The Romans under the road
Joe Smith working on one of the smaller outbuildings that once surrounded a large Roman house.
Discovering Lincolnshire’s past as we build for the future
The discovery of artefacts dating back 5,000 years has brought unexpected excitement as the construction of the North Hykeham Relief Road gets underway.
A team of archaeologists have been hard at work behind the scenes, trying to better understand the remarkable discoveries recently made which could shed new light into Lincolnshire’s rich history.
After preliminary investigations, the dig got underway along the route of the new road, which will complete the circular bypass around Lincoln. The work focused around Waddington and the edge of Lincoln, where archaeologists uncovered a rich and varied treasure trove.
One of the most significant discoveries was the buried remains of a large Roman building, which was positioned overlooking the Witham Valley. Its location, just south of Lincoln, suggests it could have once commanded impressive views across the landscape.
Combined with a well-preserved pottery kiln and other artefacts discovered here, the building offers a reminder of how the area formed part of a thriving rural and industrial estate during Roman times.
Uncovered within the footprint of the new road, another striking find was uncovered – a 5,000-year-old polished stone axe. With no signs of wear, archaeologists believe the axe was likely a ceremonial object, perhaps passed between communities during important social or ritual events.
Its discovery helps to illuminate the rich Neolithic presence across the Lincolnshire landscape and adds to a growing body of evidence for early settlement.
These findings follow a pattern seen in other major infrastructure projects across the county. Investigations during the Lincoln Eastern Bypass revealed a wealth of material spanning thousands of years, ranging from flint tools and prehistoric enclosures to Roman buildings, timber logboats, and Anglo- Saxon cemeteries.
Similarly, archaeological work for the Spalding Western Relief Road and Grantham Southern Relief Road uncovered Roman pottery kilns, quern stones, ovens, and well-preserved structural remains.
Together, these archaeological milestones not only enrich our understanding of Lincolnshire’s past, but also ensure that modern infrastructure developments respect and record the historical treasures lying beneath.
Cllr David East, executive councillor for highways, said: “Carrying out thorough archaeological investigations as part of our major infrastructure projects, like the North Hykeham Relief Road, is vital. It allows us to protect and record the incredible heritage beneath our feet, ensuring that discoveries from the Neolithic period through to Roman Britain are properly understood and preserved for future generations.”
A beautifully polished Neolithic stone hand axe found at the site.
A Roman coin found on site.
Secrets unearthed
If you thought the North Hykeham Relief Road project was just about tarmac and traffic flow, think again.
Braving the elements, a hardy crew of archaeologists has been unearthing secrets that have been hidden for millennia.
Members of the archeological team: Joe Smith, Grey Hewitt, Ali Gething, Chris Clay and Jake Minton.
Allen Archaeology, led by director Chris Clay, has been on site just south of Lincoln, digging deep into the past. And now that construction on the final stretch of the Lincoln ring road is firmly underway, Chris is taking a moment to reflect on what turned out to be an extraordinary excavation.
“It’s been a huge treat to be working on this site,” Chris said. “We’ve uncovered a varied and interesting number of artefacts. It’s a dig that provided a story that we could really get our teeth into.”
And what a story it is. The team revealed what appears to have been a sprawling Roman country house surrounded by a cluster of smaller buildings. Workshops, bath houses, kilns, a bakery… even accommodation for workers.
With so much going on, it wasn’t just a villa; it was practically a mini Roman industrial estate buzzing with activity 2,000 years ago. But the biggest twist wasn’t from the Roman era at all.
One of the standout finds was left behind by people 3,000 years before the Romans ever set foot in Britain.
A beautifully polished Neolithic stone hand axe emerged from the soil, and the intriguing part, it had never been used. “We believe it was a ritual item,” Chris added. A rare, carefully crafted object created not for work, but for meaning.”
Of course, the dig is only half the journey. Back in the lab, every item is being meticulously cleaned, dated, and archived to build a complete interpretation of the site. But the exciting finds will go on display for the people of Lincolnshire.
“The material will be handed to the local museums for storage,” Chris explains. “It will be up to them to decide what artefacts go on display to the general public.”
Find out more about the North Hykeham Relief Road and all our other major projects.
