The remains of a Roman villa and rare kilns dating back 2,000 years were uncovered during the dig
hope that the discovery of the rare kilns could help further understanding of what life was like in the area in centuries gone by.
Clare Elliott, service director for economic growth and skills at Wakefield Council, said at the time of the discovery in April last year: “Evidence that flagons were being produced here – large pots were also discovered at this time – demonstrate the work people were undertaking in this area.”: Remains of Roman villa and kilns found during archaeological dig in Wakefield village
There have been a number of other important archaeological finds in recent years in the Wakefield district. In 2017, developers in Pontefract were shocked to discover more than 30 Roman skeletons, alongside pottery, jewellery and building remains, while working on new houses. The skeletons, which are believed to date from around 200AD, were described as a “unique” find.
In the same year, a Wakefield mother searching for a missing bolt from a garden strimmer was shocked to discover 17 silver-bronze Roman coins, believed to date back to between 335AD and 402AD. In 2005, contractors in Ferrybridge stumbled across a 2,400-year-old chariot burial site while working on an upgrade of the A1. Subsequent work on the Iron Age remains led researchers to believe it may have been the burial site of one of Britain’s ancient tribal leaders.