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
1262
Ramsey Cricket Club, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire. An Archaeological Evaluation.
Timberlake, S. (2014). Ramsey Cricket Club, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire. An Archaeological Evaluation.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1262
On the 29th September 2014 a small archaeological evaluation consisting of a 10m long east-west trench was undertaken on the north side of the green at Ramsey Cricket Club. No archaeology was found, although disturbed ground containing a series of intercutting modern features including a building trench with an organic fill containing rubble, metal and glass as well as some probable 19th century pits containing glass and hearth waste.
1263
St. Mary's Church, Forcet, Cambridgeshire. Archaeological Monitoring.
Webb, D. (2014). St. Mary's Church, Forcet, Cambridgeshire. Archaeological Monitoring.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1263
The Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) undertook archaeological monitoring of works for a new rainwater system at Saint Marys Church Farcet, Cambridgeshire. The works uncovered several unmarked graves a charnel pit and a background of disarticulated human remains within the churchyard, the material most likely originates from the late post-medieval period.
1264
The site of the proposed New Arthur Rank Hospice, Cambridge. An Archaeological Evaluation.
Wright, A. (2014). The site of the proposed New Arthur Rank Hospice, Cambridge. An Archaeological Evaluation.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1264
An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) at the proposed site of the new Arthur Ranc Hospice, near Cambridge. The fieldwork comprised trial trenching, which revealed two undated pits and a periglacial hollow.
1265
St. George�s Church, Thriplow, Cambridgeshire. Archaeological Monitoring.
Webb, D. (2014). St. George�s Church, Thriplow, Cambridgeshire. Archaeological Monitoring.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1265
The Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) undertook archaeological monitoring of pipelaying work at St George's Church, Thriplow, Cambridgeshire in June 2014. The works uncovered several unmarked graves a charnel pit and a background of disarticulated human remains within the confines of the churchyard. The material most likely originates from the late post-medieval period. A robbed out wall probably marks the extent of the graveyard at an earlier point in its development.
1266
Must Farm Palaeochannel Investigations 2009-2012. Post-excavation Assessment.
Robinson Zeki, I., Knight, M., and Murrell, K. (2014). Must Farm Palaeochannel Investigations 2009-2012. Post-excavation Assessment.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1266
Between 2009 and 2012, three phases of archaeological investigation of the roddon and
freshwater palaeochannel at Must Farm, Whittlesey (TL 2330 9675) were undertaken by the
Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) on behalf of SLR consulting Ltd. for Hanson UK in
advance of Oxford Clay extraction. The three phases were contiguous and combined to form
an area of 15680m2, encompassing 324m of the meandering course of the palaeochannel.
The 2009�2012 excavation area was located c. 150m upstream of the Late Bronze Age timber
platform site excavated by the CAU in 2006. The palaeochannel investigations are a
component of the ongoing archaeological and palaeoenvironmental investigations of the
wider Must Farm landscape.
The excavations revealed the richness of the archaeological material preserved in the freshwater channel, including, most notably, a nationally-significant group of nine exceptionally well-preserved prehistoric logboats. This Post-excavation Assessment presents a highly detailed description and evaluation of the stratigraphic, structural, material and environmental remains excavated during the three phases of investigation of the palaeochannel. It presents the results of preliminary palaeoenvironmental analysis, which indicates that the freshwater channel was a small and very slow-flowing river, with a succession-dominated fluvial dynamic that resulted in the incremental silting of the watercourse and therefore also a stratigraphically sequential deposit history. The deposit history spans the Middle Bronze Age to the Late Iron Age � the earliest channel silts formed around 1600 BC, while blanket peat formation, which sealed the silted-up channel, commenced in the 1st century AD. The report presents the categories of archaeological material encountered in the channel in relation to the channel�s deposit history, analysing the distribution of waterlogged wood, animal bone, metalwork, human bone, pottery, burnt stone, worked bone and worked flint. Foremost among this assemblage are the nine logboats, as well as ten hurdle fish weirs and 24 fish traps. Metalwork deposits in the channel included Bronze Age weaponry and Iron Age swords and ornaments. The contextual settings of these three major groups of archaeological evidence were considered in relationship to each other and the specific channel environment, while their significance in relation to the regional and national discourse on Bronze and Iron Age activity on rivers and in wetlands was also recognised.
1267
The Old Schools, University of Cambridge, Cambridge. An Archaeological Investigation.
Newman, R. (2014). The Old Schools, University of Cambridge, Cambridge. An Archaeological Investigation.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1267
An archaeological investigation was undertaken at the Old Schools, University of Cambridge, Cambridge. Here, beneath the suspended timber floor of one of the ground floor offices, two stone-built wall footings were identified - both of which were medieval in date. The first originally comprised part of the north wall of the southern range of King's College Old Court, which was commenced in 1441. Well-built and substantial in scale, the surviving remnant reveals that the ground floor of this range was partially cellared. The second footing may also have been associated with the earliest phase of King's College, or might alternatively represent a vestige of an earlier, pre-collegiate structure.
1268
Land off Histon Road, Cambridge. An Archaeological Desk Top Assessment.
Appleby, G. (2014). Land off Histon Road, Cambridge. An Archaeological Desk Top Assessment.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1268
This archaeological desktop assessment was requested by Savills to assess the likely impact of the development of a 4.56ha site on land off Station Road, Earls Colne, Essex (centred TL 85448 29200) on any potential archaeological remains. Evaluation of the archaeological, historical and cartographic evidence shows the proposed development area is located in a landscape with currently little known prehistoric and Romano-British activity, but with significant Medieval and post-Medieval settlement and the site of a Benedictine Priory.
1269
Land off Station Road, Earls Colne, Essex. An Archaeological Desk Top Assessment.
Appleby, G. (2014). Land off Station Road, Earls Colne, Essex. An Archaeological Desk Top Assessment.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1269
This archaeological desktop assessment was requested by Savills to assess the likely impact of the development of a 4.56ha site on land off Station Road, Earls Colne, Essex (centred TL 85448 29200) on any potential archaeological remains. Evaluation of the archaeological, historical and cartographic evidence shows the proposed development area is located in a landscape with currently little known prehistoric and Romano-British activity, but with significant Medieval and post- Medieval settlement and the site of a Benedictine Priory.
1270
Compass House, 82 Newmarket Road, Cambridge. An Archaeological Desk Based Assessment.
Appleby, G. (2015). Compass House, 82 Newmarket Road, Cambridge. An Archaeological Desk Based Assessment.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1270
This archaeological desk based assessment was commissioned by Anglia Ruskin University to assess the potential impact of a proposed development of Compass House, 82 Newmarket Road, Cambridge (TL 46102 58783). The proposal involves infilling of the existing undercroft to form usable floor space for teaching accommodation as well as a new extension to the rear of the existing building. Evaluation of the archaeological, historical, aerial and cartographic evidence shows the site to be located within an urban area of known historical and architectural significance, dating from the 12th Century AD to the present date.
1271
North West Cambridge Archaeology. University of Cambridge. 2013 Excavations. The Traveller�s Rest Sub-site Site. (NWC Report No. 8)
Evans, C. (2015). North West Cambridge Archaeology. University of Cambridge. 2013 Excavations. The Traveller�s Rest Sub-site Site. (NWC Report No. 8). Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1271
This was the last of the current North-West Cambridge sites excavated. Against background Mesolithic/earlier Neolithic and later Neolithic/Bronze Age flintwork a few Bronze Age features extended into the area's southwestern margin. These were associated with Site II's MBA paddock/enclosure system and Late Bronze/Early Iron Age settlement cluster. The main phases of occupation were Middle/Late Iron Age and Romano-British, both with substantial assemblages. Of the former, aside from a few 'open' settlement-phase roundhouses, this was manifest by recut enclosures, two with roundhouses, of sub-circular form and of Middle Iron Age date; the third, 'Late' one, was much larger and sub-rectangular. The site saw continuity of settlement into Early Roman times and, during the first century AD, rectangular compounds were established; associated with the eastern end of a terrace-edge/boundary that ran across much of Site II. Associated with this Early Roman usage was a quarry-field. Based on LiDAR and borehole data, this quarrying possibly resulted in a large wet hollow, which - never subject to later arable production - was responsible for the existence of the copse bordering the site's southern side. During the later second century AD many 'Early'-phase features had been backfilled with finds-rich midden deposits. Extending along its south-central edge were two sub-rectangular ditch-lines. These appeared to be a part of a third century compound that must run under the copse. With the site beside the former Traveller's Rest Pit Quarry - where Palaeolithic flintwork was recovered - a machine-dug cutting was taken down into the gravels to test for other such finds.
1272
North West Cambridge Archaeology. University of Cambridge. 2013-14 Excavations. Sites II Central, IV North & VII. (NWC Report No. 7)
Cessford, C. (2015). North West Cambridge Archaeology. University of Cambridge. 2013-14 Excavations. Sites II Central, IV North & VII. (NWC Report No. 7). Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1272
North West Cambridge development (Sites II east, IV north and VII). During 2014 three small investigations were undertaken at Romano-British sites in advance of the North West Cambridge development (Sites II east, IV north and VII). All three investigations are essentially adjuncts to earlier excavations, either during the 2009 evaluation (Site IV) or the 2012-13 excavations (Sites II east and IV north). The 2014 investigations at Site II east improved the understanding of settlement RB.1; in particular they allowed the full plan of the core of the site to be exposed and identified a more probable location for the main structure of the settlement. The 2014 investigations at Site IV north allowed two significant ditches associated with Site RB.2A to be traced for a considerable further distance and revealed a number of additional features, including a well with a large artefactual assemblage. The 2014 investigations at Site VII clarified the stratigraphy of a significant ditch previously investigated during the evaluation phase. The assemblages of material associated with a putative high status Mid-Late Romano-British rural settlement were significantly increased, clarifying the nature of the buildings at the settlement. The dating of the deposition of the bulk of this material, associated with a major phase of modification/repair to high status buildings, which had previously been dated to the late 3rd or early 4th century AD occurred no earlier than 364AD.
1273
HU 6: Percy Road, Hinchingbrooke, Huntingdon. An Archaeological Desk Top Assessment.
Appleby, G. (2015). HU 6: Percy Road, Hinchingbrooke, Huntingdon. An Archaeological Desk Top Assessment.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1273
This archaeological desk top assessment was requested by Januarys Ltd to assess the likely archaeological impact of a proposed development area (PDA) of 5ha adjacent to Percy Road, Huntingdon. Evaluation of the archaeological, historical and cartographic evidence shows the PDA to be located close to a former Roman road (Ermine Street) and within a wider landscape with known prehistoric to post-Medieval occupation.
