‘Cool’ Roman character found on HS2 pits in Buckinghamshire | archeology

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An extremely rare early Roman period carved wooden figure has been unearthed in a water-filled moat in Buckinghamshire, the latest unusual discovery in the UK’s largest archaeological excavation along the 150-mile HS2 railway.

The statue, which is 67 cm high, is carved from a single piece of wood. Archaeologists said its preservation was “incredible” given its age and material, but the lack of oxygen in the trench helped prevent rot over many centuries.

“This is a really fascinating discovery that puts us face to face with our past. The quality of the sculpture is outstanding and the form is all the more exciting because organic objects from this period rarely survive,” said Jim Williams, Senior Scientific Adviser at Historic England.

The figure was found in a field near Twyford, wearing a knee-length jacket that appears gathered at the waist. He may be hat-wearing, have styled hair, and have well-defined legs, although the feet and arms are deteriorated below the elbows.

More than 1,000 archaeologists have been working at at least 60 separate sites along the HS2 Phase 1 route between London and Birmingham since the fall of 2018. Experts said the project represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shed light on 10,000 years of history.

The path was initially determined by laser scanning and geophysical surveys before the excavations began. The archaeological investigation is a legally binding requirement of the HS2 project, and is being funded as part of the overall budget, estimated in 2019 at £45 billion for the first phase.

The figure was found in a field near Twyford, wearing a knee-length jacket that appears gathered at the waist. Photo: HS2

Among the finds ranging from the Iron Age to the Victorian era, a vast Roman settlement in Northamptonshire, 16th-century gardens in Warwickshire, the world’s oldest railroad carousel in Birmingham, and three Roman statues in a building were revealed earlier this week. abandoned. Medieval church in Buckinghamshire, tens of thousands of skeletons in various cemeteries.

“The scale of the HS2 project is unprecedented, so it’s no surprise that the amazing discoveries have been made,” said Mike Bates, editor of the British Archeology website. “They are the fruits of thousands of years of continuous occupation in Britain and our skilled archaeological workforce.”

Alice Roberts, presenter of the BBC’s “Digging for Britain” programme, said the “extraordinary finds” along the HS2 route showed just how rich the country’s archaeological scene is. “This is the largest archaeological investigation we have seen in Britain and you cannot overstate its importance,” she said.

The discovered objects will be preserved and many of them will eventually be displayed in museums. But larger finds, such as the 10-metre-wide Roman Road in Northamptonshire, will be demolished to make way for HS2.

Helen Wass, Head of Heritage at HS2 said: “Archaeology is a double-edged sword. We wouldn’t have done it if construction wasn’t happening. You can’t have one without the other. We make sure that if construction does happen, we record our heritage to the best of our ability.” We can.”

The cost of HS2’s archaeological work is included in the project’s total budget, but Wass has declined to disclose the project’s cost so far. She added that the field work in the first phase is expected to be completed by the end of 2022, but the post-excavation analysis will take several more years.

Pitt said the carved wooden figure was a “remarkable find.” “It is really rare to find carved woodwork in the Romanesque style in Britain. Even in its broken and rolled state, it has something in the setting and in the dress that suggests it was probably Roman.”

The figure will be subject to analysis and preservation in York Archeology. The piece found broken in the hole will be radiocarbon dated to establish an exact date to the wood.

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