Prehistoric Southampton

Evidence for prehistoric activity is scattered all over Southampton. Some of our earliest finds are the remains of animals that lived here in the Pleistocene period (2,000,000 bc - 8,300 bc). Their bones were dredged up from the peat when Southampton docks were being built in the 19th century. Palaeolithic (Old Stone Age) tools dating to over 70,000 years ago were found at gravel pits and quarry sites, for example in the Highfield area, by local antiquarians in the 19th century.

An exciting and unexpected Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age) site was discovered in the 1990s at Priory Avenue in St Denys, and Neolithic (New Stone Age) pottery has been found near Hill Lane in Shirley.

Bronze Age objects have been found regularly and in the 19th Century gravediggers at the cemetery on Southampton Common would sell the bronze artefacts they found to local antiquarians. Bronze hoards have also been discovered at Cobden Bridge and on the Common at the site of the reservoir.

Iron Age earthworks are known at Lordswood and Aldermoor, a possible Iron Age salt production site was excavated at the Southampton Institute, and Iron Age pottery has been found at Regents Park.

Nearer the City centre, traces of Iron Age buildings, together with artefacts, have been found during excavations at York Buildings and Maddison Street.

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