Iron Age bodies at park-and-ride

A team of archaeologists in Leicestershire has uncovered several ancient bodies at the site of a new park-and-ride development.

Excavations are continuing in Enderby after what are thought to be four skeletons from the Iron Age - dating from before 43AD - were discovered.

The team from the University of Leicester said there were probably more bodies buried at the site.

A further four-week excavation in now under way.

'Elusive burials'

Peter Liddle, keeper of archaeology at Leicestershire County Council, said the find was exciting.

"This is a very nice addition to what we know about the Iron Age in Leicester," he said.

"We seem to have a track way that runs across the landscape and buried next to that track way are a series of bodies.

"It's nice as Iron Age roads and tracks are not that common. Iron Age burial is elusive - you don't see a lot of dead Iron Age people, you can't generally find them."

Archaeologists have also found some animal bones, domestic rubbish and some early Roman pottery.

The excavation is not expected to hold up the park-and-ride development as time for excavation has been built into the original schedule.

The Iron Age in Britain took place between about 750BC and about AD40.

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