ARCHAEOLOGICAL investigations are being carried out on the £135M Caernarfon Bontnewydd bypass.

Nothing of "major significance" has been found yet, as research work focuses on three of four areas identified during the bypass development scheme.

Along the 10km route, in a planned programme, archaeologists anticipate they will be looking into a broad range of historical areas from pre-historic remains to early medieval sites.

They are studying maps, historical data, using trial trenches as well as geophysics.

Two teams are carrying out the investigations, including the Bangor-based Brython Archaeology, who are the ‘scheme archaeologists’ and Oxford Archaeology North, which provide archaeological consultancy and contract services, and are doing the actual field work.

The “curator role,” including specifying and overseeing the fieldwork, for the Welsh Government, is by the Bangor-based Gwynedd Area Planning Services.

Jenny Emmett, senior planning archaeologist said: “Ours is a curatorial, advisory role on behalf of the Welsh Government. We oversee and advise on the fieldwork.

“Our role also concerns archaeological mitigation, it’s our job to flag up any issues.

“We haven’t found anything of any significance. We don’t find many objects in the area due to the type of soil, and also as a lot of early items were made from organic-based materials, they just don’t survive.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “Archaeological investigations are currently being carried out as part of the planned construction works for the Caernarfon and Bontnewydd bypass.

“Archaeologists are currently working on three out of four investigation areas which were identified during the early stages of the scheme development, however nothing of archaeological significance has been found so far.

“The investigations were planned and do not affect the construction timetable. The bypass is a significant development in North West Wales and will relieve traffic congestion and improve safety in the area and construction could be completed by Autumn 2021.”

The bypass construction is a venture between Balfour Beatty and Jones Brothers Civil Engineering UK.