Ancient artefacts dating back thousands of years have been discovered thanks to a transportation update in Leeds.
The East Leeds Orbital Route is the biggest infrastructure project undertaken by Leeds City Council in 50 years.
A series of archaeological surveys and digs took place along the span of the 7km (4m) route as part of the initial work.
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The digs uncovered an incredible range of objects, which are now part of the collection at the Leeds Discovery Centre.
“What makes this such a fascinating archive is its sheer scope and scale,” Kat Baxter, Leeds Museums and Galleries’ curator of archaeology, told What’s the Jam.
“What we can see is a snapshot of different people and communities who have been in this part of Leeds for thousands of years.
“Whether they lived here in the Stone Age or the Medieval period, archaeology gives us the opportunity to imagine the lives of those who were here before us.”
A team of experts from Wessex Archaeology were commissioned to meticulously search for evidence of sites of historic significance and ensure any important artefacts were collected, documented and properly assessed.
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Among the collected items were an Early Neolithic, leaf-shaped arrowhead, carefully shaped from flint around 6,000 years ago.
Another find includes a bronze alloy flat axe head, believed to be more than 4,000 years old.
The team also uncovered a dark blue glass bead from the Late Roman period, dating back to between the 3rd and 7th centuries.
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Pottery from before the Norman Conquest, pre-1066 AD, a post-Medieval buckle, and the remains of objects and structures thought to be associated with the abandoned medieval village of Morwick – which was abandoned in the late 16th/17th century following a series of poor harvests – were also discovered.
The most modern piece found was an 18th-century nutcracker and clay pipe bowl, featuring a carved seated figure of Britannia, believed to be from around the 1840s, roughly 185 years ago.
A selection of objects from the East Leeds Orbital Archive is being prepared for display at the centre for visitors to see in spring 2026.
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