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'Important' Iron Age settlement found at Warboys dig

Oxford Archaeology East Roman jug, Warboys digOxford Archaeology East
Roman finds include this jug and human remains, including six skeletons

Iron Age roundhouses, Roman burials and Saxon pottery have been discovered in a "hugely important and hitherto unknown settlement".

The seven month-long dig in Warboys in Cambridgeshire also uncovered "a rare example" of "early Saxon occupation mingled with the latest Roman remains".

Archaeologist Stephen Macaulay said: "We almost never find actual physical evidence of this."

The settlement reverted to agricultural use after the 7th Century.

Oxford Archaeology East Archaeologists standing in a roundhouse at Warboys digOxford Archaeology East
The earliest finds date to the middle to late Iron Age - including several round houses
Oxford Archaeology East Archaeologist uncovering top of human skullOxford Archaeology East
And three crouched human burials

"What makes this site really significant is we have evidence of early Saxon occupation mingled with the latest Roman remains," said Mr Macaulay, deputy regional manager for Oxford Archaeology East.

Saxon pottery, beads, worked antler and metalworking residues were uncovered.

He added: "This a rare example of the Roman to Saxon transition in the east of England."

Oxford Archaeology East Saxon bead from Warboys digOxford Archaeology East
A later Roman or early Saxon child was found buried with a bead necklace and bone-carved hairpin in the shape of an axe

The earliest finds include eight roundhouses, some of which date back to about 100BC, three crouched human burials and 2,500-year-old pottery remains.

The 10-acre (four-hectare) site provided evidence of Roman rural industry, including a 15ft (4.6m) corn dryer and kilns.

Archaeologists uncovered human cremations and six burials.

They also "seem to have stumbled upon a shrine" and discovered cattle skulls and a largely intact horse skeleton, which they believe could be votive offerings.

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Oxford Archaeology East Roman horse skeletonOxford Archaeology East
Archaeologists believe the Romans deliberately buried this horse as an offering to the gods
Oxford Archaeology East Warboys digOxford Archaeology East
The experts were helped by volunteers from the Warboys Archaeology Group

The site was excavated ahead of a housing development by Bellway Homes.

Initial evaluation in May last year revealed extensive Roman remains, but the Iron Age settlement was not revealed until the main excavation began later that year.

Mr Macauley said the dig has uncovered "a hugely important and a hitherto unknown settlement".