ROMAN pots and military spears have been unearthed in Wilton as part of a dig before a new reservoir is built.

Archaeological artefacts and remains were discovered at Camp Hill by AC Archaeology – the team commissioned by Wessex Water to uncover what appears to be a large Iron Age settlement dating from at least 50BC.

Among the findings is the skeletal remains of a woman, believed to have been suffering with arthritis.

Ollie Williams, environmental scientist at Wessex Water, said: It is widely known that historic settlements were built on hilltops as a defensive strategy and as the new reservoir needed to be located next to the existing reservoir on Camp Hill, finding archaeological remains at the site was not unexpected.

“The area that Camp Hill is in is very archaeologically sensitive, with sites such as Stonehenge and Old Sarum, just down the road.

“The archaeology was uncovered on land owned by Wessex Water and the Wilton Estate. Once all of the findings have been processed and the report has been published, we have arranged with the Earl of Pembroke to hold a joint exhibition at Wilton House so that visitors can come and have a look at some of the artefacts.”

Camp Hill is one of ten new or upgraded major sites that make up Wessex Water’s water supply grid trunkmain – a project that will allow the company to move water from areas of surplus to areas of potential deficit.

The construction of the new reservoir is among a range of schemes that will help meet future demands of water supply for the next 25 years without having to develop new resources.

Work on Wessex Water’s £230m water supply grid scheme started in 2012 and is due to be completed by 2018.

For more details visit www.wessexwater.co.uk/grid