A BRADFORD professor has been involved in a major archaeological find that shows how early British societies traded over hundreds of miles.

Dr Torben Ballen, Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Bradford, is researching neolithic flint tools, dating back 4,000 years, found in Scotland while contractors were laying pipework.

The pieces are believed to have been made from stone that came from Yorkshire, showing trade over hundreds of miles took place thousands of years ago.

The site, containing flint tools and pottery that had been buried in a seemingly ceremonial fashion, was discovered during work to lay pipeline between St Andrews and Guardbridge.

Dr Ballen, from the University of Bradford’s Archaeological Sciences department, was called in by Archas, the archaeological consultancy overseeing the site, due to his expertise in the field, and has been examining the artefacts found there.

He told the Telegraph & Argus: “It is an interesting and quite unusual find because it is a type of flint that isn’t present in Scotland.

“It is the type of flint that would have come from Yorkshire, or even further afield.

“The flint from that area was small and pebble like, while flint from Yorkshire was much larger and high quality that could make better, larger items. The Scottish stone was no good if you wanted to make something like an axe or dagger. This led to a massive influx of Yorkshire flint.”

He said the flint, which appears to have been used to process vegetables and meat would most likely have been transported to Scotland by ship.

On the reason the items were buried, Dr Ballen said: “It could have been some sort of sacrifice to a deity in the hope that they might get something in return.

“This discovery is not going to massively change our understanding of the period, but it it is very interesting for showing how, even at that time, people were criss crossing the country.

“This was a closed site, and we’re always happy when we find something like this. It is a moment in time that has been captured. These items must have represented something of value to be deposited in this way.”