Archaeological finds from Eaglesbush development site
Occasionally we need to bring in the archaeologists before we can get started on a development.
This was the case with our Eaglesbush development in Neath, where work has already started on the creation of 52 units, from 1-bedroom flats to 4-bedroom houses.
The Eaglesbush site was considered by planners to be potentially significant due to its proximity to the Roman fortress and to Neath Abbey.
So Jean-Yves Robic of Cardiff Archaeological Consultants (pictured) carried out a "watching brief" on the site.
Although none of artefacts uncovered indicated the need for any further investigation, Jean-Yves revealed there was evidence of human activity at the from the late 17th Century until the present day.
He produced an extensive report and explained a few of the hundreds of artefacts.You can watch a video here: https://youtu.be/WrjMmE5cxfY
Jean-Yves said:"During the watching brief we recovered hundreds of artefacts showing us that the land was occupied from roughly the end of the 17th Century through to the present day.
“The artefacts comprise many pottery pieces and animals bones, which are kitchen waste. There was also a large horseshoe which was hand-forged and the size indicates the very heavy horses they used to plough the fields.
"We also had a nice half pint bottle from Glover and Sons in Neath."
Some of the quirkier finds included a flint, which was not a prehistoric flint as you might expect, but a gun flint from a flintlock rifle from the 17th or 18th century, as well as the sharp arm of a metal spur used by a horse rider passing through the field in an earlier century.
The next step is likely to involve liaison with the local school by the development team and, with the help of a community benefits commitment by contractors, some of the artefacts could be returned to the soil in a time capsule, along with contributions from the children.
