The archaeological work has provided an amazing picture of the changing landscape around this part of Somerset. Projects of this size and scale do not come along very often and with the support of EDF this project has gathered valuable information covering 5,000 years of activity in this landscape.

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Landscapes of PowerThe Hinkley Point Archaeology ProjectOne of the largest ever archaeological projects in Britain has been taking place at the Hinkley C development and along the new Cannington by-pass.

An archaeological assessment was carried out by checking maps and aerial photographs. Field walking and geophysical surveying helped Cotswold Archaeology locate where to dig.

Specialist archaeologists will examine artefacts and environmental samples in detail. After the post-excavation is complete, the finds and records will be deposited at Somerset Heritage Centre, Taunton.

Bronze Age Enclosure by Victor Ambrus

Cannington Roman Villa Open Day

An impressive Bronze Age enclosure may have had a ceremonial function as a meeting place. There is evidence that feasting was going on here.

A small community lived here in the Iron Age. People grew crops and kept domesticated animals. They built circular buildings which were probably linked to farming.

People continued to farm here after the Roman invasion. Corn was grown on an industrial scale and was probably exported. A stone building was used for drying the cereal crops during wet periods.

A Roman villa with a bath house once stood on the line of the Cannington by-pass. It had views over the surrounding countryside and towards the coast.

A cemetery of over 300 burials dated to the 7th and 8th centuries and may be even earlier. This is a nationally significant discovery and scientific analysis of the bones will provide us with further information such as place of origin, diet and illness.

During the medieval period the landscape was divided into several manors and estates.

A farm house called ‘Corners’ dated to the post-medieval period. An earlier medieval building lay underneath.

In the 1800s open fields and common land were enclosed.

Illustration by Victor Ambrus

Cemetery at Hinkley Point

Illustration by Victor Ambrus