Archaeologists have made a "poignant discovery" underneath Leicester's marketplace after conducting a major excavation.
The dig, conducted by University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS) since July, exposed a medieval prison and a burial site of a Roman infant.
The excavation uncovered the dungeon, which formed part of the historic Gainsborough Chamber, which hosted judicial proceedings, mayoral functions and celebratory feasts before its destruction around 1748.
ULAS archaeologists have also identified the earliest medieval marketplace surfaces beneath the modern square.
Dr Gavin Speed, who led the excavation team, said: "Leicester is one of the most archaeologically explored cities in the country, yet this particular area has remained relatively untouched - until now."
A Leicester City Council spokesman described the chamber's substantial stone walls as evidence of its "architectural significance and civic importance".
The council has forked out £7.5million for the project to create a new market square.
Charles Billson's book on medieval Leicester includes testimony from a prisoner detained there in 1533, who wrote: "Master Mayor sent me forthwith to a most vile prison called the Gaynsborrow, then offered to put gives and fetters upon my legs and so to lye upon hard planks without bed or straw and without company or comfort."
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A medieval prison and a burial site of a Roman infant have been discovered
|UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES
The Roman discoveries beneath the market square have exceeded archaeological expectations.
Two Roman structures have been identified, with the earlier timber building containing the grave of an infant believed to have been interred around 1,900 years ago.
Dr Speed noted: "This poignant discovery offers a glimpse into the lives - and deaths - of Leicester's Roman inhabitants."
Subsequently, a stone Roman structure was built over the burial site, demonstrating the area's continuous occupation.
Archaeologists have also recovered tesserae, small stones used in mosaic construction, alongside pottery, coins and jewellery items.
Dr Speed said: "These finds help us piece together the daily life and economy of Roman Leicester."
Just beneath the current ground level, they discovered the original medieval marketplace consisting of compressed pebbles covered by silt and multiple resurfacing layers.
Dr Speed explained: "It's like looking at a slice through an archaeological cake. We can see multiple market surfaces, each representing a different generation and some 800 years of market activity."
The leader of the excavation team said: 'These finds help us piece together the daily life and economy of Roman Leicester'
|UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES
Leicester's mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby, confirmed the archaeological findings would not delay the broader redevelopment programme.
He said: "We have even identified traces of former medieval market stalls, preserved as post. Before the market square is paved in porphyry for the future, it's important that we take the opportunity to learn as much as we can about its past."
ULAS archaeologists are set to continue working alongside construction contractors to extract maximum historical information from the site.
The mayor praised the archaeological team's expertise, noting: "The work of their archaeologists is showing how this key site has been in use for thousands of years, with everyone from the Romans to the Victorians leaving traces of their existence behind them."