A rare wooden artifact has
recently been dug up in the United Kingdom’s biggest ever archeological dig.
The artifact, dug in the HS2 rail route, is said to be a well preserved carved
wooden figure belonging to the Roman era.
The ancient preserve
stands 67 cm tall and is crafted from a single block of wood.
According to
archaeologists, the artifact is surprisingly well preserved, despite factors
like its age. The preservation is said to be a result of the lack of oxygen in
the ditch, which helped slow the rotting process.
Jim Williams, a
science adviser for Historic England, stated that the finding is “remarkable”,
and the quality of the historic preserve is “exquisite”.
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The
wooden relic was found in a ditch in Twyford, a village in England, along
with a long tunic. The artifact also has well-crafted legs, even though the
feet and arms have been decomposed for the most part.
The
country’s biggest archeological dig has been in the works since 2018, with more
than 1,000 historians and archaeologists working on over 60 sites in a route
between London and Birmingham.
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According to history
experts, the archeological project is a great opportunity to discover 10,000
years of history.
The
HS2 route was mapped via laser scans and geographical surveys and is a
well-funded project of an estimated £45billion budget for phase one of the
survey.
The
survey has discovered a range of historically significant relics, including
ancient gardens in Warwickshire, a massive Roman settlement in
Northamptonshire, three Roman statues at an abandoned ancient church in
Buckinghamshire, the world’s oldest railway, and thousands of skeletons buried
in burial grounds.
Discovered objects of
historical importance will be placed in museums, although larger remains like a
10-metre-wide road built during the Roman era will end up being bulldozed.
According
to many experts, the historical findings highlight the rich and diverse history of the
country.