A66 Northern Trans-Pennine Project unveils Cumbria’s hidden treasures

A groundbreaking exploration of the past has helped uncover Cumbria’s rich history dating back thousands of years thanks to archaeologists working on the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine Project. 

National Highways, in partnership with Oxford Cotswold Archaeology, has unveiled exciting discoveries over the past three months with excavations finding artefacts and geographical changes potentially dating back 6,000 years.  

The findings include buried peat layers, ancient sections of rivers and streams (paleochannels), and muddy residues offering an invaluable insight into how ancient Cumbrians shaped their landscape. 

One notable discovery is a settlement site believed to date to the Late Neolithic or Middle Bronze Age (1600-1200 BC). Artefacts such as stone tools and pottery sherds, alongside features like ditches, postholes, pits, and gullies, have shed light on the lifestyle and practices of daily life during this period. 

In another location, a possible ‘grubenhaus’, a building typically built above a large rectangular pit and associated with Early Medieval settlements was found, with unusual dimensions, suggesting an intriguing story is yet to be uncovered. 

Roman influences have also left their mark on the landscape, with discoveries at farmsteads and small villages along the Roman road. Fragments of Samian tableware, imported from Eastern Gaul (modern-day Northern France), suggest a Roman-style dining culture, while a copper alloy Roman brooch adds to the evidence of locals adopting Roman fashion. 

Left: Fragment of Samian tableware.  Right: Copper alloy Roman brooch

Stewart Jones, National Highways A66 Northern Trans-Pennine Project Director, said: 

“We are excited about the findings from the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine Project, as they provide a unique window into the ancient history of Cumbria. 

"These discoveries will contribute significantly to our understanding of how people in the past adapted to changing environmental conditions, and we look forward to further insights as the project progresses.” 

Stephen Rowland, Project Manager at Oxford Cotswold Archaeology said: 

“The route followed by the modern A66 through the Eden Valley and Stainmore Pass was ancient even when the Romans formalised it with their own road, nearly 2000 years ago. Significant road and river junctions and crossings are still marked by prehistoric monuments, Roman forts, and medieval castles, whilst the fertile valley has supported communities since the end of the last Ice Age. 

We're currently half-way though excavating hundreds of trial trenches within the footprint of the proposed project. There's lots more work to do and finds to be made as we seek to tell the story of 10,000 years of human history along the course of one of Northern England's most significant routeways.” 

You can find out more about other archaeological digs and the fascinating secrets uncovered by National Highways by visiting: https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-work/archaeology/