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Car Park Archaeological Digs Have Turned Up All Sorts Of Artefacts

All Sorts Of Ancient Artefacts Have Turned Up Underneath Car Parks
Sarah Ann Harris
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TO GO WITH AFP STORY by Pierre LANFRANCHIPhoto taken on June 18, 2014 shows a car park construction site in Ajaccio, on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica. The construction of the car park has been stopped by the discovery of a Napoleonic quay below ground. AFP PHOTO / PASCAL POCHARD-CASABIANCA (Photo credit should read PASCAL POCHARD-CASABIANCA/AFP/Getty Images)
PASCAL POCHARD-CASABIANCA via Getty Images

A lost fortress, believed to be “one of Jerusalem’s greatest archaeological mysteries”, has been found under a car park.

The 2000-year-old remains of the ancient Greek fort of Acra were unearthed by a team of experts in the City of David National Park, Israel’s Antiquities Authority said. However, this is just one of many fascinating finds discovered beneath the tarmac.

In Britain, the most famous car park find is that of the body of Richard III. The remains were discovered by archaeologists in Leicester and, once identified, reburied in the city’s cathedral.

But it seems the UK's car parks are hiding a plethora of archaeological wonders…

Archaeological Car Park Finds
Haddenham, Buckinghamshire(01 of06)
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A Saxon burial ground was discovered in the corner of the car park of the Three Kings Pub, according to Dig Ventures. Nine people, including men, women and children, were found burial along with a range of artefacts including a shield, knife, spear, necklace and belt. (credit:Google Street View)
Stonehenge, Wiltshire(02 of06)
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The car park at the ancient site of Stonehenge contains three rather unassuming white concrete circles. But these are actually timber post holes from the Mesolithic period (9000 – 5500 B), according to Stone Circles. (credit:Image Hans Elbers via Getty Images)
Waterloo, Belgium(03 of06)
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The Daily Mail reported that the 200-year-old skeleton of a soldier killed at the battle of Waterloo was discovered under a car park near the Belgian battle site. The remains were though to be those of 23-year-old Friedrich Brandt, a Hanoverian who received military training in Sussex. (credit:Carl Court via Getty Images)
Cramond, Edinburgh(04 of06)
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Nine bodies found in a car park in Cramond, Edinburgh, are though to have belonged to a notable family from the Dark Ages. The remains were discovered in 1975 and are though to date back to the 6th Century AD, according to the Independent. (credit:romitasromala via Getty Images)
Ajaccio, Corsica(05 of06)
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The construction of a multi-story car park in Ajaccio, Corsica, was halted after the discovery of a Napoleonic quay below ground in 2014. (credit:PASCAL POCHARD-CASABIANCA via Getty Images)
Reading(06 of06)
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Just like his much later sucessor Richard III, there have also been suggestions that King Henry I (who reigned from 1100-1135) was also buried below a car park. According to the Guardian, work is due to begin in 2016 on an excavation of the site. (credit:Culture Club via Getty Images)
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