Library
Publishing is a core part of the CAU's work so results from our excavations can be read and used by archaeologists, students, planners and the general public.
For over 30 years the CAU has published twenty monographs along with over 150 articles in academic journals. Many are available to download for free.
All of our site reports produced before October 2022 are available to download for free. Search for them by text or using the map. All our reports and our growing collection of digital archives are permanently accessible at the University of Cambridge's digital repository, Apollo.
Browse the results below
1438
Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge, Archaeological Monitoring at Recording of Kitchen Refurbishment
de Bruxelles, C. (2019). Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge, Archaeological Monitoring at Recording of Kitchen Refurbishment . Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1438
Archaeological investigations were undertaken at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, during the refurbishment of the Kitchens and associated facilities. The floor reduction of three areas in the basement led to the breaking of their current concrete floor and their levelling out under archaeological monitoring. Within one area archaeological remains pertaining to the 19th century College buildings were recorded.
1439
St Bene't's Churchyard, Cambridge, Archaeological Monitoring
Cessford, C. (2019). St Bene't's Churchyard, Cambridge, Archaeological Monitoring . Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1439
Archaeological monitoring of groundworks in St. Bene't's churchyard, Cambridge, north of the church revealed that the area had been heavily modified in the mid/late 19th century, when the ground height was lowered, and had also been altered on several occasions during the 20th century. A number of 17th to mid-19th-century features associated with the churchyard and church were revealed including brick-lined burial vaults and greave slabs. Portions of the interior chancel wall were revealed, exposing some 12th century fabric.
1440
Archaeological Investigations at Haversham Road, Milton Keynes: Phase 2 PXA
Wright, A. (2019). Archaeological Investigations at Haversham Road, Milton Keynes: Phase 2 PXA. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1440
This report presents the archaeological results from the 2016 Haversham excavation. This marks the final phase of work to be carried out at the Manor Farm/Haversham Quarry. Further excavation took place on the cursus complex previously recorded at the site, whilst the Wolverton Mound, a suspected barrow exposed in the 2015 excavation, saw some investigation. Additional archaeology comprised a Grooved Ware pit cluster, some wateringholes and two pit alignments. With the site situated directly on the Great Ouse valley floodplain, fluvial processes were highly influential on the sites formation sequence. Blanket alluvium deposits and palaeochannels attest to the sites dynamic paleogeography and environmental succession. Abundant palaeoenvironmental remains have so far allowed detailed studies of the Neolithic and Iron Age environments. During the Neolithic, the valley was largely free of alluvium. The monument complex was seen to be carefully situated in reference to the contours and active river channels of the pre-alluvium landscape. Whilst posts driven into the palaeochannels show some usage of the active watercourses, the landscape was largely grassland with cereal cultivation nearby. In the Iron Age, the valley had become much aggraded by alluvium. Pit alignments crossed the floodplain, which at this time, was grazed meadow. Cereal cultivation and stands of woodland and scrubland or hedgerows were located nearby, but clearly off site.
1443
New College Court, Emmanuel College, Cambridge, An Archaeological Evaluation
de Bruxelles, C. (2020). New College Court, Emmanuel College, Cambridge, An Archaeological Evaluation. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1443
An archaeological evaluation was undertaken in New College Court, Emmanuel College, Cambridge, prior to the construction of new student accommodation. The site presently contains Furness Lodge, a Grade II-listed building, and part of its adjoining car park. Three trenches were excavated in the car park and they revealed a consistent sequence across the area. A Medieval to Post-Medieval agricultural horizon was followed during the 19th century by phases of landscaping linked to the construction of terrace houses and their gardens. The area was later sealed by a car park in the mid-20th century.
1444
Marleigh (Wing) Greenhouse Farm Area A
Bourne, T. (2020). Marleigh (Wing) Greenhouse Farm Area A . Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1444
An archaeological excavation was carried out by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit at Greenhouse Farm, Newmarket Road, ahead of the Marleigh residential development. The work covered an area of 0.8ha and enveloped an area previously excavated by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit in 1998. The archaeological remains comprised two pit clusters associated with Early Neolithic Mildenhall ware, representing the earliest activity on site. The main focus of the excavation was on a small settlement dating to the Late Iron Age/Early Roman period, which comprised enclosures, a trackway and a well-complex. The Medieval and Post-Medieval periods were represented by furrows across the site, indicative of past agricultural regime.
1447
North Range Building, New Museums, Cambridge, Further Archaeological Investigations
Cessford, C. (2020). North Range Building, New Museums, Cambridge, Further Archaeological Investigations. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1447
Archaeological investigation in 2018-19 of three areas at the North Range Buildings development of the New Museums site, Cambridge, have expanded the understanding of the site achieved during excavations in 2016-17. Further, albeit limited, evidence of pre-friary domestic occupation of c. 1050-1277/89 was identified. Discoveries relating to the Augustinian friary of c. 1277/89-1538 included evidence for the location of the western claustral range and two significant ancillary structures located to the south of the cloisters. Reused stone mouldings added to our understanding of the friary architectural sequence, whilst decorated tiles and window glass increase the known repertoire of such items. Post-Friary features included a major stone-lined well, installed in what had been the western claustral range soon after the Dissolution. The status of an area to the west of the cloisters is less certain, it may have been used by the friary for more domestic activities or could have been leased as part of plot to generate rental income. The sequence in this area contemporary with the friary included substantial pits. After the Dissolution there is evidence for a series of clay lined ovens and use as a garden, with several substantial assemblages of material. Some substantial 18th-century cellared buildings, one of which may have been an inn or similar establishment, were present.
1448
Archaeological Monotoring of Land Northeast of Barhill
Bourne, T. (2020). Archaeological Monotoring of Land Northeast of Barhill. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1448
Archaeological monitoring of eight geotechnical test pits/soakaways was carried out on land northeast of Bar Hill, Cambridgeshire (centered on TL 39170 63951) by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit on the 3rd February 2020. The investigations were carried out in advance of the possible redevelopment of 100ha of land, and was commissioned by Hodgkinson Acquisitions 2019 Limited in response to a request from the Cambridgeshire Historic Environment Team. The archaeological monitoring of the geotechnical/soakaway test pits yielded no significant results. The only potential feature was a possible furrow located in an area that cropmarks suggest was under cultivation in the Medieval period. The lack of significant archaeology is likely due to the test pits location outside of the main concentrations of known activity and also due to the very limited scale of the investigations.
1449
16 - 22 High St, Girton, Cambridge: Archaeological Evaluation Report
Bourne, T. (2020). 16 - 22 High St, Girton, Cambridge: Archaeological Evaluation Report . Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1449
A trial trench-based evaluation was carried out by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) on land at 16-22, High Street, Girton, Cambridgeshire, between 26th and 28th February 2020. Archaeological remains encountered comprised ditches, pits and postholes dating to between the 10th-15th centuries AD. Two phases of activity were identified; firstly, a 10th-12th century phase, focused at the front of the plot, and secondly a 13th-15th century phase which included numerous ditches representing internal plot divisions and boundaries.
1450
Northstowe Phase 3a, Cambridgeshire: Archaeological Assessment (Vol 1)
Sharman, D. (2020). Northstowe Phase 3a, Cambridgeshire: Archaeological Assessment (Vol 1). Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1450
The Cambridge Archaeological Unit undertook a large scale evaluation excavation between 14th October 2019 and 17th February 2020 across an area prior to development for the new settlement of Northstowe (Phase 3a). This report has split the total area of evaluations into seven distinct zones (Figure?) and will be discussed in turn. The evaluation identified significant archaeological remains with in these areas dating from the Neolithic to post-Medieval. Area 1 identified Beaker pits and a Late Bronze Age/ Early Iron Age enclosure (Site 45), Area 2 contained Neolithic pits, a Late Bronze Age/Early iron age enclosure (Site 46), a Roman field system (Site 48), a Medieval droveway (Site 48) and the foundations for a post-medieval mill (Site 47). Area 4 contained an Iron Age enclosure (Site 16) and a Roman field system (Site 33), in Area 6 a possible Roman cemetery was discovered (Site 35) as well as an Early-Late Iron Age enclosure (Sire 50) and possible Medieval enclosures relating to the
1452
Nortstowe Phase 2, Cambridgeshire: Archaeological Post Excavation Assessment (Vol 5 Area CC and Area GG
Sharman, D. (2020). Nortstowe Phase 2, Cambridgeshire: Archaeological Post Excavation Assessment (Vol 5 Area CC and Area GG. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1452
A full excavation of two individual sites across the Northstowe Phase 2b area (Area CC and Area GG). Area CC was an Iron Age enclosure and associated round house overlaid by a Roman planting bed field system and medieval furrows.Area GG was an Iron Age enclosure system formed of three interconnecting enclosures with internal features including a round house.Later overlaid by Medieval field systems and a post-medieval boundary ditch and quarries.
1454
The Former Burdetts Nursery, Eastrea Road, Whittlesey. Archaeological Evaluation, interim Statement
Bourne, T. (2020). The Former Burdetts Nursery, Eastrea Road, Whittlesey. Archaeological Evaluation, interim Statement . Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1454
This interim statement outlines the results of an archaeological evaluation, carried out by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU), between the 15th 19th June 2020, on behalf of Taylor Wimpey ahead of housing development. The site is located on the eastern edge of the town of Whittlesey (centred on TL2830 9690), c.1km from the town centre (Figure 1). The evaluation comprised five trial trenches, located in the southwest of the proposed development area (PDA), which uncovered several small channels and creeks of unknown date. Whilst this small evaluation only revealed relatively modern human activity, it did, however, provide important information on the wetland nature of this landscape. The palaeochannels themselves appear to be evidence for multiple short-lived creaks formed as water draining off the higher ground of Whilttlesey Island into the Fens to the south. Whilst no dating evidence was found in association with these creaks, the likelihood is that F.13 will be present in the forthcoming open area excavation, providing a better opportunity to place these features in their chronological setting, and understand their potential relationship with the known Late Iron Age and Roman activity within the PDA.
1455
Northstow Phase 2, Cambridgeshire Archaeological Post Excavation Assessment (Vol 4) Area AA5 and Area AA5b
Collins, M. (2020). Northstow Phase 2, Cambridgeshire Archaeological Post Excavation Assessment (Vol 4) Area AA5 and Area AA5b. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1455
Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) undertook two open-area excavations within a field designated (by the CAU) as Area AA5, which formed part of the Northstowe Phase 2 excavation programme. These areas (labelled AA5 and AA5b) were located inside the former Oakington Airfield boundary within (and next to) a part of the site previously occupied by the Oakington Immigration Centre. Both excavations targeted opposing halves of the same Iron Age and Romano-British settlement which had been identified during previous works. The Iron Age activity appeared to form a small farmstead, which lies within a network of similar settlements that have been identified across the Northstowe landscape. The Iron Age settlement then directly transitioned into an Early Roman farmstead, which likely remained occupied throughout the Romano-British period. This was linked to a much larger road-side settlement, (identified within Areas AA1, AA2, AA3, AA3 North and AA6) located to the south by trackways, which formed part of a network extending across much of this landscape. A small quantity of Early Anglo-Saxon material was also recovered from across AA5, indicating a local presence during this period. The only other post-Roman activity present (aside from activity relating to the Airfield and subsequent use of the site) was the highly truncated remains of medieval and post-medieval ridge and furrow agriculture.
