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Archaeologists working ahead of improvements to the M5 motorway have uncovered an unusual Roman burial ground containing more than 100 burials. The discovery was made near Junction 10 of the M5, close to Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, and was reported on 16 October.
The excavations are being carried out by Archaeological Research Services as part of a £407 million scheme to improve the junction, which is scheduled for completion in 2029. The work has revealed evidence spanning several periods, including the Palaeolithic, Roman and Anglo-Saxon eras, but the cemetery is the most significant find. It is believed to date mainly from the Roman period, although burials from different periods, cultures and possibly religious traditions have also been identified.
Roman cemeteries are not unusual in Britain, but the size and variety of this one make it stand out. More than 100 burials in a single cemetery, with signs of different traditions side by side, can tell archaeologists a great deal about who lived in the area, how they buried their dead, and how the community changed over time. The finds will be studied in detail once the excavation is complete, and they may reshape what is known about Roman life in Gloucestershire.
The discovery is a reminder of how much of Britain's past lies just below the surface of modern roads and fields. Major building projects are required to check for archaeology before work begins, and it is often during those checks that the most important finds are made. The M5 scheme is one of the largest road projects in the region, and the burial ground was found only because archaeologists were brought in early.
The remains will be recorded, analysed and, where appropriate, reburied or stored for future study. The junction work will continue around the excavation, and the findings are expected to be published once the analysis is finished, adding a new chapter to the history of the area around Cheltenham.
Source: Heritage Daily
