Stone age descendents of Durham City discovered
09/07/2007
Water works have uncovered the most significant archaeological site of ancient Britons in County Durham dating back 5,000 years.
Northumbrian Water are building a new £3.5 million drinking water reservoir on the outskirts with panoramic views overlooking Durham City Cathedral and Castle. Before work began extensive archaeology investigations were undertaken.
Excited experts from Tyne and Wear Museums found evidence of continuous settlement on the site from 3,000BC to 300BC by stone age, bronze age and iron age man. Pottery remains and flint knives and skin scrapers were unearthed.
Digging also uncovered very well preserved timbers used to shore up ditches and shaped by bronze age tools and elsewhere traces of iron age fields were found.
Circular features thought to be the remains of henges or barrows for ceremonial use or to house the dead emerged surrounded by steep slopes and large ditches. Sandy well drained soil on site is perfect for best preservation of remains.
Samples have been sent to specialists in Florida for carbon dating. Geophysical surveys – using ultra sound on the ground – and trenching began on site in 2003 but findings have been kept a closely guarded secret until now.
Reporters and photographers are invited to the construction site at 11am on Monday 9 July to see archaeologists working on a trench. Examples of finds will also be available and interviews will be arranged. Those wishing to attend should contact communications and pr manager Alistair Baker for further details on 0191-301-6851 or 07711-793493. Hard hats and visible jackets will be provided – those attending should wear wellies or boots as the site is wet and muddy.
Dr Colin Price, Northumbrian Water’s Technical Director, said: “We have been able to secure the supply and quality of drinking water for future generations while discovering and protecting the ancient history of Durham’s past.
“We are proud to have played our part in finding and protecting this very significant archaeological site. The new reservoir is being built in the area chosen for the least impact and everything has been carefully documented,” said Dr Price.
Steve Speak Senior Keeper of Field Archaeology for Tyne and Wear Museums, said: “Trying to make sense of all the various dates from the same site is a bit of a puzzle – it seems the spot was reoccupied almost continuously throughout the prehistoric period.
“What isn’t clear is what it was actually used for – it’s not well enough preserved for us to say that it was a farmstead, a defensive site, a settlement or something more spiritual in nature.
“What is clear is that it is the earliest site of its kind in Durham by a long way, and with material from 3,000BC – over 5,000 years ago – it is the earliest settled site in the City,” said Steve Speak.
Lee White, Assistant Archaeology Officer at Durham County Council, said: “We have been consulted and involved in every decision which would have an impact on the potential archaeological remains, in the first instance, and then once the breadth and character of the site became known, we have advised on the mitigation of the impact of the development to enable the site to be preserved wherever possible.
“Northumbrian Water and its partners should be commended for their early consultation and willingness to recognise the importance of this site to our understanding of the early prehistory of Durham,” said Lee White.
Partners in the construction and archaeology project are Northumbrian Water, Tyne and Wear Museums, Entec UK, Byzak Ltd, Durham University and Durham County Council.
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