Wooden well from Bronze Age excavated

Experts at Oxford Archaeology are documenting the find

The remains of a wooden well dating back to the Bronze Age have been discovered during works to build a new road.

The well-preserved find has been excavated by experts at Oxford Archaeology working on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council.

It was found at the site of the project to build the south-westerly section of the Benson Relief Road.

Senior project manager John Boothroyd said the work was carried out in "extremely challenging conditions".

The well was uncovered during an archaeology "strip, map and sample" exercise.

It was a planning condition for the road scheme, to make sure any archaeological finds were recorded.

Judy Roberts, cabinet member for infrastructure and development strategy, said it gave "fantastic insight into the area’s past land use".

She added: "It is thought the well may have been used for agricultural irrigation purposes for settlements nearby.

"Archaeological surveys like this are an important part of the process of delivering construction schemes.

"They help us identify and understand past residents of the area and record them for future generations."

The well was uncovered during a "strip, map and sample" exercise

Mr Boothroyd said preservation of wooden structures from the period was rare, and in this case the remains had survived "due to being buried in waterlogged ground".

"Despite the extremely challenging conditions, the team were able to expose and fully record the well in the ground," he explained.

"The specialist soil samples that were collected will also help establish what the surrounding landscape would have been like, and the intensity to which it was settled, when the well was actively being used."

Its timber structure was digitally recorded before being gently dismantled by hand and removed from the site.

A sample of the wood has been sent off for further analysis to identify the type of wood used, and whether evidence of the tools used to cut and shape the timbers can be determined.

Also found were various pieces of struck flint, animal bone, and pottery used for storage and waste.

The wood and other artefacts will be stored with the Oxfordshire Museum Service.