COUNTY archaeologists have made a sweet discovery in a village near Worcester.

Worcestershire County Council's archaeologists found an almost complete pot — thought to once contain honey — set into the ground on the site in Tibberton.

The finds and environmental team of the Archive and Archaeology Service were tasked with examining the pot — which dates back to the Iron Age — after it was found at a site owned by Wychavon District Council which is being developed by Rooftop Housing Group and Tibberton Community Land Trust.

The team were brought the pot housed within a block of soil by Sean Cook, from One Ten Archaeology, who works with construction companies to handle and preserve any potential artefacts found during building work.

They also discovered evidence of pollen on the base of the pot, and the type of pollen grains found suggest that it may have once contained honey.

Derek Hurst, senior archaeological project manager said: "During the Iron Age, honey would have been one of the few sweeteners available to people, as sugar hadn't arrived in Britain at that point. Honey was also used to make alcoholic drinks, such as mead, and it was used in offerings too.

"Exactly what the pot was being used for is likely to remain a mystery, but it has given us an insight into ancient culinary habits and the fact that it was deliberately set into the ground suggests a ritual use.

"Although the finds and environment team spend the majority of their time on internal projects, we do also take in external work and the investigation was funded by Rooftop Housing."

The team found that the pot and other sherds of pottery came from the late Iron Age, a period that is poorly represented in Worcestershire.

Cllr Lucy Hodgson, cabinet member for localism and communities, said: "Thanks to the expertise of the archaeologists, the county now has another important artefact to help tell the story of Worcestershire through the ages."

For more information visit www.explorethepast.co.uk.