Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of what may be a Civil War battle previously unknown to history.
The astonishing discovery was made along the route of the HS2 high-speed rail line in Warwickshire earlier this month.
Experts found more than 200 pistol and musket ball marks on the remains of a medieval gatehouse at the site of Coleshill Manor.
The fascinating find also included more than 40 musket balls, excavated from nearby soil that would have been a moat.
Archaeologists believe the marks could be scars from an undocumented early clash of the Civil War, which began in August 1642.
The war’s first recorded violence, the Battle of Curdworth Bridge, took place nearby.
Archaeologists believe the site could provide fresh insight into the war between Cavaliers loyal to King Charles I and the Roundhead supporters of Parliament.
The find features in the BBC’s Digging for Britain tomorrow.
Professor Alice Roberts, 49, presenter of the TV series, said of the dig site: “There’s an intriguing possibility that we are looking at evidence of the earliest skirmish of the Civil War.”
The remains of Coleshill Manor were first picked up by archaeological teams working on the controversial HS2 four years ago.
- Digging for Britain, is on BBC Two on Sunday at 8pm.
