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A ROMAN burial urn containing the bones of a child has been unearthed in Ryedale.

The 1,800-year-old pottery was discovered completely intact by contractors working at The Ridings in Norton on Monday.

Tests are being carried out and it is hoped that the priceless artefact will be returned for display in Malton museum later this year.

The chairman of trustees, David Lloyd Williams, who only took over the post last week, said it is a discovery of national historical importance.

He said: "It's extremely exciting that something as rare as this has been found in the area. Other Roman objects have been found in Malton and Norton but this is in a league of its own. It is very well persevered and will tell us a lot about the Roman people who settled here.

"Luckily the young lad stopped digging when he felt his spade strike something hard. I cannot praise him enough because this find could quite easily have been lost for ever. It's nothing short of a miracle that it is still intact."

Contractors have been working in the residential area fitting new lampposts and it is thought the site was once a burial ground.

He added: "When the tests have been carried out it will be handed back to the town and we will be able to display it in Malton museum, which is its rightful place."

6:53pm Thursday 15th May 2008

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