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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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1153

The Grafham Resilience Scheme, Cambridgeshire, Phase 2. Archaeological Fieldwalking Survey.

Collins, M. (2013). The Grafham Resilience Scheme, Cambridgeshire, Phase 2. Archaeological Fieldwalking Survey.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1153

An archaeological fieldwalking survey was undertaken by Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) on open farmland to the south of Perry, Cambridgeshire along the proposed route of a pipeline forming part of the Grafham Resilience Scheme.Widely dispersed prehistoric worked flints and medieval pot sherds were recovered along with a moderate quantity of post-medieval and modern artefacts

1154

Babraham Research Campus: Building B580. An Archaeological Evaluation Assessment.

Collins, M. (2013). Babraham Research Campus: Building B580. An Archaeological Evaluation Assessment.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1154

Cambridge Archaeological Unit undertook a trenched evaluation within the footprint of a demolished building in the grounds of Babraham Research Campus prior to the redevelopment of the site. A significant amount of modern truncation was present within the trenches; however a Romano-British ditch and several medieval ditches were identified and recorded together with two undated ditches and two post-medieval/Victorian pits.

1155

Milton Landfill, Cambridge. A Post Excavation Interim Assessment.

Collins, M. (2013). Milton Landfill, Cambridge. A Post Excavation Interim Assessment.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1155

Cambridge Archaeological Unit undertook an open-area excavation at Milton Landfill between the 13th November 2012 and 22nd January 2013 in advance of its expansion. This phase identified significant evidence for Early Iron Age activity including an enclosure ditch, several four-post structures and a number of pits, which were partially overlain by a series of Romano-British agricultural planting beds. An extensive area of intercutting probable Romano-British quarry pits was also identified together with the northern boundary for the planting beds.

1156

The Cambridge Hospital (Nuffield Health). An Archaeological Evaluation.

Timberlake, S. (2013). The Cambridge Hospital (Nuffield Health). An Archaeological Evaluation.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1156

Between 20th-22nd February 2013 the Cambridge Archaeological Unit CAU) carried out an archaeological trench evaluation consisting of 98m of trenching within a 0.2 ha of grass lawn south of the main buildings at the Cambridge Hospital (Nuffield Health) on Trumpington Road in Cambridge. This work didn't reveal any dateable archaeological features, although two large and intercutting NNE-SSW aligned flat-bottomed ditches were encountered within a trench at the eastern end of the site. Virtually sterile of finds, the absence of any recognisably modern material within their fills suggested that these features pre-dated the Victorian residential and garden development on this side of the Trumpington Road, and instead related to some earlier Medieval - Postmedieval? property or agricultural landscape boundaries. Two other small pits were located that were sterile of finds, and probably pre-modern in date. Nearby a small amount of residual Late Neolithic - Early Bronze Age flint was encountered within two pre-modern tree throws.

1157

Queen Edith Public House. An Archaeological Desktop Assessment.

Brittain, M. (2013). Queen Edith Public House. An Archaeological Desktop Assessment.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1157

This archaeological desk based assessment was commissioned on behalf of Dominic Fryer of Danescroft Commercial Developments to assess the potential impact of a proposed development area (Planning Application 12/1616/FUL) of 2276m2 on the site of the Queen Edith�s Public House, Wulfston Way, Cambridge (TL 472 558). Set within a suburban area the proposed development is within an area surrounded by known archaeology of prehistoric to medieval date, but otherwise with little previous investigation within the vicinity of the proposed development itself. Certainly by the medieval period the area is common land and marsh under the ownership of St. Thomas�s Hospital, London. The long-term environmental history of the proposed development area is unknown. The land was drained in the late 19th century and remained arable pasture until its development in the late 1960s. Wartime defences in 1940 impacted the area, with the GHQ anti-tank ditch passing directly through the proposed development. It is within this framework of previous and current land use and known archaeology that further evidence of past human activity is likely to be encountered within the proposed development area, especially those areas that have remained largely undisturbed by building foundations and services.

1158

Northern Extension, Baston No 1 Quarry, Lincolnshire. An Archaeological Excavation.

Brittain, M. (2013). Northern Extension, Baston No 1 Quarry, Lincolnshire. An Archaeological Excavation.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1158

Archaeological excavations during the construction of a bund enclosing the extension area of Baston No.1 Quarry revealed considerable evidence for prehistoric activity, particularly of the Early to Middle Bronze Age. This relates to a broader prehistoric landscape in the local environs that is dominated by an extensive Middle Bronze Age ditched system of field allotment and droveways. The current programme of investigations revealed a circular Early Bronze Age dwelling consisting of a double ring of posts and eastern entrance associated with Collard Urn pottery. Two clusters of contemporary pits and a four-post structure of unknown date were located in close proximity to this dwelling. In addition, two Middle Bronze Age circular post-built structures were identified with southeast entrances and traces of central hearths. Within 20m of each other, these dwelling areas also consisted of fencelines, postholes, pits and a well, all associated with Deverel Rimbrey pottery. Situated between these Early and Middle Bronze Age deposits were two alignments of multiple linear ditches that correspond with features identified in previous investigations to the west. These appear to form part of the Middle Bronze Age field system, but in a way that is deliberately diverted around, and thereby enclosing, an earlier funerary area of ring ditches, inhumations and cremations. Measuring c.200m in diameter, this 'enclosure', although partial, has little parallel in Britain. A single Iron Age pit represented the only post-Middle Bronze Age activity until the post-Medieval period, for which evidence has also been found of a generic agricultural landscape.

1159

Excavations at Hamhill, Somerset 2012

Brittain, M. (2013). Excavations at Hamhill, Somerset 2012. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1159

The second phases of a three year project focused upon the interior and entrance to a Middle to Late Iron Age enclosure within the hillfort interior. In addition to the main 'open area' excavations, three trenches were opened over the hillfort ramparts - two along the northern spur, and one to the south - one of these re-opened a trench excavated in 1929 by Harold st George Gray. The trenches demonstrate the ramparts were first constructed in the Early Iron Age. In the north at least four major phases of construction were identified and are capped by occupation dating to the Early Romano-British era. Neolithic features were identified below the rampart sequence. In the south the rampart displayed no post- early Middle Iron Age horizons, which may be due to later disturbance and truncation. A stone walled Iron Age roundhouse was built into the rear of the rampart, and its floor deposits were preserved by the rampart's partial, and perhaps deliberate, collapse.

1160

Gonville Hotel, Cambridge: An Archaeological Desk Based Assessment.

Dickens, A. (2013). Gonville Hotel, Cambridge: An Archaeological Desk Based Assessment.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1160

This archaeological desk based assessment was commissioned by Januarys to assess the potential impact of proposed development on the site of the Gonville Hotel, Gonville Place, Cambridge. The site lies in an area of Cambridge that was rural in character until the early 19th century. Stray finds indicate a level of activity in the prehistoric and Roman periods, but at a low level.

1060

7 - 9 Abbey Street, Cambridge: An Archaeological Desktop Assessment.

Newman, R., Dickens, A., and Appleby, G. (2011). 7 - 9 Abbey Street, Cambridge: An Archaeological Desktop Assessment.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1060

This archaeological desk top assessment was requested by Mike Liverman of High Design Consultants on behalf of High Grove Partnership LLP to assess the likely impact of the construction works at 7-9 Abbey Street, Cambridge. Assessment of the available archaeological, historical and cartographic sources shows the site to be located within an area of rich historical and architectural significance, with extant structural remains in the vicinity dating from the 13th century AD to the present. In particular, the site is situated within the core of the medieval village of Barnwell, which flourished as a lay settlement associated with nearby Barnwell Priory during the 12th to 15th centuries. The possibility of earlier prehistoric, Roman and Anglo-Saxon activity also cannot be discounted. Nevertheless, extensive early 19th century gravel quarrying is known to have been undertaken in the vicinity, and by 1830 a series of domestic properties had also been constructed at the site. This indicates that the potential for post-medieval truncation of the deposits is relatively high. Furthermore, from the mid 20th century onwards the residential housing in this area has gradually been replaced by commercial properties. At the present site, a garage was constructed at this time and this may have further truncated the preceding archaeological sequence.

1061

Land off Gaul Road, March, Cambridgeshire. An Archaeological Evaluation.

Tabor, J. (2011). Land off Gaul Road, March, Cambridgeshire. An Archaeological Evaluation.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1061

A trial trench based archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) on land Gaul Road, March, Cambridgeshire (centred on TL 4079 9661) in November 2011. The proposed development area (PDA) comprises a 1.4ha plot to the south of Gaul Road. The trial trenching programme comprised seven trenches (totalling 234m of trenching). Ten features - four of which were definitely archaeological in origin - were excavated and recorded at the site, with a further six possible features identified and planned following the extension of two of the trenches in the vicinity of identified archaeological features. Only one feature, an Early Neolithic pit could be securely dated. The pit contained sherds of Mildenhall style Early Neolithic pottery and a small assemblage of worked flint and animal bone. A series of topsoil-filled linear features occurring across the site were clearly associated with post-medieval agriculture and appear to be related to either drainage or cultivation. Although the recorded archaeological features were relatively few and only one could be confidently dated, the results of the evaluation are significant and indicate the potential for further archaeological remains being present at the site. The site - along with the two nearby flint scatters to the north-west - appears to form part of a zone of Early Neolithic activity in the vicinity of Gaul Road, which is the only known site of this period on the March 'island'.

1062

Further Excavations at Langtoft, Lincolnshire: The Freeman Land 2009 /2011.

Hutton, J. (2011). Further Excavations at Langtoft, Lincolnshire: The Freeman Land 2009 /2011.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1062

Two phases of archaeological excavation was undertaken by Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) on the Freeman Land at Hanson Aggregates Plc, Baston Quarry No. 1, Langtoft, Lincolnshire in 2009 and 2011. The archaeological evidence consisted of part of a Middle Bronze Age coaxial field system and associated pits and wells or watering holes, with a tight cluster of four ring ditches, a possible barrow, two inhumations and at least two groups of postholes associated with cremated human remains.

1063

5 Church Lane, Royston: An Archaeological Evaluation.

Newman, R. (2011). 5 Church Lane, Royston: An Archaeological Evaluation.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1063

A trench-based evaluation, comprising a single trench covering 7.4m2, was undertaken at No. 5 Church Lane, Royston, Hertfordshire, between the 30th of November and the 1st of December 2011. Here, a sequence consisting of four phases of activity was identified. The first of these four comprised a group of three undated pits, which were each filled with eroded subsoil material. Subsequently, these features were overlain by two undated layers that may have been associated with the establishment of an open garden at the site. Then, most probably at some time during the 18th century, two small cottages were established on the Church Lane frontage; to their rear, a substantial boundary wall was erected. These buildings remained in use until the mid 20th century, when they were levelled and replaced by a single structure. This latter building was constructed of concrete in the 'International' Modernist style.

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