Signs of pre-historic life found on the M62

Jan 29 2008

New evidence of prehistoric life was discovered during excavations for a motorway improvement scheme.

A team of archaeologists found flints and burnt hazelnuts during preparations for a new junction of the M62 in Merseyside.

The archaeological findings date from the Mesolithic to the Bronze Age periods - around 5000 to 2000 BC.

The team, working on excavations for a new link road at Junction 6 near Huyton, also discovered Roman pottery and tiles that were made for the 20th Roman Legion based in Chester around 167 AD.

Ron Cowell, curator of prehistoric archaeology at Liverpool Museum, said the find is among the oldest in Merseyside, Cheshire and Lancashire.

He said: “Discoveries of settlements like this are quite common in upland areas like the Peak District but in lowland places, which have been farmed for centuries and built upon time and again, it is very exciting.”

Mr Cowell added: “What we found was a sandstone cliff, not very high but enough to provide shelter to the hunter-gatherers who lived here at the time.

“At the foot of the cliff there was a sandy terrace and running water. It wasn’t a permanent settlement but it was visited time and again.”

In total, the dig recovered more than 3,000 objects ranging from prehistoric to Roman.

The discoveries, made in March but announced by the Highways Agency today, are being put on public display.

The site was not important enough to block the motorway scheme and it is once again buried - below the new £38 million Junction 6 at Tarbock Island.

Gary Hilton, Highways Agency project manager, said: “The Highways Agency takes its responsibility for our heritage very seriously and we are delighted to have found this window into the past.

“Lots of people are very excited by what has been discovered here.”

It was already known that the Huyton area had some archaeological importance. Excavations in 1993 ahead of the construction of the adjacent A5300 uncovered part of a Roman farm.

Other finds hinted at prehistoric activity in the area - a fact now confirmed by the latest discoveries.

The artefacts will go on public display from Friday.