Eastern Bypass archaeological finds put on display in Lincoln museum

Neolithic weapons, Bronze age tools and photographs of Anglo-Saxon skeletons are among discoveries now on display at The Collection museum in Lincoln after they were unearthed by archaeologists on the Lincoln Eastern Bypass project.

Historically significant burial grounds, high status Roman buildings and an armoury of fascinating artefacts were discovered by teams of archaeologists since work began on the site last year, ahead of construction of the £96 million bypass.

Visitors to The Collection museum in Lincoln can now see a range of remains and relics until the end of August.

Among the finds that on display at The Collection are:

• Mesolithic & Neolithic flint tools/arrowheads
• A Neolithic flint axe
• A Bronze Age dagger blade
• Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman pottery vessels
• Roman tiles, animal bones, brooches, coins and a bone comb
• Photos of Anglo-Saxon skeletons and a Bronze Age boat found on-site
• Medieval and post-medieval pottery, roof tiles, bone pins, coins and a bone corer

Artefacts are on display at the museum until August

The display at The Collection is a pre-cursor to this year’s Archaeology Week, which will take place from July 24 to 29 and will include children’s games and quizzes and a talk from Ruben Lopez, site director from Network Archaeology overseeing the Lincoln Eastern Bypass investigation.

A team of over 60 archaeologists has been on-site since September to ensure that any remains affected by the new road are protected or recorded.

Company director and senior project manager for Network Archaeology, Chris Taylor, said: “This may end up being the largest rural excavation ever conducted in Lincolnshire, certainly in terms of density of multi-period archaeology and quantity of artefacts within a single location.

“These excavations will add greatly to our understanding of the prehistory and history of not just this locality, but of the entire region. In fact, it will probably add more regional knowledge and understanding than a large number of smaller excavations across the region put together.

“The excavations near the Witham in particular are revealing specific findings of considerable regional importance, and some may well prove to be of national or even international significance.”

The excavations between the River Witham and Washingborough Road will be completed in the coming months and will be followed by investigations at other sites along the route.

In addition to the display at The Collection, Lincolnshire County Council and its Lincoln Eastern Bypass partners and contractors will host an open weekend on Saturday 10 and Sunday, June 11 at Canwick Village Hall. The event will offer people a chance to learn more the scheme, in addition to seeing even more archaeological finds up close during a display at the hall and tours of the dig site.

More details to be announced soon.