Posted on 06/14/2014 9:31:30 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Britain's longest road, built almost a century ago, may actually have been used for 10,000 years.
Archaeologists were stunned to discover evidence of a Mesolithic settlement alongside the A1, which stretches 410 miles from London to Edinburgh.
The site, near Catterick in North Yorkshire, is believed to have been used by people travelling north and south as an overnight shelter, similar to today’s motorway service stations.
Items discovered at the settlement include flint tools that date back to between 6000 and 8000 BC.
Archaeologist Steve Sherlock said: “This was a place that people knew of – a place they could return to on many occasions to stay overnight during their travels. There is evidence of people using the route and moving through the area over periods of time. It is also adding to our knowledge of the early Mesolithic period, a time we don’t know very much about.
“We found a small structure that resembled a type of shelter where they were making the flint tools that were also present at the site.”
This rare discovery came during the excavation of known Roman settlements in advance of plans to upgrade the junctions from 51 to 56 to motorway status.
It was designated the A1 by the Ministry of Transport in 1921.
Archaeologists are excavating all the ancient monuments before they become less accessible.
They are focusing on a Roman town located by the road near to the River Swale, called Cataractonium.
Mr Sherlock added: “It was fascinating to find one of those was a Mesolithic site, a further 8,000 years into the past beyond the Romans.
“We are finding buildings on the edge of the Roman road – which runs alongside the A1 – including shop frontages and a bath house.”
(Excerpt) Read more at express.co.uk ...
Pre-celtic, too, I believe.
Your answer can be found here:
"Brassica oleracea is the species of plant that includes many common foods as cultivars, including cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, savoy, and Chinese kale. In its uncultivated form it is known as wild cabbage. It is native to coastal southern and western Europe. Its tolerance of salt and lime and its intolerance of competition from other plants typically restrict its natural occurrence to limestone sea cliffs, like the chalk cliffs on both sides of the English Channel."
I wonder if they produced scotch in those days.
If you haven't had a Maccallan's 10,000, you are in for a treat.
A little expensive, but well worth the wait.
They also found evidence of speed cameras.
Petrified woodpeckers and wood tablets with “photos” of speeding walkers and horseman.
Actually yes according to Jeremy Clarkson from “Top Gear” car show on the BBC.
LOL!
pre-everything.
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