Archaeologists have begun digging 18 pits in a town centre market place to see if there is anything of historical merit under the surface.
A team started digging in Kettering on Tuesday and will spend four weeks excavating the site.
The investi
gation work is being carried out because, due to the new plans for Market Place, Kettering Council is obliged to carry out a deeper excavation than any of the work carried out over the last century on the site.
As part of the work, a section of the Sheep Street car park has been cordoned off to create a compound while the work is under way.
The main work to redesign and pave the Market Place is expected to start in January and Kettering Council is in the process of seeking tenders to carry this out.
Kettering Council's development manager Paul Thomas said: "The idea is they are going to be digging 18 pits to see what the ground is like and see what foundations need to be put down for the work we are doing.
"It's difficult to say if there will be anything of any significance or relevance but obviously we need to make sure we don't miss something if there is something under there.
"If something of significance is found the archaeologist on-site will flag it up.
"It's unlikely the plans for the Market Place will be stopped unless something of national or international importance is found."
The plans for the Market Place are for an amphitheatre area with restaurants and cafes.
A new building housing restaurants will be constructed where the Sheep Street car park currently stands.
Because of the on-going work the Wednesday antiques market will be moving to the top of Meadow Road in the town centre from September 3 until the Market Place work is finished, which is expected to be next spring.
Cllr Mark Dearing, council spokesman for the economy, said: "The preliminary works are the first tangible step for development on the Market Place and one of the early projects for delivering our overall vision for the town centre."
When the archaeological work is finished, energy company EON will be re-siting the electricity cable which runs under the current surface.
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