[Stones] Dig unearths Neolithic settlement in Wrexham

[Tim P]

*Archaeologists have found the remains of a 4,000-year-old Neolithic 
settlement in Wrexham. *

The Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust (CPAT) is excavating the site at 
Borras Quarry, and hopes to discover evidence of timber houses.

They began digging after cooking pits were discovered during work to 
expand the site, which is owned by Tarmac.

The mining and construction company said topsoil removal nearby had 
ceased to allow artefacts to be retrieved.


	
* This is an important discovery as there is currently very little 
evidence for Neolithic settlement in this part of Wales *

Nigel Jones, CPAT

Nigel Jones, of the CPAT, said the discoveries were made as topsoil and 
subsoil was being removed in preparation for gravel extraction at the 
new Holt Estate section of the quarry.

He added: "We were monitoring them and we started to get a number of 
features come to light.

"We got in touch with Tarmac and alerted them to the fact they had 
something quite significant here.

"The area has been fenced off and there's a team of archaeologists there 
for several weeks."

' * Important * '

He added: "Tarmac have been very good and very co-operative. They are 
paying for the work as part of their planning conditions.

"This is an important discovery as there is currently very little 
evidence for Neolithic settlement in this part of Wales.

"It is hoped that the excavations will reveal more evidence for 
occupation, possibly including the remains of timber houses."

Plans for Tarmac to extract more than 10m tonnes of sand and gravel from 
land between Borras and Gresford were approved in 2005.

Tarmac's estates and geology manager Richard Hulse said: "It appears 
that these are cooking pits typically used to heat water in order to 
prepare food.

"As a result we have ceased topsoil removal in the immediate vicinity in 
order to retrieve any further artefacts which may be present."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/wales/north_east/7471742.stm

Published: 2008/06/25 05:56:54 GMT

© BBC MMVIII