A47 Wansford to Sutton Dualling Scheme

Headland Archaeology undertook archaeological investigations in advance of dualling work on the A47 Wansford to Sutton scheme for Galliford Try on behalf of National Highways. A team of 52 archaeologists and 20 civil engineers completed work on 12 excavation sites over 7 months. Among the discoveries on the scheme was a Roman cemetery featuring a stone coffin containing a gypsum burial which was excavated offsite by specialists and featured on BBC’s Digging for Britain.

The dualling of the A47 from Wansford to Sutton was one of six projects on the 115-mile stretch of the A47 between Peterborough and Great Yarmouth and formed part of a multi-billion investment to improve journeys on England’s major A-roads and motorways. Headland Archaeology were contracted by Galliford Try on behalf of National Highways to undertake a programme of archaeological work to create a complete and permanent record of archaeological sites and historic buildings which may have been impacted by the construction of the A47 Wansford to Sutton Dualling Scheme, and continue to provide a programme of community outreach events following the completion of the fieldwork.

This work included geophysical survey, historic building recording of a Royal Observation Corps Bunker and a disused railway station, and archaeological excavation. Excavations were carried out between November 2023 and April 2024 comprising 12 open area excavations and 12 trial trenches. These works brought to light evidence of human activity dating from the Neolithic to the post-medieval period, between approximately 4000 BC to AD 1900.

The discovery of a Roman roadside cemetery was of particular interest and regional significance. Inside the cemetery were 14 graves, with a further seven graves outside of the cemetery’s boundary ditch. The grave at the centre contained a stone coffin, hand carved from a single block of solid limestone. The deceased within had been encased in gypsum, representing a kind of high-status burial practice usually associated with urban centres. Some of the surrounding graves contained beautiful jewellery and glass objects, deposited as grave goods.

The discovery of the coffin presented logistical and safety challenges for the team to overcome. The goal was to uplift the coffin and its contents for excavation and conservation, to be undertaken in a controlled environment off site to ensure its preservation. This also required sector collaboration with specialists from Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA), York Archaeology, Heritage360, Conservation Resources and Cliveden Conservation. Additionally, to ensure this incredible discovery was shared with the public, the specialist excavations were filmed and featured on BBC’s Digging for Britain.

The excavation and analysis of this unique burial practice along with the other burials in the cemetery will allow us an insight into the life and death of this Romano-British community, adding to a rich picture of life in the past along this stretch of the A47.