Archaeologists working on National Highways’ huge M25 Junction 10 scheme near Wisley in Surrey have unearthed historical artefacts dating back thousands of years.
Balfour Beatty has been working with Oxford Archaeology since Summer 2022 to undertake archaeological investigations as part of the scheme.
Remains discovered include a late Bronze Age / early Iron Age settlement around 1,000 to 500 BC and evidence of post-medieval agricultural practices.
Not an actual late Bronze Age / early Iron Age settlement
The settlement was discovered just south of the A3, towards the eastern scheme limit and comprises the remains of at least five roundhouses, the largest of which has a diameter of about 10 metres.
They are defined by ring ditches, which were found to overlap each other, exposing the longevity of the settlement. The team also found re-cuts within a pair of parallel ditches that enclose the site, again showing that the settlement was maintained over a prolonged period of time.
Actual Iron Age vessel recovered from settlement site
Jonathan Wade, project lead for the scheme, said: ‘The farmstead and artefacts we have unearthed near Painshill are hugely exciting and significant finds as it helps to further shape our understanding of what life in the region was like over this period in history, and we can see how the site developed through different periods of time.’
John Boothroyd of Oxford Archaeology added: ‘It’s great to find such an interesting site and a reminder that through modern progress we can gain fascinating insights into our past.’
Junction 10 on the M25 is one of the busiest in the region, with over 300,000 vehicles passing through every day and road users regularly experiencing large queues and heavy congestion, something that has worsened since the scheme began.
National Highways says its £317m upgrade will reduce congestion and create a smoother flow of traffic.
