Stone Age history unearthed at Didcot housing development

Significant historical findings have been uncovered at Taylor Wimpey’s Great Western Park development, located to the West of Didcot, as part of Oxford Archaeology’s investigations for the leading housebuilder.

Artifacts dating back over 5,500 years to the Neolithic period (New Stone Age) have been found in addition to a major Late Bronze Age and Iron Age hillcrest settlement, Roman remains and a well-preserved medieval horse burial.

Chris Ashmore, regional sales and marketing director for Taylor Wimpey Oxfordshire, said: “There have been some exciting historical discoveries at Great Western Park, which give us an insight into the past and traces the history of the area back to 3,500BC.”

The oldest findings have been a Neolithic flint arrowhead, used by early hunters, and a bowl - thought to be for ceremonial purposes. As part of Oxford Archaeology’s on-going investigation into the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age hillcrest settlement revealed at the site, ten circular houses have been discovered in the West and North fringes. They have been identified by a ring of post-holes and timber framed structures, which are thought to have supported a thatched roof. Similar square structures have also been found, purportedly for food storage.

Other findings include a Roman villa and farmstead and a perfectly preserved medieval horse burial, where it appears that the animal was put down because of a broken leg.

Since 2001, the latest preliminary evaluation techniques have been used to establish the main areas of archaeological potential including fieldwalking, geophysical surveys and sample trenching as seen on Channel 4’s Time Team.

The purpose of the archaeological investigation is to ensure history is preserved in Taylor Wimpey’s £60m Great Western Park development, a ten year plan to build 3,300 new homes and supporting infrastructure on the 440 acre site. Plans include recreational facilities, community services, primary and secondary schools, shops, parkland, open spaces, play areas and £20m for local highway improvements.

Chris Ashmore continued: “We are eager to safeguard this window to the past - much of the Roman farmstead for instance, will be preserved under sports pitches. Our intention is for the development to provide homes for generations to come in Didcot, just as the site has done for thousands of years.”

The archaeological works are set to continue in concert with Taylor Wimpey’s development and upon completion, the results will be published.

The housebuilder has released a selection of three and four bedroom homes starting from £277,250 on the first phase of Great Western Park with occupation anticipated from summer this year. The first phase of the development will consist of 220 homes and the first of two primary schools planned for the site.

For more information on Great Western Park, visit the sales cabin on Didcot Road, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX14 4TX.