). It is thought they are three generations of the same wealthy family who lived around 1,700 years ago

The graves (pictured) were found in the grounds of a Roman villa discovered in July. Elsewhere in the region, archaeologists from Bournemouth University have uncovered a prehistoric settlement, two late Roman longhouses, as well as jewellery and pottery from the same era

The remains are now being analysed and it is hoped the results will give a clear picture as to who the people were. The work will form part of the students' final-year dissertations.

Dr Miles Russell, a senior lecturer in archaeology, said: 'We are in the process of investigating the transition from the Iron Age to the Roman era.

'We want to see what sort of changes our country went through at that time and whether the people living in Roman villas were Britons who had become Roman or Europeans who had moved to Britain to exploit the land.

Many of the Roman villas around Britain were dug in the 19th century before the technology to conduct geophysical surveys existed, explained the experts. They have been focusing on the region of Winterborne Kingston in Dorset (marked at A) as part of the university's Big Dig

Although more than 700 Roman villas have been discovered in Britain, it is the first time the people who lived in them have ever been uncovered. Experts have described the find (pictured) as 'hugely significant' and say it could provide vital clues to who was living in Britain around 350 AD

'Last year we identified a Roman villa in a farmer's field near Winterbourne Kingston and after conducting a geophysical survey on the surrounding land in May, we found a grave site nearby.'

There were the remains of five adults in the grave dating back to the same time as the villa, and Dr Russell said it is highly likely they were the villa owners.

'There were two adult males, two adult females and an elderly female. We think they might be three generations of the same family.

'Being Roman was all about showing your wealth and status, and it is likely these people would have been politicians, states people or tax collectors.

'They would have been in the top two per cent of society and super-wealthy.

The remains (pictured) are now being analysed and it is hoped the results will give a clear picture as to who the people were. The work will form part of the students' final-year dissertations

This Roman bowl was also found during the dig, and is thought to date back to the 4th century. The site of the dig will be opened to the public on 13 July

'This find is hugely significant because there have been more than 700 Roman villas found in Britain but before now no-one has ever found their occupants.

'It brings us a lot closer to knowing who the people living in Roman villas were.

'The bones have been sent off for tests which will hopefully reveal their age and health. From that we will be able to paint a much better picture of who these people were.

This image shows the right femur of one of the Roman villa owners. Researchers said tests on the bones will hopefully reveal the people's ages and any health conditions. From that, experts will be able to paint a better picture of who the remains belong to

Dr Miles Russell, a senior lecturer in archaeology at the university said: 'We want to see what sort of changes our country went through at that time and whether the people living in Roman villas were Britons who had become Roman or Europeans who had moved to Britain to exploit the land'

'Many of the Roman villas around Britain were dug in the 19th century before the technology to conduct geophysical surveys existed.

'Our find could lead to graves of Roman villa owners all round the country being discovered.

'Who lived in Roman villas is one of the big questions in British archaeology and we might finally be able to provide some answers.'

The site of the dig will be opened to the public on 13 July.

Students were able to map the ground by carrying out a geophysical survey, in which low-level electrical currents are passed through the soil to create a virtual picture of what lies beneath. Remains are pictured. It is unknown why the position of these remains are laid out in this way