IMAGINE the scene as a group of farmers gather at a ceremonial meeting place to bring their cattle in for the winter.
If it sounds like something from the prehistoric ages, that's because it is.
And it could be exactly what happened at a piece of land destined to become Clifton's new park and ride.
Excavations of the 12 hectare site have discovered a Neolithic enclosure which could date back to 4000 BC. Experts say it is evidence of some of the earliest human activity within Nottingham's boundaries.
The find was unearthed by archaeologists from Trent and Peak Archaeology, who were tasked with excavating the site before work to build the new park and ride site off Nottingham Road began.
Project manager Gareth Davies said: "At the Clifton park and ride it was exclusively prehistoric finds. With the enclosure, this is evidence of the very earliest farmers and the first time people started to settle down in permanent settlements. We take things like that for granted now, but it was the first time people were engaging in agriculture. The enclosure may have been a meeting place for these farmers."
Other significant finds included the remains of a Bronze Age burial mound dating back to about 2000 BC, an Iron Age rubbish pit from about 1000 BC and more than 1,000 shards of pottery.
Dr Davies added: "One significant thing is that we found no evidence of Roman activity. This suggests that prehistoric people were living in this area and then they moved somewhere else. We know the A453 is a Roman road so maybe people were moving away from the Lark Hill area at that time."
Some findings from the dig, which took place over four months, were on display at Lark Hill Retirement Village yesterday.
Resident Kathleen Mitchell, 92, said: "It's interesting to learn about the past. It certainly makes me feel young to know there are things that old buried underground!"
Audrey Christopherson, 68, said: "It's amazing to think what we could be walking over. It makes you realise how different life was all those years ago."
Leanne Tipple, of NET Phase Two construction contractor Taylor Woodrow Alstom, said: "I've never come across anything this early – it's quite amazing. These artefacts are going to provide a lasting legacy for generations."
