Archaeologists have discovered a Roman industrial estate near ruins which may once have been home to a lost legion.
The site has been excavated as part of a £318 million scheme to upgrade the A1 in North Yorkshire.
It is close to a fort at Healam Bridge, which might have been used by the Ninth Hispanic Legion, which disappeared some time in the 2nd Century AD.
The find includes evidence that the Romans may have worn socks under their sandals!
The unearthed site includes the remains of a water-powered flour mill used to grind grain and produce food for the soldiers along with clothes, food remains, graves and pottery.
Cultural heritage team leader Blaise Vyner said: "We know a lot about Roman forts, which have been extensively studied, but to excavate an industrial area with a mill is really exciting.
"We hope it can tell us more about how such military outposts catered for their needs, as self-sufficiency would have been important."
The industrial area comprised a series of large timber buildings, mostly on the north side of a beck, which powered the mill.
It would have supplied the fort with goods and provisions, probably processing meat and other food, as well as flour.
It could also have developed into something of a settlement in its own right.
The unearthed site includes the remains of a water-powered flour mill used to grind grain and produce food for the soldiers. Other finds include clothes, food remains, graves and pottery.
There is also an indication that the Roman occupants may have worn socks. Rust on the nail from a Roman sandal appears to have impressions from fibres which could suggest that a sock-type garment was being worn.
Mr Vyner added: "You only have to look up the road to Catterick to see how garrison towns are serviced by local shops. Perhaps we have something similar here."
Economic role
Neil Redfern from English Heritage said that the discovery of the site had given a "real insight" in to the industrial processes used by the Romans.
"The time span of the remains uncovered illustrates how the site developed from a frontier fort and settlement to a more settled site with strong local economic role relating to the presence of mills along the banks of the beck.
"The complexity and depth of deposits were unexpected and the excavation team has dealt with them very professionally."
Very little is known about the Roman fort itself, which is now a scheduled monument.
It only came to light as a result of geophysical surveys carried out in the 1990s in readiness for the A1's planned upgrading. The line of the new road was adjusted to avoid the main site.
Gary Frost, Highways Agency project manager, said the excavation, which began in July 2009 and was completed this summer, gave experts a unique window on the past.
Source: BBC News [August 26, 2010]