Date Written
30 October 2024
Author
Caz Adams (Community Engagement Officer)
Projects
Groundbreaking investigations have helped to reveal Gloucestershire’s rich history dating back thousands of years, thanks to archaeologists working on the A417 Missing Link.
Since March 2023, OCA has worked closely with Historic England, Gloucestershire County Council archaeologists and contractors Kier as part of National Highways’ A417 Missing Link upgrade, a scheme which will improve a three-mile stretch of single-lane carriageway on the A417 between the Brockworth bypass and Cowley roundabout in Gloucestershire.
Image: OCA archaeologist Chloe explaining archaeological findings at a Public Information Day
During 2023 and 2024, National Highways, Kier and OCA representatives, organised multiple Public Information Days at key locations close to the A417 Missing Link works in Birdlip, Cowley, Shurdington, Brockworth, Cheltenham High Street and National Star College. These events were free for all to attend, with staff on hand to answer any queries regarding the project. Displays showcased the archaeology and some of the latest artefacts found, and explained how this has provided understanding of the past landscape and of the people who lived locally up to 12,000 years ago.
Over the eight Public Information Days that OCA attended, we spoke to more than 600 people!
Image: Kier and OCA staff outside National Highways information van
“It has been a privilege for the Oxford Cotswold Archaeology team to support National Highways and Kier on the A417 Missing Link project.
We knew that the area was rich with archaeological potential, but the results of our fieldwork have exceeded all expectations – we have been treated to some excellent archaeology that tells a fascinating story about this corner of the Cotswolds across thousands of years.
We’re very excited to be able to share the results of this exceptional programme of archaeological mitigation, and to tell the human stories this landscape holds.”
Alex Thomson, OCA Project Manager