Roadworks unearth ancient burial sites

ARCHAEOLOGICAL finds unearthed during £55 million improvement works on the A428 were on show at the first day of an exhibition displaying the road improvements.

The busy commuter road links the M11, the A1, the A14 and other local roads. It is being upgraded between Caxton Common and Hardwick, providing a 4.8-mile dual carriageway and a major junction at Hardwick to relieve congestion and improve safety.

An exhibition showing the improvement work, which will start this month, was opened to the public yesterday (Friday, 11 November) at South Cambridgeshire District Council's headquarters in Cambourne.

Also on show were some of the archaeological finds made before the improvement scheme began.

One of the more unusual finds was the discovery of two skeletons
* although they are not on show.

The bones, dating back to the Third or Fourth Century, and from Roman Christian burials, were lying in an east-west direction. One of the skeletons appeared to be a mother with her baby.

A Roman pewter bowl, which would have been used by the highest status Roman families, a cast bronze pin for decorating hair and roman coins from the First and Second Centuries were also found.

Visitors to the exhibition were able to see a display of small archaeological artefacts, as well as photographs of the skeletons.

Tim Hughes, Highways Agency project leader, said: "As part of the scheme, ecological and archaeological studies and protection measures are being carried out, which will minimise the effects of construction on the natural and cultural heritage.

"This will continue throughout the duration of the work."

For more information on the scheme, visit www.highways.com .

As reported in the Cambridge Evening News