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
1286
Clare College, Cambridge. An Archaeological Evaluation.
Cessford, C. (2015). Clare College, Cambridge. An Archaeological Evaluation.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1286
The Cambridge Archaeological Unit undertook an archaeological evaluation in December 2014 and January 2015 at Clare College, Cambridge, located principally in the Old Court and front court areas of the college. This consisted principally of four trenches covering 24 square metres; additionally a number of geotechnical window samples and test pits were monitored. The investigations provided information on the heights of natural deposits and revealed limited evidence for pre-collegiate activity. All four trenches successfully located structural remains associated with the western and eastern ranges of the medieval college that were probably constructed in the 14th century. This allows the location of the medieval college buildings to be accurately located. Although the medieval buildings had been heavily robbed, largely to foundation level, the nature of their surviving foundations was examined and material recovered from later demolition related deposits provides significant insights into the nature of the medieval college buildings. Assemblages of clay tobacco pipe, pottery, animal bone and other material recovered from the mid-17th to mid-18th century demolition related deposits probably relate primarily to the college population of this period and shed considerable light on their material culture, diet etc.
1287
Downing Site and Tennis Court Road Cambridge. An Archaeological Desk Top Assessment
Appleby, G. (2015). Downing Site and Tennis Court Road Cambridge. An Archaeological Desk Top Assessment. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1287
This archaeological desk based assessment was commissioned by Arup Associates on behalf of the University of Cambridge to assess the potential for the survival of archaeological features within the Downing Site (TL 4514 5810) and Tennis Court Road Site (TL 4516 5775). Set adjacent to and close the historic city centre these two sites were formerly agricultural land prior to the expansion of Cambridge in the later 18th and 19th centuries, the Downing site once forming part of the extensive grounds of Downing College and Tennis Court Road situated upon the southern approach to the Medieval town, an area of known pre-Conquest Saxon activity. The Downing Site is also located to the southwest of the previously unknown Late Saxon early Medieval settlement features found during excavations ahead of the construction of the Grand Arcade shopping complex.
1288
Granham�s Farm, Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire. An Archaeological Desk Top Assessment
Zeki, L. (2015). Granham�s Farm, Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire. An Archaeological Desk Top Assessment. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1288
This archaeological desk based assessment was commissioned by Savills on behalf of St John�s College to assess the potential impact of a proposed development of the farmyard at Granham�s Farm, Great Shelford (TL 46354 53107). Evaluation of the archaeological, historical and cartographic evidence shows the proposed development area to be located within an area of known archaeological finds and features dating from the prehistoric period to the post-Medieval period, and is itself located within a Medieval moated site with surviving moat, earthworks and banks.
1289
3-5 Round Church Street, Cambridge. An Archaeological Desk Top Assessment and Deposit Model
Appleby, G. (2015). 3-5 Round Church Street, Cambridge. An Archaeological Desk Top Assessment and Deposit Model. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1289
This archaeological desk based assessment was commissioned by Bidwells on behalf of Trinity College to assess the potential for the survival of archaeological features at 3-5 Round Church Street Cambridge (TL 4492 5885). Located very close the historic city centre the proposed development area is situated between known areas of archaeological activity spanning the prehistoric to post-Medieval periods, with deep Roman archaeology and human remains found immediately to the east and south with further burials of the same period found in Park Street and Jesus Lane.
1290
6-18 King Street, Cambridge. An Archaeological Desk Top Assessment
Appleby, G. (2015). 6-18 King Street, Cambridge. An Archaeological Desk Top Assessment. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1290
This archaeological desk based assessment was commissioned by Bidwells on behalf of Christ�s College to assess the potential impact of a proposed development at 6-18 King Street, Cambridge (TL 4510 5866). Evaluation of selected archaeological, historical and cartographic evidence shows the proposed development area (PDA) to be located within an area of rich historical and architectural significance, dating from the Iron Age to the present day. Geotechnical investigation has confirmed that there exists a reasonable possibility of encountering artefacts and features dating from the Medieval period onward in areas that have not been severely truncated due to the construction of the extant and former buildings, with a lower probability of encountering Roman or earlier archaeology.
1291
Stamford Hospital, Stamford, Lincolnshire. An Archaeological Desk Top Assessment
Appleby, G. (2015). Stamford Hospital, Stamford, Lincolnshire. An Archaeological Desk Top Assessment. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1291
This archaeological desk based assessment was commissioned by Northmore Associates Limited on behalf of Peterborough and Stamford NHS Foundation Trust to assess the below-ground heritage assets and consideration of the Friary Gatehouse within the grounds of Stamford & Rutland Hospital. Evaluation of selected archaeological, historical and cartographic evidence shows the proposed development area (PDA) to be located within an area of rich historical and architectural significance, dating from the Iron Age to the present day. There exists a high probability of encountering artefacts and features in areas that have not been severely truncated due to the construction of the extant and former buildings. A programme of archaeological investigations has been agreed with the Lincolnshire County Archaeologist.
1292
West Cambridge Department of Veterinary Medicine Paddocks: An Archaeological Evaluation
Brittain, M. (2015). West Cambridge Department of Veterinary Medicine Paddocks: An Archaeological Evaluation. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1292
A programme of archaeological trenching covering an area of 2240.4m2 revealed a previously unidentified geological variation of a ridge of diamict gravel over Gault clay upon which an Early to Middle Iron Age settlement was identified. This comprised of at least two circular gulley-defined dwellings with associated pits over a distribution clearly demarcated by a broken line of bounding ditches. A third structure was identified 25m away from the core settlement upon the Gault clay landfall. An additional Iron Age site represented by a ditch and posthole was also identified, and a ditch-defined trackway may also possibly be attributed to this phase. An extensive Romano-British field system overlay the settlement area and other considerable parts of the proposed development area.
1293
Pool Barn, Manor Farm, Diddington, Cambridgeshre. An Archaeological Evaluation
Brittain, M. (2015). Pool Barn, Manor Farm, Diddington, Cambridgeshre. An Archaeological Evaluation. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1293
An archaeological evaluation was conducted at Manor Farm, Diddington, in advance of conversion of a barn for use as a swimming pool. This comprised a single trench of 12.09sqm inside of the barn with eleven test pits around the barn's exterior. In addition to structural modification of the barn found with two brick foundations, two ditches were identified that predate the barn's construction. These belong to an existing ridge and furrow agricultural system cut by a later boundary or drainage ditch. All are of Medieval or post-Medieval date.
1294
St Peter's Church, Stetchworth: Observation on the Roof During Internal Repairs October 2014
Dickens, A. (2015). St Peter's Church, Stetchworth: Observation on the Roof During Internal Repairs October 2014. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1294
Observations were made of the timber roof structure at St. Peter's Church, Stetchworth, during renovation works being carried out in October 2014. The results indicate that the present upper roof structure (dating to 1894) largely replicates a much older roof, elements of which remain in situ. This is a trussed rafter roof, with four tie beams and the original probably dated to a rebuild of the nave in the 14th century.
1295
Flag Fen Bronze Age Centre & Archaeology Park, Peterborough. An Archaeological Desk Top Assessment.
Appleby, G. (2015). Flag Fen Bronze Age Centre & Archaeology Park, Peterborough. An Archaeological Desk Top Assessment.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1295
This archaeological desk based assessment was commissioned by Vivacity
Peterborough Culture and Leisure to assess the heritage assets within the
Flag Fen Bronze Age Centre and Archaeological Park. Evaluation of the archaeological, historical and cartographic evidence shows the centre be located within an area of rich archaeological significance, dating from the Mesolithic to the present day.
1296
EnviTec Biogas AD Site, Horsey Toll Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire. Test-Pit Survey.
Knight, M. and Middleton, E. (2015). EnviTec Biogas AD Site, Horsey Toll Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire. Test-Pit Survey.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1296
Fourteen machine excavated test-pits recorded a deep sequence of fen-related deposits (2.80- 4.70m in depth) associated with the buried floodplain of the prehistoric River Nene. The testpits were excavated to evaluate the archaeological potential of a small block of land situated immediately north of King�s Dyke and close to the south-western edge of the Flag Fen Basin. The exposed deposit sequence comprised a familiar succession of Lower Peat, Fen Clay and Upper Peat along with a basal layer of blue silty-clay and intermediary layers of organic muds and alluvial sediments. Aside from revealing a near complete Flandrian sequence, the test-pits also provided negative evidence in relation to the projected passage of the Nene roddon and its accompanying freshwater palaeochannel. None of the test-pits produced archaeological remains nor was a buried land surface revealed. In short, the evaluation exposed a developed stratigraphy consistent with the mid-Holocene succession identified elsewhere in the deeper parts of the Flag Fen Basin and the Fenland Basin.
1297
University Health Centre, Hughes Hall, Gresham Road, Cambridge. An Archaeological Evaluation.
Zeki, L. (2015). University Health Centre, Hughes Hall, Gresham Road, Cambridge. An Archaeological Evaluation.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1297
An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) at the proposed site of new student accommodation for Hughes Hall at Gresham Road, Cambridge. The fieldwork comprised trial trenching and a watching brief of building foundations, which revealed only made ground relating to the building of the former University Health Care Centre and an undisturbed soil profile indicating the potential for archaeological remains in the adjacent area.
