A well-preserved Bronze Age wooden well was uncovered during construction work on the Benson Relief Road in Oxfordshire, England.
The discovery was made by archaeologists from Oxford Archaeology working on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council.
John Boothroyd, Senior Project Manager at Oxford Archaeology, said: “While investigating what appeared to be a standard pit for the site, the archaeology team began to uncover the remains of a preserved wooden post driven vertically into the ground.”
“It gives a great insight into the past land use of the area,” said Judy Roberts, cabinet member for infrastructure and development strategy.
“It is thought that the well may have been used for agricultural irrigation for nearby settlements.
“Archaeological investigations such as this are an important part of the process of submitting building plans.
“They help us to identify and understand the past inhabitants of the area and record it for future generations.”
The timber structure of the well was digitally recorded before it was very carefully dismantled and removed from the site.
A wood sample was sent for further analysis to determine the type of wood used and whether evidence of tools used to cut and shape the timbers could be identified.
Also found were various pieces of flint, animal bone and shards of pottery used for storage and waste.
The wood and other artifacts will be stored at the Oxfordshire Museum Service.
Cover Photo: Oxford Archaeology
