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From This is Leigh 16/10/2003:
Secrets of the past should go on local display
THE historic find as a result of an archaeological dig at Atherton's multi-million pound new business development site has prompted a call for a new museum to show off the finds.
Residents have also registered disgust that the secrets of the past uncovered by a team of 10 Manchester University archeologists at the 300-acre Gibfield Park site are to be built over.
Atherton-born actor and writer Dave Dutton was amazed by the revelations of evidence of a Roman road and Bronze Age settlement uncovered at the site.
He said: "This is the first time any reference to Bronze Age living in Atherton has been found as far as I know. We really need a museum to house stuff from the town's past before it is lost to posterity."
But Atherton Heritage Society archivist Tom Jackson is sceptical that finds from the summer dig by a team of 10 Manchester University archeologists will be donated to the town.
He said: "I have handled many artefacts found in Atherton and have never had any doubts in my mind that the Romans and Saxons settled here and I have always thought Atherton was much older than others have said.
"I've done much field walking and metal detecting and have picked up flakes from flint tools, Roman pottery and other finds including bones discarded in a rubbish tip many centuries ago.
Roman coins
"I have found many Roman coins in Atherton and handed them to Bolton museum and have never seen them again or on display. I have since been told the pottery is also Roman and I might have had better finds than the diggers themselves. I did take my finds to show the museum but I was dismissed after they asked where I had found them.
"It has been stated that the finds will be donated to Atherton after the study but I feel that by the time they have studied them everyone will have forgotten about them so they will be given to a museum and thrown into a draw never to be seen again. If they are donated to Atherton where will they be kept?
One resident said he was appalled that the site going back 4,000 years is to be covered and turned in to some large complex and called for the find to be used educate people.
Another said: "I'm disgusted to hear that they are going to cover over this fantastic find. I'm mad as hell about this as I'm sure many in the town will be."
A council spokesman said the archaeological unit studying the finds will eventually decide what happens to them.
He said: "We don't have a great deal of influence but we hope it will be possible to have them on display somewhere in town where the people can see them."
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