A team of archaeologists working in the vicinity of the A1 in North Yorkshire have uncovered a number of important finds, shedding light upon the early history of area and the rich heritage of the route.

Dr Hannah Russ, from Northern Archaeological Associates, said: "The quality and preservation of the artefacts and environmental remains from this scheme is outstanding.

"We are learning so many new things about the people who were living in the vicinity of the A1 in the past."

Focusing on the route between Leeming Bar and Barton, the team has spent the last two years painstakingly uncovering artefacts as part of preparatory works for a Highways England scheme to install an extra lane in each direction for the A road.

Ensuring the project will not damage or erase important archaeological records for the area is a chief aim of the dig, with a team of 60 having been employed – uncovering artefacts dating from the Middle Stone Age, Iron Age and Roman period.

Standout discoveries of the project so far include a Roman cicada brooch made in Pannonia – a region that today includes parts of Hungary, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia – as well as a miniature sword, complete with iron blade, copper alloy scabbard and bone handle.

Set for completion in the coming months, work to expand the carriageway will then get underway, with the new lanes expected to open to traffic in 2017.

Highways England project manager Tom Howard concluded: "It is fascinating to discover that nearly 2,000 years ago the Romans were utilising the A1 route as a major road of strategic importance."