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
1506
Land off Robinson Way, Cambridge: Archaeological Evaluation.
Schonfeld, C. 2022. Land off Robinson Way, Cambridge: Archaeological Evaluation. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1506
A total of 68m of archaeological trial trenching (three trenches) was undertaken over an area of 0.25ha off Robinson Way, Cambridge. The work was carried out to evaluate land ahead of development. The investigation revealed a Roman pit, a Roman ditch and two undated shallow ditches.
1507
Land East of Church Street and South of Bicker Road, Donington, Lincolnshire: An Archaeological Investigation
Middleton, L. & Bourne, T. 2022. Land East of Church Street and South of Bicker Road, Donington, Lincolnshire: An Archaeological Investigation. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1507
The Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) was commissioned by Burmor Construction to undertake a trenched evaluation and subsequent monitoring on the development of a new Co-Op at land East of Church Street and South of Bicker Road, Donington, Lincolnshire (TF 2092 3601). An evaluation was carried out between the 5th and 7th July 2021, and identified a series of ditches and pits of 10th to 15th century date. This was complimented by an additional programme of archaeological monitoring comprising the excavation of an additional trench and the monitoring and recording of below ground elements of the construction works between the 7thand 8th October 2021. This additional work revealed a dense area of ditching and pits dating to the 10th to 15th century.
1510
Archaeological Investigations at Broom South Quarry, Bedfordshire. Phase 2b. Post-Excavation Assessment
Middleton, E. 2023. Archaeological Investigations at Broom South Quarry, Bedfordshire. Phase 2b. Post-Excavation Assessment. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1510
Between 2018 and 2019, two phases of archaeological excavation were undertaken by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) ahead of gravel extraction at Broom South Quarry, Bedfordshire (approximately centred on NGR TL 1703 4123). The work was carried out on behalf of Tarmac Ltd. The combined area encompassed 8.8 ha. The work followed an archaeological evaluation of the area in 2004, along with an extensive programme of works previously undertaken by the CAU to the north and east of the Broom South Quarry. The evaluation identified 12 concentrations of archaeology dating from the Neolithic through to the Anglo-Saxon period but with most sites dating to the Iron Age and Roman periods. Five evaluation trenches, incorporated within the current phase of excavation, identified Iron Age storage pits and field-systems. In addition to excavated evidence, significant archaeology was identified from cropmarks, highlighting the possibility of field-systems and pit alignments. The current excavation identified a background of ephemeral Neolithic activity with dispersed pits associated with Grooved Ware pottery and residual worked flints including leaf shaped arrowheads. Bronze Age activity at the site was more prevalent with a ring ditch/barrow monument and dispersed activity including small pits containing Beaker Ware pottery and barbed and tanged arrowheads. As with previous excavations, Middle Iron Age settlement dominated the site and can be characterised by widespread farmsteads with roundhouse drip-gullies and associated enclosures and pit clusters. The Early Iron Age was represented by a pit alignment incorporating 114 pits traversing the width of the excavation. In addition, Iron Age activity comprised a field-system along with frequent dispersed pits and watering holes. Roman remains were limited to two trackways marked by parallel ditches in the southwest corner of the excavation, along with field-system ditches, most of which appeared intermittent. As indicated by cropmarks, the densest Roman remains occur to the east of the quarry closer to the River Ivel. An undated inhumation burial was recorded cutting through the Early Bronze Age barrow to the south, which could be tentatively dated to the Roman or Anglo-Saxon period. The results of the excavation are significant and along with previous excavations advance our understanding of the extent and character of prehistory and early history of the Ivel valley as well as contributing to evidence of the nature and extent of Iron Age settlement across the landscape.
1517
Horsey Bridge, Peterborough: An Archaeological Evaluation
Knight, M. 2022. Horsey Bridge, Peterborough: An Archaeological Evaluation. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1517
The trench-based evaluation successfully delineated the extent of the Horsey Hill later Bronze Age enclosure/hillfort within the proposed development area. As envisaged, three of the six trenches determined the line of the enclosure ditch that defined its northern flank and, at the same time, indicated that a significant stretch of the adjacent elevated Toll Road (the A605) was almost certainly constructed upon its related rampart. Two trenches exposed rows of preserved wooden posts, including a section of a Late Bronze Age alignment (previously identified in 2008) and a section of a new, separate alignment dating to the Late Iron Age. Although many centuries apart, both post-alignments spanned a shallow embayment that adjoined the south-western corner of the Flag Fen Basin. As well as the preserved wooden posts, two near-whole trees (of bog oak like proportions) were recovered form high up in the infilled enclosure ditch. Of the six trenches, two had no archaeology, but these provided a better understanding of the deposit sequence related to the increasingly saturated environment that ultimately swamped all but the highest contours of Horsey Hill and its associated settlement.
1521
Staplee Way, Peterborough: A Desk-Based Assessment
Aldred, O. 2022. Staplee Way, Peterborough: A Desk-Based Assessment. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1521
The Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) has been commissioned by Barnack Estates UK Ltd to prepare an archaeological desk-based assessment for land being promoted for development through the Peterborough Local Plan (2016 to 2036). The Proposed Development Area (PDA) covers approximately 5.7 hectares.
1414
St Bene't's Churchyard, Cambridge, Archaeological Monitoring
Cessford, C. (2019). St Bene't's Churchyard, Cambridge, Archaeological Monitoring . Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1414
Archaeological monitoring of three trial pits related to the potential installation of an access ramp. These revealed mainly modern features and indicate that burials etc. are locatated at some depth from the current ground surface.
1415
Northstowe Phase 2, Cambs Archaeological Post Excavation Assessment (Vol. 2) Peripheral Areas
Collins, M. (2019). Northstowe Phase 2, Cambs Archaeological Post Excavation Assessment (Vol. 2) Peripheral Areas. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1415
The Cambridge Archaeological Unit undertook a series of Archaeologcial Investigations across three different areas within the boundary of the former Oakington Airfileld. Evidence for activity dating between the Iron Age through to the medieval period was identified within these areas.
1417
Historic Building Recording at The Old Baheney, 1 Huntingdon Rd, Chattens
Dickens, A. (2019). Historic Building Recording at The Old Baheney, 1 Huntingdon Rd, Chattens. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1417
Level 2 historic building recording at the Old Bakery, 1 Huntingdon Road, Chatteris, Cambridgeshire.
1419
Blackley Quarry, Essex: Extension Phases 3 x 4 An Archaeological Evaluation
Schonfeld, C. (2019). Blackley Quarry, Essex: Extension Phases 3 x 4 An Archaeological Evaluation. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1419
A total of 520m of archaeological trial trenching was undertaken over an area of 2.7ha at Blackley Quarry, Great Leighs, Essex. The worked was carried out in order to evaluate land ahead of extension of the quarry (Phases 3 and 4). The investigated area showed evidence of the post-Medieval arable land use recorded in Phases 1 and 2. The area was devoid of earlier archaeological features or deposits.
1420
3-5 Round Church Street and the Cambridge Union, Cambridge, Historic Building Recording
Newman, R. (2019). 3-5 Round Church Street and the Cambridge Union, Cambridge, Historic Building Recording . Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1420
Historic building recording was undertaken at No's 3-5 Round Church Street and the Cambridge Union in advance of extensive redevelopment. The former comprise three surviving examples from an original terrace of four two-storey houses with basements, which were constructed as part of a widespread phase of speculative development. They most probably date to the 1830s. The Cambridge Union itself was originally built in 1866 to a design by Alfred Waterhouse and is Grade II listed. It is the home of the Cambridge Union debating society. Proposed alterations to this building will involve the demolition of a number of elements including a late nineteenth-century toilet block and two 1930s squash courts, as well as the removal of a 1930s façade on Round Church Street and the reinstatement of the original Neo-Gothic design. In addition, two small-scale episodes of archaeological monitoring were also undertaken during the course of the recording, and these are also reported upon.
1421
Over Mere Side Investigations Site XI and XV
Neil, B. and Evans, C. (2019). Over Mere Side Investigations Site XI and XV. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1421
Set within a minor valley of the Little Ouse catchment, evidence from the evaluation demonstrates the valley bottom was formerly a much wetter environment, covered by blanket peat with palaeochannels and peat filled periglacial hollows. On the dryland margins, a modest flint assemblage and possible traces of ploughed out burnt mounds attest to low-level Neolithic and Bronze Age use. Ditches have been circumstantially assigned a medieval date, believed to form a component of the more substantial complex along the western fringes of Eriswell village (Stephens and Gater 2019). Elements of a 19th-20th century fieldsystem were also exposed within the trenches.
1422
Mayton Wood Quarry: Desk Based Assessment
Wiseman, R. (2019). Mayton Wood Quarry: Desk Based Assessment . Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1422
The Cambridge Archaeological Unit has been commissioned by Frimstone Ltd. to prepare an archaeological desk-based assessment for the proposed extension to their Mayton Wood quarry west of Coltishall. The Proposed Development Area consists of four large fields centred on TG241214 (northern), TG240211 (north-central), TG240208 (south-central), and TG243206 (southern), as well as an access road. In total, the PDA covers c.33.8 hectares.
