HISTORIC finds from a new Basingstoke development have been donated to a town museum.

David Wilson Homes, the developer behind the 450-home Marnel Park development, in Popley, have found over 6,000 archaeological items including pottery, iron pieces, coins marine shell and animal bone.

An excavation was held between 2005 and 2007 by Wessex Archaeology after initial work by David Wilson Homes showed the presence of historic materials.

Catherine Coates, archives assistant at Wessex Archaeology, said: “Now that the reports are all written, the finds are being handed on to the Hampshire Cultural Trust.

“Whilst the finds have no significant monetary value, they are valuable in terms of future research. The material includes over 6,000 items of pottery, both prehistoric and Roman in date.

“Also included is ceramic building material, fired clay, worked flint, stone, glass, shale, iron piece, metalwork which includes coins, worked bone, marine shell and animal bone.”

David Allen, keeper of archaeology at Hampshire Cultural Trust, added: “This is an important addition to the archaeological collections at the trust, the new body that now looks after arts and museums for the county and city of Winchester.

“It’s nearly 100 years since George Willis, who has his name on the local museum in Basingstoke, began to amass archaeological finds from the Basingstoke area, and the collections have grown, along with the town.

“The material is in regular demand from researchers, adding to our knowledge of how the early settlers in this area lived, what animals they kept, and the crops they grew.

“Marnel Park is particularly important as it has produced rare evidence of 15 round houses made of timber, occupied in the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages.”