Water firm exposes ancient items

Artefacts unearthed at the site of the pipeline include a gilded belt strap end

A water company has temporarily halted construction work on a new pipeline in Kent after parts of a lost medieval landscape were exposed.

South East Water had been preparing to lay pipes between Howfield and Chilham to help secure supplies to Ashford.

Artefacts unearthed include Roman coins and steel knives, a small medieval structure, Iron Age pots, and a gilded belt strap end.

Work will continue once archaeologists have finished their investigations.

So far they have discovered the remains of items dating from medieval periods, to Iron Age, Roman and as early as Bronze Age periods.

'Exciting finds'

There is also evidence that suggests there could potentially be a rare invasion-period Roman military marching camp near the pipeline works, which is being excavated for further investigation.

Paul Clifford, engineering manager at South East Water, said: "These exciting finds have emerged during the initial pipeline excavation work, and after we carried out extensive archaeology surveys of the entire route before construction.

"On large schemes like this we take the extra precaution of having archaeologists working alongside our contractors to ensure that if we do find anything of historical significance, then we can halt work for further investigations.

"That ensures we can continue to protect and record our ancient heritage."