Archaeologists find Roman remains during work before mega pipeline project

Wessex Archaeology - working with Southern Water carrying out archaeological investigations along the route of a new proposed pipeline in Hampshire discovered a Roman grave and coin.

Southern Water’s £900 million ‘Water for Life Hampshire’ programme will see the first reservoir built in England for 25 years at Havant Thicket near Portsmouth.

But the programme – which will reduce Hampshire and the Isle of Wight’s reliance on the iconic chalk rivers of the Test and Itchen - is far more than just a reservoir.

As part of the programme, new pipelines are being planned across the county to increase connections between every corner of the region and especially between key water supply works at Testwood, Otterbourne and River Way, near Andover.

Before any pipes can be laid, the company - which provides drinking water to 2.6 million customers across Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight - must satisfy regulators including Natural England, Environment Agency, Historic England and Local Planning Authorities that plans will not damage the environment or destroy precious remains of our island’s history.

Dr Nicola Meakins, who leads Southern Water’s enabling team, said:

“We build big projects across the region and are spending £3 billion between 2020 and 2025 on improving our assets. But before the key can be turned on a digger, my team of ecologists and surveyors have to carry out numerous assessments. Whether it’s the discovery of rare hazel dormouse habitat, badger setts or as in this case archaeological remains, a plan must be put in place to prevent or mitigate damage.

“Roman graves are not uncommon – when the Romans built roads legionnaires who died were simply buried by the side of the road. Wessex Archaeology learns something new every time one is found however. In this case the discovery of a 2000-year-old coin helps us to understand what was happening in the area back then.”