Construction activities along the North Lanakshire Highway (UK) have revealed four buildings dating from the 14th to 17th centuries, revealing an ancient village hidden beneath the road and surrounding area.
According to Daily Mail, the ancient village is called Netherton, with a large treasure trove of antiques preserved in good condition. The most notable item is an ancient iron knife used as a talisman, to protect buildings from “magical harm”. This knife is older than the village itself, so it may be a family heirloom that has been passed down for many generations.
The sidewalk of the highway has turned into a great archaeological site with a treasure trove of artifacts found – Photo: Guard Archeology
Dr Gemma Cruickshanks, of the National Museums of Scotland, said it appeared the dagger was wrapped in a sheath at the time it was buried. It and other artifacts found in the four buildings provide a lot of data about the metallurgy and metal utensil making activities of the people here in the Middle Ages.
The area of the ancient village is said to be much larger than the excavated area, extending below the highway and surrounding areas. However, the four buildings and the treasure trove of artifacts they preserve inside may be the last ruins to be excavated. Because in the 18th century, the ancient village was destroyed during the renovation of Duke Hamilton’s estate. A large and beautiful park has been built over much of the village, including the land where the highway runs.
The sidewalk of the highway has turned into a great archaeological site with a treasure trove of artifacts found – Photo: Guard Archeology
Archaeologists from the National Museums of Scotland and Guard Achaeology are continuing to analyze the mysterious iron knife. Its very ancient date suggests that it may have been one of the first pieces of evidence for the ancient iron-smelting techniques of the people of the region, when society was just transitioning from the Bronze to the Iron Age.
