Posted on 03/04/2005 12:49:03 AM PST by nickcarraway
A ROMAN oven and pieces of pottery have been uncovered beneath the site of a new shopping arcade.
Developers are building a £120 million centre, the Grand Arcade, in Wigan but because of the town's rich Roman heritage they have asked a team of archaeologists to carry out a dig on the site.
As a result the team of experts has uncovered the first Roman remains to be found in the town for more than 20 years.
In addition to the Roman oven and pottery, remains of Westerwold German stoneware have been uncovered at the shopping centre site off Station Road.
The discoveries are being examined and categorised by experts.
Cremation
Wigan was the site of a Roman fort known as Coccium, which was in existence in the second century AD.
Three Roman roads have been traced in the Wigan area and researched by the Wigan Archaeological Society.
Other Roman finds in the area include hordes of coins, cremation urns and a headless statue of the Persian god Cautopates.
Tim Heatley, of developers Modus Properties, said: "We have always been aware of Wigan's heritage and we have taken great care to be sensitive to this in both the way we construct the development and also in the way the scheme will look.
"We are sure that Grand Arcade will further enhance this rich and interesting heritage from the arrival of the Romans right through to the days of Wigan Casino.
"We plan to acknowledge the broad and varied history of the site with a plaque and we are considering other ideas that will remind the shoppers of its importance."
The shopping centre and a 800-space car park are due to open in 2007 with stores including Debenhams, BHS, Marks and Spencer and TK Maxx.
ping
hhhmmm
In 3,100 BC Post-Muslim Researchers will dig up a Twinkie and find that it is still edible
I often wonder how they discovered iron in the first place. Was there some ore next to a fire pit and it melted into a blob of iron and slag? It always amazes me the way things we take for granted today must have centuries to develope.
You mean, Twinkies are edible?
Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on, off, or alter the "Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list --
Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
The GGG Digest -- Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)
Probably for pizza while watching the gladiators.
what was I thinking???
"Just an accident with vending machine pastries in a time machine."
is that from a TV show? a movie??
It was adapted from Douglas A's "Hitchhiker's Guide", one of the later volumes (iow, volume 2 or newer).
Actually, no, come to think of it, I only read the first one. So it's from that.
I see, I wonder if they'll use that line in the movie version they're making??
I've already seen the movie, same reason, but don't want to spoil the surprise. ;')
You've seen the movie?? I didn't think it had been released.... **slaps side of head**... or did you get into one of those showings for a test audience??
another time machine joke. I think I hear crickets though. ;')
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