A ‘ONCE in a lifetime’ find has been made at a school expansion site in Norton.

Archaeologists working at land in Langton Road, have uncovered a substantial number of finds and evidence for several significant buildings.

Norton is already a known area of interest because of the nearby Roman fort and road in Malton, and construction work at the former Brooklyn House site in Langton Road to expand Norton Community Primary School has already revealed part of the road, buildings, human remains including baby burials, animal bones, pottery and a ritual burial of two goose heads.

North Yorkshire County Council NYCC) is investing £4million in the scheme to build a satellite building for the existing school on the site - which was previously used as a youth club and offices - to increase pupil capacity.

Now the digging of a service trench has revealed an unusually complete Roman cremation burial known as a bustum, with two pottery vessels and their contents.

The County Council’s Principal Archaeologist, Peter Rowe, said: “The excavations at the site have uncovered a substantial number of finds and evidence for several significant buildings, more than anyone anticipated.

"This latest find is significant as it could contain human remains and there is one complete vessel and a smaller one which has been slightly damaged.

“They have been taken to York Archaeological Trust and will be taken to Leeds Royal Armouries for the contents to be X-rayed before a more detailed examination takes place.’’

John Buglass, of JB Archaeology Ltd, which has been employed to carry out the excavations, said for an archaeologist this was the type of find which would happen once in a lifetime.

“It’s an incredibly interesting site, more interesting than we thought,’’ he said.

“The latest find is unusual and rare, and one of the pots is complete, even after the best part of 2,000 years underground. It is one of two pots from a type of Roman burial know as a bustum.

"This is where a pit is dug and, in this case, a large pot placed in the pit and then a cremation pyre is built over it.

“When the fire is out the remains are placed in the pot, often along with grave goods such as hairpins, brooches etc. The second, small pot was placed in the top of cremation pit once it had also been filled.

“Currently both of the pots are awaiting X-ray before the contents are excavated - this is done to see if there are any metallic items in there which would require careful excavation.

"The archaeological excavation of the pit has already produced a small enamelled brooch and two copper alloy belt plates - one of which has provisionally been been identified to date as Severan (3rd century) to early 4th century AD.

“The pot itself is currently considered to be a Dales ware jar of the 4th century.

"Obviously, it is very early days and there is more of the material from the cremation pit to sort through and specialist dating and analysis to carry out, but I can say this is a rare find, almost a once in a lifetime event for an archaeologist.”