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Potholes are the bug bane of every driver, but it seems that they're not a modern affliction.

Archaeologists have discovered that as far back as the Roman Empire, drivers were forced to deal with faulty and uneven road surfaces.

Wheel ruts found in a newly excavated road surface in Devon are thought to be similar to those at Pompeii, and were caused by carts being driven over them. 

A Roman road discovered on an archaeological dig has repairs to the road surface, proving pot holes are nothing new. Small pieces of clay and rocks (pictured) were found that had been laid after the original rocks had been placed, suggesting the Romans attempted to fill these ruts and make the road smoother

Clay and rocks found in these ruts, that appear to have been laid after the original rocks had been placed, suggest the Romans attempted to fill them to make the road smoother.

Archaeologist Danielle Wootton, the Devon Finds Liaison Officer for the Portable Antiquities Scheme said: 'The road must have been extensively used, it's intriguing to think what the horse-drawn carts may have been carrying and who was driving them. 

'This is a fantastic opportunity to see a snapshot of life 2,000 years ago.'

The excavation at Ipplepen began following the discovery of a complex series of archaeological features thought to be part of the largest Romano-British settlement in Devon outside of Exeter.

In Roman times, people travelled on land on horseback, in carts pulled by oxen, or walking on roads they created, known as viae.

THE BUILDING OF ROMAN ROADS

Floor mosaics of the frigidarium of the Cisiarii Baths in Ancient Ostia show a typical Roman cart being pulled by horses (pictured)

During Roman times, people travelled on land on horseback, in carts pulled by oxen, or walking on roads they created, known as viae.  

Before the Romans arrived, the region had no proper roads and while the majority they built were straight and designed to be the shortest route possible, roads were known to zigzag to make going uphill easier.

Straight roads also saved construction time and material costs. 

When they built a road across boggy ground, for example, Roman engineers placed sticks and sheepskins as foundations, to stop the road sinking.

The Romans then built their roads on foundations of clay, chalk and gravel, with larger, flat stones on top.

The road sloped from the middle to ditches either side, to help water drain off the surface.    

The laws of the Twelve Tables - Roman legislation written in approximately 450 BC - specified a road should be 8 ft (2.45 m) wide when straight, and 16 ft (4.90 m) where curved. 

The Tables added Romans should give wayfarers the right to pass over private land where the road is in disrepair. 

The Romans therefore aimed to make roads that didn't need constant repair, but the evidence found in Ipplepen suggests their techniques weren't foolproof.

Before the Romans arrived, the region had no proper roads and while the majority they built were straight and designed to be the shortest route possible, roads were known to zigzag to make going uphill easier.

When they built a road across boggy ground, for example, Roman engineers placed sticks and sheepskins as foundations, to stop the road sinking.

The Romans then built their roads on foundations of clay, chalk and gravel, with larger, flat stones on top. The road sloped from the middle to ditches either side, to help water drain off the surface.   

Archaeologists claim the road must have been extensively used. The excavation began following the discovery of a complex series of archaeological features thought to be part of the largest Romano-British settlement (pictured) in Devon outside of Exeter

During Roman times, people travelled on land on horseback, in carts pulled by oxen, or by walking on roads they created known as viae. Soldiers travelled by carroballista (pictured), which carried military artillery and were pulled by horses

The laws of the Twelve Tables - Roman legislation written in approximately 450 BC - specified a road should be 8 ft (2.45 m) wide when straight, and 16 ft (4.90 m) where curved. 

The Tables added Romans should give wayfarers the right to pass over private land in places where the road is in disrepair. 

The Romans therefore aimed to make roads that didn't need constant repair, but the evidence found in Ipplepen suggests their techniques weren't fool proof.

The excavation site is at Ipplepen in South Devon (marked). University of Exeter archaeologist, Dr Ioana Oltean said: 'We are beginning to demonstrate the importance of this site in the Roman period when the road going through the settlement connected Ipplepen with the Roman world'

Roman law and tradition forbid the use of vehicles in urban areas, except in certain cases.

University of Exeter archaeologist, Dr Ioana Oltean added: 'This season's excavations are proving to be a real success. 

'We are beginning to demonstrate the importance of this site in the Roman period when the road going through the settlement connected Ipplepen with the Roman world and brought here not only coins, but also pottery and personal goods used in everyday life.'

The dig is funded by the University of Exeter, Portable Antiquities Scheme, British Museum and Devon County Council.

Orbis: The Stanford Geospatial Network Model of the Roman World model (pictured) is based on a simplified version of the network of cities, roads, rivers and sea lanes that framed movement across the Roman Empire. It broadly reflects conditions around 200 CE, it also covers a sites and roads created in late antiquity