Archaeology

A team of archaeologists have ben excavating a wealthy Roman trading town near a small village in South Northamptonshire. The presence of such a significant archaeological site in the area has been known since the 18^th century, and initial survey and analysis by HS2 gave some indication of what could be discovered there. However, the scale and quality of the discoveries on site have surpassed expectations.

Archaeologists working on HS2 have made discoveries of national significance, uncovering an Anglo-Saxon burial site in Wendover, Buckinghamshire. Almost three quarters of the graves contained high quality grave goods, suggesting the site was the final resting place of a wealthy Anglo-Saxon community.

During excavation work in Stoke Mandeville, our archaeologists have found the remains of a Norman church with some other unusual discoveries. A wealth of incredible finds have been discovered, including a set of incredible rare Roman statues.

Excavations on the HS2 site at Coleshill in Warwickshire have revealed one of the best preserved late 16th century gardens ever discovered in this country. Additionally, the remains of Coleshill Manor and a moat were picked up by aerial photography.

Archaeologists working on the HS2 project in Euston discovered the remains of Captain Matthew Flinders. The Royal Navy explorer led the first circumnavigation of Australia and is credited with giving the country its name.

Before HS2, Birmingham’s 19th century station at Curzon Street was one of the earliest railway stations, as well as the world’s oldest railway roundhouse. The limited later development of the site means that any surviving remains of the early station represents a unique opportunity to investigate a major early railway terminus in its entirety.