A team of archaeologists, from RSK Group, have dated a road found under Victoria Square in the City Centre to the mid-18th century.
The discovery was found last week by crews working on the tram expansion from New Street Station to Broad Street.
The council’s deputy leader Brigid Jones, who tweeted about the discovery first, said she was told that it could be Roman or Saxon.
Archaeologist Laurence Hayes, has now confirmed that the find dates to the mid-18th century.
She, said: “This is a very interesting find in the heart of the city centre. The artefacts we have recovered from the surface of the path and beneath it include porcelain, clay pipe and building materials which date to the post-medieval period.
“The road is probably part of the city’s expansion in the mid-18th century, and went out of use in the Victorian period.”
Transport for West Midlands has confirmed that the work will go ahead as planned and the find will not be preserved as some hope would happen.
(Image: Tim Cornbill)
