Archaeologists dig at park site

A search for traces of Leicestershire's oldest inhabitants is to get underway ahead of a major construction project.

Archaeologists will examine the site in Enderby in advance of a £9m park and ride scheme.

The University of Leicester team is hoping to find the remains of houses and farms which pre-date the Roman era, over 2,000 years ago.

It is hoped the excavation will shed new light on how developed agriculture and the economy were in this period.

'Irreplaceable evidence'

Pre-Roman Britain has been popularly regarded as a relatively unsophisticated backwater but recent finds have suggested a developed social order and advances in farming techniques.

Researchers will hope to find more information on the lives of rural Britons before the arrival of Rome's continental influence.

Nicholas Rushton, county council deputy leader with responsibilities for Highways and Transportation, said: "It is important to record archaeological remains that may be uncovered as they are irreplaceable evidence of our past civilization.

"Any findings of this archaeological dig will be displayed in the proposed park and ride terminal building."

The dig will start next week and is expected to take about two months.

The park and ride project, due to open in autumn 2009, will provide a 1,000 space car park with an indoor waiting area, toilets and a security office.