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
1194
Babraham Research Campus: Flood Compensation Scheme Phase 2. Archaeological Monitoring & Recording.
Timberlake, S. (2013). Babraham Research Campus: Flood Compensation Scheme Phase 2. Archaeological Monitoring & Recording.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1194
In July 2013 the Cambridge Archaeological Unit carried out a programme of archaeological monitoring and recording during excavations for the second phase of the Flood Compensation Scheme at the Babraham Research Campus. This involved a topsoil and partial subsoil strip of two areas which lie close to the river frontage, thus 200m to the north-west of the archaeologically excavated R and D Land, and beyond the area of the main Roman settlement. No archaeology was revealed in Area A (0.28 ha), which in places was stripped down to the underlying chalk, but in Area B (0.39 ha) at the south end, a number of amorphous burnt flint spreads and pits of probable Neolithic - Early Bronze Age date were found during the digging of a balance pond and drain. These features were cut by a series of three narrow NW-SE to SSE-NNW trending ditches of probable Roman date. To the north-east of this excavation a field walk and metal detecting survey of the stripped topsoil revealed an interesting but mixed-up assemblage of material which included Mesolithic - Early Bronze Age flint, minor amounts of Roman pottery, lead scrap and a coin, plus a slightly better assemblage of Medieval metalwork including a well-preserved Henry III silver penny, a number of 12th-14th century copper-alloy buckles and straps, and a few Postmedieval - modern finds. The shallow depth of necessary excavation within this area meant that the natural flint-filled hollow and other features revealed during the trench evaluation in March 2012 were not re-examined.
1195
Littleport Cemetary, Littleport, Cambridgeshire: An Archaeological Evaluation.
Collins, M. (2013). Littleport Cemetary, Littleport, Cambridgeshire: An Archaeological Evaluation.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1195
Cambridge Archaeological Unit undertook a trenched evaluation on open farmland located to the north of Littleport, Cambridgeshire, in advance of the proposed development of the site. The evaluation identified the presence of a 'roddon' within the western half of the development area; several small, shallow, undated linears; and a large number of post-medieval clay extraction pits located towards the eastern end of the site. Also identified was a layer of dumped, probable Romano-British, briquetage material abutting the roddon.
1196
Warham Burrows, Norfolk. A Programme of Archaeological Monitoring.
Roberts, H. (2013). Warham Burrows, Norfolk. A Programme of Archaeological Monitoring.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1196
Cambridge Archaeological Unit carried out a program of archaeological monitoring during the re-excavation of an old marl pit, at the Burrows, Warham. Aside from the marl pit no archaeological evidence was discovered during the course of the programme. A Crotal bell was discovered on the surface of the ploughed field outside the area of the monitoring programme.
1197
Ireton's Way, Mepal, Cambridgeshire. An Archaeological Evaluation Assessment.
Collins, M. (2013). Ireton's Way, Mepal, Cambridgeshire. An Archaeological Evaluation Assessment.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1197
Following geophysical and aerial survey, Cambridge Archaeological Unit undertook a programme of evaluation trenching across two fields on open farmland located between Mepal and Chatteris, Cambridgeshire. Trenching of Field 1 identified prehistoric ditches and postholes that correspond with cropmarks which illustrate a coaxial system of ditched field allotment of a probable prehistoric date. This activity was confined predominantly to the western third of Field 1, and with only minimal expression having undergone significant post-Medieval truncation through experimental agriculture. A palaeochannel was also identified through magnetometry, and was shown to predate human activity. In Field 2 a number of post-medieval ditches were identified, including a boundary ditch demarcating the two Cambridgeshire districts of Fenland and East Cambridgeshire. Also, more interestingly, several prehistoric pits, including one dated to the Early/Middle Neolithic and three dating to the Early Bronze Age were recorded suggesting the potential for encountering further dispersed prehistoric activity across this part of the PDA.
1198
Land Adjacent to Wilberforce Road, Cambridge. An Archaeological Evaluation.
Collins, M. (2013). Land Adjacent to Wilberforce Road, Cambridge. An Archaeological Evaluation.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1198
On the 2nd December 2013 Cambridge Archaeological Unit under took a programme of evaluation at Grange Farm, Wilberforce Road, Cambridge. With a view to testing the archaeological potential of the proposed development area four trenches were cut. No archaeological features were found.
1199
The School of Pythagoras, St. John's College, Cambridge: An Archaeological Excavation.
Newman, R. (2013). The School of Pythagoras, St. John's College, Cambridge: An Archaeological Excavation.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1199
Excavations conducted at the School of Pythagoras, Cambridge, took place within and around a standing Grade I listed medieval building. Three significant results were obtained. Firstly, a substantial palaeochannel was identified, the presence of which was established via augering. Secondly, a relatively intensive sequence of Roman activity was encountered. This could be subdivided into three sub-phases. Commencing during the 1st to 2nd centuries AD, the earliest Roman activity - as primarily represented by redeposited ceramics and a relatively substantial assemblage of disarticulated human bone - appears to have comprised a largely 'off-stage' presence. Subsequently, however, around the early to mid 2nd century a degree of domestic/industrial occupation was established; concomitant with this phase, a metalled trackway was laid down and a series of pits and ditches were created. Yet by the mid 3rd century the associated settlement appears to have contracted in size and the site became instead the venue for a series of interments. Six articulated inhumations were encountered. Finally, the third result pertained directly to the School of Pythagoras itself. Excavations conducted within the north wing of the structure revealed that this portion of the building had been constructed contemporaneously with the principal range. Moreover, in combination with a review of the extant architectural evidence, the newly derived data demonstrates that the School of Pythagoras did not originally comprise an isolated rural manor - as has been widely assumed - but was in fact more akin to a substantial urban townhouse of the period.
1200
New Road, Chatteris, Cambridgeshire. An Archaeological Evaluation Assessment.
Wright, A. (2013). New Road, Chatteris, Cambridgeshire. An Archaeological Evaluation Assessment.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1200
A trial trench based archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) on land north of New Road, Chatteris, Cambridgeshire (centred on TL 403 865) in December 2013. The proposed development area (PDA) comprises c. 1.3 ha. A total of four archaeological features were recorded. Two of which are remnants of medieval ridge and furrow cultivation, and a further two which amount to a potential Roman trackway.
1201
The Showfields, Whittlesey. An Archaeological Evaluation.
Patten, R. (2013). The Showfields, Whittlesey. An Archaeological Evaluation.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1201
In October and November 2013 a first phase of archaeological evaluation was undertaken on the western area of the Showfields, Whittlesey, with a second phase in July 2014 on the eastern area (centred on TL 2759 9799) extending over c. 20ha. The work was commissioned by ULAS for Philip Rose in response to a request from the Cambridgeshire Historic Environment Team (CHET). The investigations comprised an initial test pit survey on the northern limit of the western area, followed by a trench evaluation. Earliest evidence for occupation was identified in the form of an undated clay-lined pit of probable Iron Age date and suggestive of occupation. Two separate sites (1 and 2) of Romano-British occupation were recorded, most likely associated with the Fen Causeway, the main Roman routeway through the Fens. The two sites comprised a series of probable enclosure and boundary ditches with large pottery dumps occurring in at least two ditches. Other than these pottery dumps there were few finds recovered from either Site 1 or Site 2. This would seem to suggest peripheral settlement activity, the focus of which would have been to the south along the Fen Causeway. A third site (3) was identified in the second phase of investigation at the eastern end of the site. The corner of a double ditched enclosure of uncertain date was recorded within a single trench. The majority of the archaeology encountered throughout was furrows and clay land drains that were present throughout the development site and provided evidence for Late Medieval/ Post-Medieval land use.
1202
Easton Village Growth Location Easton, Norfolk. An Archaeological Desk Based Assessment.
Appleby, G. and Dickens, A. (2014). Easton Village Growth Location Easton, Norfolk. An Archaeological Desk Based Assessment.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1202
This archaeological desk based assessment (originally compiled in 2009 and revised in January 2014) was commissioned on behalf of the Easton Landowners Consortium to assess the potential archaeological impact of a proposed development (centred on TG 1300 1090) at Easton, Norfolk. The site is located approximately 9.5km west of Norwich, Norfolk. Archival, aerial and cartographic sources demonstrate that the site is located in an area with known archaeology, including prehistoric burial monuments, settlement and ritual activity, Roman occupation and industry, a dispersed Medieval settlement and later agricultural features.
1203
Churchill College, Cambridge. An Archaeological Evaluation
Newman, R. (2014). Churchill College, Cambridge. An Archaeological Evaluation. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1203
A trench-based evaluation was conducted upon land at Churchill College, Cambridge, in advance of proposed development. Four trenches - covering a combined total of 78 square metres - were excavated, and in each instance a two-part sequence was revealed. At the base, a series of waterlain, anaerobic contexts were present. These were contained within one or more hollows or depressions of probable anthropogenic origin. The resultant pond-like features were most probably associated with the partial draining of the area following the inclosure of the former open fields in 1805. They appear to have been largely infilled during the late 19th century. Subsequently, during the early 1960s a substantial body of made-ground material measuring up to 1.6m in depth was introduced. This latter deposit, which comprehensively sealed the preceding horizon, was associated with landscaping activity undertaken in conjunction with the construction of Churchill College itself.
1204
Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge. An Archaeological Watching Brief.
Newman, R. (2014). Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge. An Archaeological Watching Brief.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1204
An archaeological watching brief was conducted at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, during the instillation of a replacement gas supply. Investigations were undertaken within Caius Court and the southwestern portion of Tree Court. Although the trench was limited in depth, a number of results were obtained. Firstly, the footing of the College's 16th century eastern boundary wall was encountered. Originally constructed in 1565, this wall remained extant until 1854. In addition, part of the footing of the contemporary Gate of Virtue was also identified. Finally, within Caius Court a small finds assemblage was recovered from the 16th century and later made-ground deposits. This included pottery, glass, worked bone and clay tobacco pipe fragments.
1205
Land off Downham Road, Ely, Cambridgeshire. An Archaeological Desk Based Assessment, Geophysical Survey, Trenched Evaluation & Test-Pit Watching Brief
Appleby, G., Bartlett, A., Hutton, J., and Timberlake, S. (2014). Land off Downham Road, Ely, Cambridgeshire. An Archaeological Desk Based Assessment, Geophysical Survey, Trenched Evaluation & Test-Pit Watching Brief. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1205
As part of the assessment of the archaeological potential on the site of the Proposed Sports & Leisure Development, Downham Road, Ely (centred on TL 5300 8130), an archaeological desk based assessment was commissioned by Richard Sears of Dentan Williams on behalf of Cambridge Property Group PLC. This reassessment follows an earlier desk based assessment and incorporates the findings of the geophysical survey (Section 2), archaeological trial-trenching (Section 3) and test-pit watching brief (Section 4), all of which were commissioned as part of an earlier planning application. The site is located approximately 1.5km west of the centre of Ely. Archival, aerial and cartographic sources demonstrate that the site is located in an area with known archaeology, including early prehistoric Iron Age, Roman and Saxon activity, and extensive medieval and later agricultural features. Geophysical survey indicated the presence of some archaeological features, although the site was dominated by the ploughed out remains of ridge and furrow agriculture. The trenching programme demonstrated that masked beneath this, particularly in the southern part of the site, was evidence of Middle Saxon occupation with associated field systems with a background presence of Iron Age and Romano-British activity. The north area predominantly contained medieval ridge and furrows in addition to a few undated linear features.
