Skip to content

Discovery is a glimpse into life 3,500 years ago

Kathryn EmersonBBC Radio Gloucestershire
News imageCotswold Archaeology A dug out hole with a big dark patch of soil, where old pieces of wood are protruding out in various places, revealing the rough shape of a Middle Bronze Age wellCotswold Archaeology
The remains of the 3,500-year-old watering hole were uncovered by archaeologists

What first appeared to be bits of wood in the ground has now been revealed to be a rare glimpse into life during the middle Bronze Age.

Archaeologists discovered the remarkably well-preserved timber structure, built more than 3,500 years ago for collecting water, near Gloucester.

Paolo Guarino, a post-excavation manager with Cotswold Archaeology, said the discovery stood out due to the rare preservation of organic material.

"It's not quite that often that we find wood," he explained. "Water-logged conditions are some of the best for the preservation of organic matter like timber."

News imageA man with a light grey beard and glasses holds photographs of an archaeological site in front of him as he stands with his back to a large bookcase
Paolo Guarino is part of the team that has been analysing the discovery
More from Gloucestershire

The discovery was made during a routine archaeological excavation carried out ahead of a proposed housing development, just south of Gloucester, in an area where Roman and Anglo-Saxon finds have also been made.

News imageCotswold Archaeology The wooden well discovery is shown in the foreground looking very wet, muddy and full of water, with one site worker stood within it and 5 other workers stood around it with wheelbarrows and other tools, some look to be analysing other holes. All workers are wearing high visibility clothing and hard hats.Cotswold Archaeology
Archaeologists working across multiple digs at a development site near Gloucester

Archaeologists identified the well has an upper platform made of "planks and roundwood", which connects to a log ladde descending into a lower chamber.

"One of the things we do wonder is why we have such a feature in an area that is now rich in streams and rivers," added Guarino.

"We know from pollen analysis that during the Middle Bronze Age there was a period of weather-warming. The fact we're finding more of these water holes suggests communities were digging them to access water near their settlements."

He added it is perhaps ironic that high water levels over time are what likely contributed to the well's preservation.

News imageCotswold Archaeology 3 archaeologists in head-to-toe orange high visibility clothing and hard hats searching through a muddy pit to deeper uncover the 3500-year-old remains of a wooden watering hole.Cotswold Archaeology
Archaeologists digging deeper into the well and discovering layered platforms

Excavation work and analysis has now been completed, and the findings will be presented to developers and local councillors.

The results could lead to further archaeological investigations across a wider area.

Meanwhile the preserved timbers are being analysed by specialists, with some selected for conservation.

Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.

More on this story