Post by UKarchaeology on Oct 1, 2015 17:51:18 GMT
Prehistoric finds which prove that humans have lived in Thame for at least 6,000 years have been uncovered.
Evidence of human activity, including the remains of prehistoric monuments and settlements going back to the neolithic period have been found during an archeological dig just off Oxford Road.
The dig was commissioned by Bloor Homes, who are developing the Thame Meadows site.
Taking seven months, the excavation was carried out by Oxford Cotswold Archaeology, and is being dubbed one of the most significant to take place in Britain this year.
One of the most important finds was a rare causewayed enclosure dating back to around 3,700BC, one of only 80 known to exist in Britain.
Chris Ellis, senior project officer at Cotswold Archaeology, said: “We have come across an amazing mass of archaeology from 6,000 years of human history, and all in one site.
“For the sheer density and range of archaeological features, and the long period which they span, this has been the most fascinating and exhilarating excavation I have been involved with in my 25-year career.
“To encounter this amount of archaeology on just one development site is almost unheard of, and the discoveries have sparked a great deal of interest among academics.”
He added: “The discovery of a ‘new’ enclosure in British archaeology is extremely rare, so to discover such extensive remains all in one relatively small project like this is extremely exciting.”
(pic & source: www.thametoday.co.uk/news/local-news/6-000-years-of-thame-history-found-at-dig-is-most-significant-discovery-1-6988119 )