SCIENTISTS are calling for a rethink of the controversial A303 tunnel following the discovery of what is believed to be one of the oldest Mesolithic settlements in the country.

The site at Blick Mead, which is a natural spring, has been subject to a number of finds in the past but there was never any proof of human settlement – until now.

A dig led by archaeologists from the University of Buckingham found a number of burnt flints, charcoal and remains of giant bulls – which were eaten by early hunter gatherers – as well as tools.

It is the highest density of Mesolithic burnt flints and tools found anywhere in the UK.

David Jacques, who made the discovery, said: “This is the latest dated Mesolithic encampment ever found in the UK. “Blick Mead site connects the early hunter gatherer groups returning to Britain after the Ice Age to the Stonehenge area all the way through to the Neolithic in the late 5th Millennium BC.

“Britain is beginning across this time period. Blick Mead connects a time when the country was still joined to the mainland to it becoming the British Isles for the first time.”

Carbon dating has shown the charcoal to be dated from around 4,290BC which is about 1,500 years before the first stones were laid.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald:

Large pieces of burnt flint that were found filling a natural hole from a tree throw, this is the flint that would have cooked someone's meal more than 6000 years ago

Andy Rhind-Tutt who is the chairman of the Amesbury Museum and Heritage Trust believes that the discovery which is located so close to a potential entrance portal shows why the government’s planned tunnel should not be built.

He said: “Traffic congestion to one of the country’s most visited attractions will not be solved by a tunnel with one exit lane – the current tailback can extend five miles and can take two hours to get through.

“We could be the generation that destroyed Stonehenge.”

Mr Jacques added: “The prime minister is interested in re-election in 140 days - we are interested in discovering how our ancestors lived six thousand years ago.”

The MP for Salisbury John Glen responded by saying that the tunnel remains the most viable option for relieving congestion on the A303.

He said: “The evaluation of the A303 improvements will be meticulously planned and all representations will be evaluated.

“Work on the assessing the flaws have been examined and the case for the tunnel remains strong.”

 

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald:

A peircer that was in the tools found in the bottom of the trench and is Mesolithic thought to date from 4300BC