In March 2008 United Utilities began work on a new pipe line contract on grazing land near Garstang Road East. As is the case with any large scheme, an archaeologist was present on site when the work was begun and it soon became clear that a significant discovery had been made.
The remains of two roundhouses thought to date back to the second century AD were discovered. A small amount of black burnished ware pottery was found which helps to date the round house.
The remains of the main roundhouse to be excavated, which the team believe would have been a dwelling house, included an outside drainage gulley, holes for the timber wall supports, some cobbles and a storage pit. A larger pit, found with large stones in it would have been a hearth,
Also discovered are signs of a further roundhouse a few metres away, suggesting this could have been the site of an early settlement.
There is also evidence of medieval ridge and furrow ploughing.
Finds like this are very rare in Lancashire, and especially in this area. To date only two similar roundhouses have been found in Lancashire - one outside Lancaster and one near Lathom.
A reconstructed round house
Two views of the site: left, an archaeologist scrapes the surface to show the orange clay and the grey contents of the pit she is excavating
Some of the finds from the Poulton dig
The round house site, with a medieval furrow running from top left to bottom right The larger pit to the top right of the furrow is thought to be the hearth
