Workers in a field near the small English town of Evesham in the county of Worcestershire have made a sensational discovery: they have come across a Roman road believed to be nearly 2,000 years old. Archaeologists say the stone-paved ford (a flat in a stream or river that you can traverse on foot, horseback or in vehicles; NB) is the only one of its kind in Britain.
The approximately ten meters long and 2.9 meters wide stretch of road was uncovered a few weeks ago by Severn Trent Water workers during routine sewage work. The road was built as a wall with large stones in bands – a traditional Roman technique – also found in Rome and Pompeii, they say.
The exact location of the find is being kept secret. It was known that the Roman road was found on a river where a villa complex from Roman times was also uncovered four years ago. Excavations are now underway to learn more about the Roman structure, reports Birmingham Live, the website of the Birmingham Mail newspaper.
Expert: „Discovery was breathtaking”
Aidan Smyth, the Wychavon County Archaeological Officer, in Worcestershire, where the site is located, told the newspaper the discovery takes his breath away. If the study confirms initial assumptions that the road dates back to the first century AD, it would be “more than rare” and the only one of its kind on the island, the expert said.
On the stones of the ford, which once crossed a stream, there are traces that indicate that there have been carts for a long time. “The masonry is absolutely perfect. It just ticks all the boxes to be Roman,” reports Smyth.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
