THE remains of a Roman farmstead have been unearthed by contractors digging pits to bury thousands of animal carcases.

Jewellery, coins and pottery from the 4th Century have been recovered from Throckmorton airfield.

A sweep of the site, carried out before digging started last month, also revealed a Bronze Age burial mound dating from around 2000BC.

Worcestershire archaeology experts have described the finds as "significant", and say they confirm long-held suspicions the area could hide vital historical evidence.

The County Archaeological Service was called in after the Ministry of Agriculture decided to use Throckmorton in the foot-and-mouth crisis, and surveys carried out.

"This work has been funded by MAFF and wouldn't have been possible otherwise," said county archaeological officer Malcolm Atkin.

"We found a Bronze Age barrow going back to 2000BC, so MAFF were able to avoid digging in that area."

More history was unearthed when contractors came upon the boundary of the Roman farmstead. Part of it was dug up, but the rest is thought to be beneath the runway.

The finds will now be left untouched and preserved.

During the dig of foot-and-mouth burial pits at the site, the archaeologists uncovered several artefacts.

"We found late Roman pottery, which is unusual here," said Mr Atkins. "There were also Roman and mediaeval coins and brooches.

"Despite the fact we've had to work in unusual circumstances, we've been able to pull together a picture of how life has evolved in this part of Worcestershire over a period of 4,000 years."