Work temporarily stopped on the Transmission Gully project after a digger uncovered a piece of history.

Shells and shattered rocks were found in the area, believed to be an old midden.

While the find allowed archaeologists and local iwi, Ngati Toa, to inspect the site, the work on the roading portion of the project continued as normal and was not delayed.

The shells will be taken away for carbon-dating to see how old the midden is.