ARCHAEOLOGISTS excavating land earmarked for the new Hinkley Point C nuclear power station have uncovered the first Saxon 'Grubenhaus' ever found in Somerset.

More usually found in Eastern England, the sunken hut is believed to date back more than 1,400 years, although excavations on-site revealed the remains of a settlement dating back to the Bronze Age - more than 3,000 years ago.

The dig was funded by prospective Hinkley C developer EDF Energy during last summer and was overseen by Somerset County Council's heritage team.

The main finds were unveiled last week and will now form part of an EDF-funded education programme to give residents the chance to find out more about the history of the Hinkley Point site.

Rebecca Calder, who leads the archaeology team at EDF Energy nuclear new build, said: "Through the planning process for Hinkley Point C we have been very sensitive to potential impacts on the local environment and have worked hard to put in place any necessary mitigation.

"Working with Somerset County Council and others, extensive archaeological excavations have unearthed a number of fascinating finds and I'm delighted that through the outreach programme funded by EDF Energy, these findings will be shared with the community."

As well as the Saxon and Bronze Age remains, a team from Cotswold Archaeology also found a number of Roman features and artefacts, including a grain drier, quern stones, a stone anchor, fishing net weights, jewellery and graves.

Some of the graves contained unusual burials where the heads of the deceased had been removed and placed at their feet, while another was found with large flat stones covering the body.

Cllr David Hall, Somerset County Council's cabinet member for heritage services, said: "I am delighted that Hinkley Point C, a project which is all about Somerset's future, has also provided us with the opportunity to learn so much about Somerset's past.

"The artefacts that have been found provide a fascinating and valuable insight into the lives of people that lived in Somerset in days gone by."

More information about the artefacts and the education programme are available on the website http://archaeologyathinkleypoint.wordpress.com">http://archaeologyathinkleypoint.wordpress.com.