A prehistoric arrowhead is set to be exhibited after being uncovered among a collection of historic artefacts during the construction of a dual carriageway in Leeds.
The 6,000-year-old flint spearhead was discovered while work was underway on the East Leeds Orbital Route, which opened in 2022.
According to the council, the leaf-shaped tool is exceptionally well preserved, with the fine marks left by ancient stone-sharpening techniques still clearly visible.
The artefact will be displayed alongside numerous other finds from the excavation that together span thousands of years of human activity.
These include a Bronze Age axe head dating back 4,000 years, a Roman-era bead, 18th-century nutcrackers, and an early Victorian clay pipe bowl decorated with a carved image of Britannia.
Also uncovered were pottery fragments from the Norman period, a post-medieval buckle, and remains linked to a former medieval village known as Morwick.
Archaeologists were taken on to excavate the site on the outskirts of Leeds during the construction of a major dual carriageway project
A museum curator has described the discoveries as a revealing glimpse into thousands of years of the city’s past and the landscape it occupies.
Leeds Museums and Galleries curator Kat Baxter said the collection stands out because of its remarkable breadth and depth.
“What makes this such a compelling archive is its sheer range and scale,” she explained.
“It offers a snapshot of the many different people and communities who have lived in this part of Leeds over millennia.
“From the Stone Age through to the medieval period, archaeology allows us to picture the lives of those who came before us. It also highlights how vital it is to protect archaeological archives, so future generations can understand the city’s heritage and the history beneath our feet.”
The excavations were carried out by a team of archaeologists commissioned during the four-year construction of a new bypass on the edge of the city.
The findings follow a separate discovery in 2022, when archaeologists uncovered the remains of more than 60 men, women and children from the Roman era near Garforth, also on the outskirts of Leeds.
According to the council, the latest collection of artefacts will be put on public display this spring at the Leeds Discovery Centre.
Leeds City Council’s Cllr Salma Arif said each object contributes a small but important piece to the wider story of east Leeds.
“When viewed together, they truly reflect just how rich and fascinating that story is,” she said.
“Gathering and preserving finds like these is a crucial part of what museums do, making sure our local heritage is safeguarded for future generations and that these objects are not lost to history.”
