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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

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1384

Merton Hall Farm, West Cambridge. An Archaeological Evaluation

Newman, R. (2017). Merton Hall Farm, West Cambridge. An Archaeological Evaluation. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1384

A trench-based evaluation was undertaken at Merton Hall Farm, West Cambridge, in advance of proposed redevelopment. Three phases of activity were identified. The first consisted of clay quarrying associated with probable brick/tile manufacture during the 17th/18th century. Subsequently, following the purchase of the land upon its enclosure in 1803 by Merton College, Oxford, Merton Hall Farm was established in the mid-19th century. A brick-built well, numerous wall footings and a relatively substantial dump of domestic refuse were associated with this phase. Finally, in the early 21st century, extensive truncation occurred in association with the establishment - and subsequent demolition - of a University-related building.

1385

New Court and Masters' Garden, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. An Archaeological Investigation

Newman, R. (2017). New Court and Masters' Garden, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. An Archaeological Investigation. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1385

An archaeological excavation was undertaken across New Court and in the Master's Garden of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, during the installation of an electricity substation and associated cable trenching. Although the exposures were limited in extent, structural remains associated with a number of former college buildings were encountered. These included the chapel (1579-1823), bakehouse (c. 1474-1823) and tennis court (c. 1569-1823). Also encountered were remains associated with the medieval St Bernard's Hostel and post-medieval Dolphin Inn. All of these structures were demolished when present-day New Court was established

1386

East Cambs District Leisure Centre, Downham Road, Ely. (Areas 3 & 4). Post Excavation Assessment

Middleton, E. (2017). East Cambs District Leisure Centre, Downham Road, Ely. (Areas 3 & 4). Post Excavation Assessment. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1386

Archaeological investigations were undertaken by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) at East Cambs District Leisure Centre site situated on Downham Road, Ely. The work was carried out over the course of four months between May 2016 and September 2016, and was a continuation of excavations undertaken previously by the CAU at this site. The investigation area, comprising excavations in two almost contiguous areas (Area 3 and Area 4) and totalling 2.26ha, was machine stripped revealing archaeology ranging in date from the Late Bronze Age through to the Post-Medieval period, including Iron Age pit clusters, Early Roman planting beds and a multi-phase enclosure system with several post- and beam-slot built ancillary structures dating to the Middle Saxon period.

1389

Monitoring, Sampling and Excavation of the Route of the new IDB Drain, Must Farm, Whittlesey

Middleton, E. (2018). Monitoring, Sampling and Excavation of the Route of the new IDB Drain, Must Farm, Whittlesey. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1389

In July 2017, a new Internal Drainage Board drain was cut at Must Farm Quarry, Whittlesey. The new drain was located to the west of the existing Main IDB Drain and the work was carried out in accordance with a brief approved by Cambridgeshire County Council Historic Environment Team and on behalf of Forterra Ltd. The total length of the diverted drain was 1300m; its depth varied between 1.70-3.25m (its base width equalled 1.00-1.50m whilst its top width equalled 6.00-10.00m). Its cutting exposed two longitudinal sections through the local fen sequence (north-south and east west). The northernmost part of north-south section exposed an old land surface, three wooden stakes and a small scatter of artefacts

1390

Red Brick Farm, Edgerley Drain Road, Peterborough. Archaeological Evaluation Report.

Barrett, H. (2018). Red Brick Farm, Edgerley Drain Road, Peterborough. Archaeological Evaluation Report.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1390

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) on land at Red Brick Farm, Peterborough (TL 219996) (Figure 1) between 21st November and 29th November 2017. Neolithic pits and Bronze Age ditches were identified in Trenches 1-5 (Figure 2 and Figure 3) in the western third of the Evaluation Area, which was on the river Nene first-terrace gravels (Horton et al, 1974. 60). The Flag Fen Basin sediment sequence of peats, alluvial silts and buried soil was encountered and recorded across the majority of the Evaluation Area.

1391

Land East of Eagle Business Park, Phase 2, Yaxley. An Archaeological Evaluation.

Robinson Zeki, I. (2017). Land East of Eagle Business Park, Phase 2, Yaxley. An Archaeological Evaluation. . Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1391

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) on Land East of Eagle Business Park, Yaxley, in advance of proposed development by Barnack Estates UK Ltd, comprising business park units. The fieldwork comprised trenching, which revealed a number of features including ditches, a pit alignment, postholes and a burnt mound feature which are indicative of an Iron Age presence similar to that found nearby in other fen-edge locations.

1392

Lawn Farm, Wetherden, Suffolk. A Strip, Map and Record Excavation

Middleton, E. (2018). Lawn Farm, Wetherden, Suffolk. A Strip, Map and Record Excavation. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1392

The Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) undertook a Strip, Map and Record Excavation at land at Lawn Farm, located to the southwest of the village of Wetherden, Suffolk, between 14th December 2017 and 16th January 2018. The excavation revealed two charcoal-rich pits, most likely of a prehistoric date, and a modern trackway with associated quarry pitting. The work followed archaeological monitoring of a haul road by the CAU in 2013, which revealed prehistoric field boundaries and small pits, and remnants of a large, controlled rabbit warren associated with the medieval period.

1393

Archaeological Excavations at Greetham Quarry, Greetham, Rutland

Middleton, E. (2018). Archaeological Excavations at Greetham Quarry, Greetham, Rutland. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1393

Between September and October 2017, a team from the Cambridge Archaeological Unit conducted an archaeological excavation on land in the southwest corner of Greetham Quarry, Greetham, Rutland (centred at SK 956 738). The work followed on from a 2006 excavation by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit to the northwest of the quarry, which revealed a swathe of Iron Age occupation. The work was commissioned by George Wilson of Stamford Stone in advance of the quarry extension.The excavation revealed archaeological remains dating from the prehistoric to the Early-Middle Saxon period. This encompassed two ditches, which were part of a Prehistoric field-system along with isolated pits containing Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age material, as well as one isolated burial of a Prehistoric date. A Bronze Age presence was also indicated by residual flint and surface finds of pottery and flint. The Early-Middle Saxon period was represented by two Sunken Featured Buildings (SFBs) with four associated pits. The SFBS produced an array of objects, including spindle whorls, worked bone and clay, metal artefacts and a significant assemblage of pot, which appear to have been dumped within the SFBs after their use. Although the number of features within the excavation area was small, a large amount of material was produced, suggesting that the area excavated was at the periphery of a wealthy Saxon settlement. Two more ditches of an unknown date, were located to the north of the area which may have been part of a later field-system.

1394

Land at 11-15 Main Street, Little Thetford, Cambridgeshire. An Archaeological Excavation

Middleton, E. (2018). Land at 11-15 Main Street, Little Thetford, Cambridgeshire. An Archaeological Excavation. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1394

The archaeological investigation at 11 Main Street, Little Thetford, Cambridgeshire consisted of three areas of excavation, undertaken between 16th January 2017 to the 3rd March 2017.The excavation followed on from an evaluation undertaken by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU), between 26th April and the 3rd May 2016, which revealed a series of medieval ditches and post-medieval quarry pits. The 2017 excavation recorded 85 features in total, ranging in date from the medieval period (12th-14th centuries) along with late medieval quarry pits to modern agricultural pits, sewage overflow pipes and ditches (20th century).The linear ditches represent two main phases of medieval activity, with five sub phases and internal plot divisions. A series of late medieval quarry pits respected the boundary ditches therefore suggesting the boundaries were still in use when the quarry pits were excavated. Across the excavation, frequent modern features in the form of animal burials and sewage drains were located and truncated the earlier activity. This was particularly evident near the modern street frontage. Towards the current property, a compacted chalk yard surface extended across the area and is thought to represent a former cattle yard. The sewage drains were most likely 1950s in date, associated with a cess tank, located in the southeast corner of site, and brick built. Much of the modern activity had taken place within the living memory of the local residents.

1395

Northstowe Phase 2, Cambridgeshire. Archaeological Post Excavation Assessment (Vol. 1) Peripheral Areas.

Collins, M. (2018). Northstowe Phase 2, Cambridgeshire. Archaeological Post Excavation Assessment (Vol. 1) Peripheral Areas. . Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1395

The Cambridge Archaeological Unit undertook a series of archaeological investigations between 3rd October 2016 and 24th November 2017 across six different areas both within the boundary of the former Oakington Airfield and across open farmland to the south. Many of these areas yielded limited archaeological evidence, however within two of the areas located within the Airfield boundary, a series of Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age features were identified. These features largely consisted of small to medium sized pits and postholes containing small to moderate quantities of artefacts. Several contemporary ditches were also present within the Guided Busway Spur, suggesting the presence of a prehistoric field-system within the surrounding area potentially linked to settlement activity.

1400

Holy Trinity Church, CambridgeArchaeological Excavation and Monitoring 2016-2017

Newman, R. (2018). Holy Trinity Church, CambridgeArchaeological Excavation and Monitoring 2016-2017. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1400

An archaeological excavation and associated monitoring programme was conducted at Holy Trinity Church, Cambridge, between October 2016 and September 2017. The earliest features to be encountered were medieval in date. Along with an early 12th-century gravecover, a series of contemporary pits were identified; their presence suggests that the earliest iteration of the church, predating the present standing building, may have been situated further to the west. In addition, three phases of 19th to 20th-century vestry structure were investigated and a total of seventeen articulated burials encountered. Of these, two were medieval in date, seven were 17th to early 19th-century in origin and had been interred within earth-fast graves and eight had been buried within early 19th century brick-built burial vaults. One of the latter individuals had been autopsied, while another was interred with jewellery.

1403

Lancaster Way, Ely. The Northern and Central Areas: Post Excavation Assessment

Wright, A. (2018). Lancaster Way, Ely. The Northern and Central Areas: Post Excavation Assessment. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1403

An archaeological excavation was undertaken by Cambridge Archaeological Unit at Lancaster Way, Witchford, Ely. Work was carried out between March and July 2016 and comprised excavations in two separate areas, the Northern and Central Areas. An area totaling 4.17ha was stripped revealing archaeology ranging in date from the Later Neolithic/Early Bronze Age through to the Later Roman period and dominated by settlement remains dating to the Middle Iron Age to Early Roman period. The Northern Area was dominated by a settlement complex, which originated in the Middle Iron Age and continued in use until the Early Roman period. The complex was continually modified throughout this period. Residual Later Neolithic/Early Bronze Age, Later Bronze Age and Early Iron Age material was recovered from later features. The Middle Iron Age site comprised a number of adjoining curvilinear enclosures containing six Roundhouses. The site produced an extensive finds assemblage largely comprised of pottery and animal bone, but also included iron slag and worked clay implements, such as loom weight fragments and daub. Many of the enclosures continued to be used in the Later Iron Age. However, all the roundhouses fell out of use. A further group of enclosures, a well and two probable structures were added to the existing complex. The Later Iron Age finds assemblage was relatively small, but still comprised pottery, animal bone worked clay and iron slag. The Early Roman site can be characterised as a network of rectilinear enclosures adjoining a trackway with a number of wells. This fell out of use during early 3rd AD century and was replaced by a system of ditches, which appear to have defined fields. Again the Roman finds assemblage was relatively small, but was comprised of the same materials. A Middle Iron Age settlement complex made up the entirety of the archaeology identified in the Central Area. No later activity was identified. The complex comprised a Banjo Enclosure, which formed a component of a broader complex of enclosures and ditches. The features within the enclosures were relatively sparse. Only one roundhouse was identified across the site. This was situated within the Banjo Enclosure. The complex produced a relatively large finds assemblage, which was largely derived from the roundhouse and Banjo Enclosure. It comprised pottery and animal bone, but also included iron slag and worked clay implements, such as loom weight fragments and daub.

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