PLANET CASE STUDY

Environmental Stewardship

Supporting archaeological finds at our quarries

“As responsible custodians of all our sites it’s extremely important that all items of historic interest are carefully excavated and recorded. Tarmac has been proud to work with the experienced team at the Cambridge Archaeology Unit and Dr Lisboa and it’s a real positive that our activity at Knobb’s Farm has enabled a deeper understanding of the rich archaeology that lies within our land.”

Alan Everard, Head of Strategic Planning

Our worked and restored Cambridgeshire Quarry became the focus of international interest where excavations unearthed a Roman burial site containing multiple remains. The fascinating discoveries, which mainly date back to the third century, revealed a total of 52 burials including some of which are believed to be victims of Roman execution methods.

Seven of the burials were accompanied by pottery vessels, which implies the victims were given traditional burial rites and may have been buried by friends or relatives, and that they were victims of legal execution.

Dr Lisboa added: “The findings from this extensive 10-year excavation process that we have now published are truly remarkable. This is a nationally and globally significant find that will continue to help us understand more about Roman Britain for years to come.” Archaeological work has also been ongoing at our Maxey quarry in Peterborough for more than 20 years, as part of planning conditions placed upon the development by Peterborough City Council. The present phase of assessment is made up of both targeted aerial drone photography and geophysical surveying.

Archaeologists on site removed the topsoil leading to the excavation and analysis of the area, unearthing remains ranging in date from the Neolithic and Bronze Age (8000 to 800 BC) right through to the Anglo-Saxon period (410 to 1066 AD). The Neolithic and Bronze Age remains comprise of pits and isolated features including the circular ditches. The Roman activity is generally ditches from the fields that covered this area, and the Anglo-Saxon activity is largely pits and water holes.

Archaeologist Consultant, Ian Meadows of Andrew Josephs Associates, said: “Working at Maxey for many years now, I have seen a large multi-period landscape revealed by the quarry. Archaeologists and quarry employees have worked together to ensure it is fully recorded. The project, funded by Tarmac, has greatly enhanced our knowledge and understanding of the area during the last 6,000 years.”