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
1423
Excavations at The Marshalls Site, Newmarket Rd, Cambrdige 2015-16. Arch. Post Ex Assessment
Tabor, J. (2019). Excavations at The Marshalls Site, Newmarket Rd, Cambrdige 2015-16. Arch. Post Ex Assessment . Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1423
Archaeological excavation of major Iron Age settlement remains was undertaken by Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) as part of the Marshalls Wing development at Newmarket Road, Cambridge (centred on TL 4898 5929). Work was carried out in two phases between September 2015 and November 2018. Situated immediately to the north of Newmarket Road, the excavation area(s) lies within extensive Iron Age settlement, which has been variously recorded in previous evaluations and excavations. The current excavation exposed settlement remains dating from the Early Iron Age through to the Later Iron Age as well as evidence of later, Early Roman and Medieval land use. The main period of occupation dated to the Early and Middle Iron Age and includes at least three distinct phases of settlement representing a shift from Early Iron Age open settlement to Middle Iron Age enclosed settlement. Amongst the site's features, some 488 pits produced large pottery and animal bone assemblages as well as human remains (both articulated burials and disarticulated elements). Amongst the pits, one individual feature (F.108) - previously encountered in a 1997 evaluation (Mortimer 1997) - produced a particularly large and valuable Early Iron Age finds assemblage including over 1500 sherds of pottery and over 17kg of animal bone. A total of 14 ditched enclosures, representing probable paddocks as well as settlement enclosures, were also recorded alongside nineteen four post structures. The Iron Age remains at the site represent settlement of some scale and an archaeological site of considerable importance. Potentially an unbroken sequence of occupation, associated with substantial artefactual assemblages, it has considerable potential in furthering our understanding of Iron Age settlement and its economy and in particular the Early to Middle Iron Age transition.
1424
Archaeological Monitoring of Works for Drainage and Water Supply at St Mary Magdalene Church, Madingley (SMM18)
Aldred, O. (2019). Archaeological Monitoring of Works for Drainage and Water Supply at St Mary Magdalene Church, Madingley (SMM18). Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1424
Archaeological monitoring (test pit and watching brief) for drainage and water supply (across 6 different trenches). The main findings were related to the churchyard's extension (mainly disturbed human bone was found, and one in situ individual). There was evidence for 18th century landscaping (relating to Capability Brown), and some evidence for medieval and pre-18th century remains relating to the adjacent settlement (a small gully and a disturbed surfaces relating to a building). The latter included residual 12th century pottery, but also 16th-17th century pottery and clay pipe (along with glass, brick and tile) that was probably contemporary with the settlement remains.
1425
Former RAF Oakington (Northstowe) Historic Building Recording on Listed Pillboxes
Dickens, A. (2019). Former RAF Oakington (Northstowe) Historic Building Recording on Listed Pillboxes. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1425
Level 4 historic building recording was carried out on five of the nine Grade II Listed Pillboxes at the former RAF Oakington in Cambridgeshire. The airfield forms part of the Northstowe new town development site and the survey will contribute towards an overall management plan for the pillboxes. The pillboxes are all of the Oakington or cantilevered type built in 1941 as part of a national strategy of airfield defence. The survey, which included detailed survey, recording and photography, designated two sub-types as being present (Oakington 'A' and 'B') though it is unclear whether the distinction is meaningful in terms of understanding their context. The Pillboxes are in generally good condition.
1427
St Andrew's Church, Oakington: A Watching Brief
Dickens, A. and Webb, D. (2019). St Andrew's Church, Oakington: A Watching Brief. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1427
The Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) undertook the archaeological monitoring of works for a new drain and soakaway at Saint Andrew's Church Oakington, Cambridgeshire. The monitoring took place on 30th January 2017. The works identified a single articulated burial and indications of two others, disturbance of all was avoided in completion of the works. A background level of disarticulated human remains was observed within the churchyard.
1428
All Saints Knapwell: A Watching Brief
Dickens, A. and Webb, D. (2019). All Saints Knapwell: A Watching Brief. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1428
The Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) undertook the archaeological monitoring of two small hand dug test pits against the foundations of All Saint's Church, Knapwell, Cambridgeshire. The monitoring took place on 22nd February 2017. The works identified a degree of displacement in the churches foundations at that point and a low background level of disarticulated human remains was observed. No articulated burials were encountered in the work
1429
Archaeological Investigations at Gravel Diggers Quarry, Waterceach, Cambridgeshire
Bourne, T. (2019). Archaeological Investigations at Gravel Diggers Quarry, Waterceach, Cambridgeshire. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1429
Summary From 2016 through to 2018 the Cambridge Archaeological Unit undertook four phases of excavation at Gravel Diggers Quarry, Waterbeach. A total of 24ha was stripped revealing archaeology dating from the Mesolithic through to the Middle Iron Age with the main focus being dispersed pits of Bronze Age date. The earliest feature on site was a springhead complex with significant pollen sequences demonstrating the changing environment from the Early Mesolithic through to the Neolithic. The two main periods of activity identified dated to the Early and Middle Bronze Age, with the Early Bronze Age characterised by pits and cremations dispersed across the excavation area and the Middle Bronze Age consisting of a small settlement. The Iron Age archaeology comprised several watering holes. A common feature across all of the main phases was the presence of impressive water logged wood assemblages.
1430
Archaeological Investigations at Marshalls Ground Running Enclosure, Cambridge International Airport, Cambridgeshire, Evaluation
Bourne, T. (2019). Archaeological Investigations at Marshalls Ground Running Enclosure, Cambridge International Airport, Cambridgeshire, Evaluation. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1430
Archaeological evaluation and Strip, Map and Sample excavation was carried out by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit at Cambridge Airport ahead of the construction of a new Ground Running Enclosure between March and August 2018. Archaeological remains comprised a large periglacial hollow that saw a limited amount of utilisation in the Late Bronze Age, as well as a number of ditches and pits, which relate to a Middle Iron Age farmstead. Later activity was largely restricted to Medieval and Post-Medieval agriculture and field boundaries.
1431
Darwin Green 2 + 3. Cambridgeshire: An Archaelogical Evaluation
Barrett, H. (2019). Darwin Green 2 + 3. Cambridgeshire: An Archaelogical Evaluation. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1431
An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cambridge Archaeological Unit at Darwin Green 2 and 3, Cambridge (TL 4341 6129) (Figure 1) from 3rd December to 17th December 2018 and from 7th January to 21st March 2019. Five Roman settlements with Iron Age origins were identified in the central fields of the PDA, located along a gravel ridge. Outlying Roman field systems and prehistoric activity were exposed on gault clay to the West. The area has been arable farmland from the Medieval period; evidence of upstanding ridge and furrow, orchards and planting beds spanning the post-medieval period was abundant.
1433
Fellow's Garden, Peterhouse College, Cambrdige: Archaeological Summer School 2019
Newman, R. (2019). Fellow's Garden, Peterhouse College, Cambrdige: Archaeological Summer School 2019. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1433
Between the 6th and the 9th of August 2019 five test pits were excavated within the Fellows' Garden of Peterhouse College, Cambridge, as part of an archaeological summer school hosted by the college. Two of the test pits encountered structural remains associated with domestic properties that formerly fronted onto Trumpington Street. Of these remains, one structure in particular consisted of a substantial masonry building of probable late fifteenth-century date. The domestic properties were demolished in the mid to late nineteenth century, at which time the Fellows' Garden was also expanded from its original walled location. Made-ground deposits associated with this latter event were identified in two further test pits, beneath which stratified late medieval deposits were encountered. A fifth test pit targeted a high-resistance anomaly detected during a geophysical survey of the site, which was identified as an infilled tree throw.
1434
Archaeological Investigations at Downham Road, Ely, Cambridgeshire, Archive Report
Cessford, C., Wright, A., Robinson Zeki, L., and Huisman, F. (2019). Archaeological Investigations at Downham Road, Ely, Cambridgeshire, Archive Report. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1434
Following desktop assessment, geophysical survey and a trial trench evaluation in 2009 (Appleby et al. 2009), the Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) undertook two programmes of further excavation at the East Cambs District Leisure Village site situated on Downham Road, Ely (cf. Wright 2016, Robinson Zeki 2018). The 2015 excavation of Area 1 and Area 2 and work undertaken in Area 3 and 4 between May 2016 and September 2016, exposed archaeology ranging in date from the Late Bronze Age through to the Post-Medieval period, including Iron Age pit clusters, Early Roman fields and planting beds and a multi-phase enclosure system with several post- and beam-slot built ancillary structures dating to the Middle Saxon period. This area of Middle Saxon settlement is presumed to relate to the West Fen Road food producing site associated with Ely ecclesiastical centre (Mortimer et al. 2005, Wright 2015). Identification of considerable accumulations of alluvium and colluvium attests to the environmental impact of intense settlement of the Coveney area of Ely from the Iron Age onwards.
1436
Archaeological Investigations at Nine-Wells Cambridge, Post Ex Assessment
Wright, A. (2019). Archaeological Investigations at Nine-Wells Cambridge, Post Ex Assessment . Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1436
This report outlines the methods and results of the excavation carried out at Nine Wells, Cambridge during September 2018. The work was primarily designed to further investigate the Mesolithic-Early Bronze Age flint scatter identified through fieldwalking in 2017 (Boreham et al. 2018). Excavation recovered further Mesolithic-Early Bronze Age flint-work demonstrated to yield from a thin layer of colluvium dating to the Roman period or later, which covered the foot slope of White Hill. A total of two ditches were also identified, which could not be accurately dated, but appear to link up with the later prehistoric and Roman complex seen across the landscape as cropmarks
1437
Land North of Barton Road, Cambridge, Desk Based Assessment
Wiseman, R. (2019). Land North of Barton Road, Cambridge, Desk Based Assessment . Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1437
The Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) has been commissioned by the
North Barton Road Landowners Group (North BRLOG) to prepare an archaeological desk-based assessment for land being promoted for development through the Greater Cambridge Local Plan. The site forms South West Cambridge: Land North of Barton Road (Figure 1). The Proposed Development Area (PDA) covers approximately 155 hectares. The purpose of this desk-based assessment is to assess: (a) the archaeological potential of the PDA (b) the likely impact of previous land use on the survival of any archaeological remains, and (c) the potential for impacts on the surviving archaeological resource. For the purposes of this report, archaeological and historical records were consulted for a rectangular search area covering 1,250 hectares, extending approximately 500m from the site boundaries.
