Iron Age remains which could provide valuable information about York's early history have been uncovered by contractors working on the outer ring road.

Improvement work on Wigginton Road roundabout was halted last week while specialists were called in to look at what have now been confirmed as Iron Age hut circles and rubbish pits.

Archaeologists believe the find is of significance because relatively little is known about Iron Age activity in the York area.

Sally Randell, of Leeds-based AOC Archaeology, said: "We have uncovered two hut circles and 70 pits which were possibly storage or rubbish pits.

"The finds from the pits have included pottery, burnt stones and animal bones.

"The pits have also been sampled for environmental evidence such as seeds and charcoal, which could provide information about diet."

The Highways Agency is enlarging the Wigginton Road roundabout to allow it to carry more cars and improve safety.

A new link road into Clifton Moor is also being built by the contractors.

Work began on the projects in mid-September and is part of a package of road improvements, totalling several million pounds, which is planned for York in the next eight months.

Graham Littlechild, project manager with the Highways Agency, said work on the roundabout was scheduled to start again today.

"There was evidence of Iron Age settlement near the site and we had asked the archaeologists to monitor the work at the roundabout to make sure any further discoveries would be properly recorded," said Mr Littlechild.

"We had to stop work for a few days to allow the site to be investigated but don't expect this will cause any significant delays to the contract."

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