Bronze age find at Dobwalls (From Falmouth Packet)

Bronze age find at Dobwalls

12:41pm Friday 1st June 2007

• Print
• Email
• Share

Archaeologists working on the site of the A38 Dobwalls bypass in Cornwall have uncovered finds from the early Bronze Age dating back almost 4,000 years.

The new £36 million three kilometre bypass will reduce through traffic in the village by 90% and is due to be completed in September 2008.

Initial investigation carried out on behalf of the Highways Agency by AC archaeology, includes excavations which take place before the main work starts in addition to observation of the removal of topsoil at the start of the scheme.

Fragments of early Bronze Age pottery have been recovered from beneath a small mound of stones discovered during archaeological investigations near Looe Mills. Other items including prehistoric worked flint tools and waste flakes have also been found.

Highways Agency project leader, Andrew Alcorn, said: "Although new road schemes are designed to avoid known archaeological sites it is still important to check the route of new roads for any artefacts that can help archaeologists build-up a picture of local history. The Highways Agency funds excavation work ahead of the main road building giving archaeologists the opportunity to record and analyse any finds."

John Hawkes, of AC archaeology, said: "These discoveries are interesting because they occur in an area where prehistoric finds have not previously been recorded."

The pottery fragments have been taken to AC archaeology's offices in Wiltshire where they will be assessed and analysed, along with any other finds at the site. The results of the analysis will be published in Cornwall's archaeological records after the end of the road scheme in September 2008.

Archaeologists will continue to monitor the construction works throughout the scheme. Work on the one-and-a-half mile dual carriageway bypass began in November 2006 and is due to be completed by September 2008.

• Print
• Email
• Share