top of page

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

No results

Browse the results below

900

Further Excavations at Striplands Farm, Longstanton, Cambridge (II)

Hutton, J. (2009). Further Excavations at Striplands Farm, Longstanton, Cambridge (II). Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 900

An archaeological excavation was carried out on land at Striplands Farm adjacent and near to several areas previously investigated by the CAU in 2005. Largely repeating the results of the 2005 Area A findings: primarily Saxo-Norman/Early Medieval to post-Medieval activity was identified, including a number of enclosure and possible property boundaries dating from the 12th to 15th centuries AD, numerous Medieval quarry pits and a large post-Medieval pond. Possibly relating to the early origins of west Longstanton, these Medieval features truncated Middle to Saxo-Norman features and a later Iron Age enclosure boundary ditch, with only a small quantity of residual Roman pottery found in later features.

901

Orchard Court, Murray Edwards College, Cambridge: An Archaeological Investigation

Hutton, J. (2009). Orchard Court, Murray Edwards College, Cambridge: An Archaeological Investigation. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 901

An archaeological excavation and watching brief was undertaken on land at Murray Edwards College (formally known as New Hall College), Cambridgeshire, (TL 439 595) on a Development Area located approximately 1.5km northwest from the centre of Cambridge. The archaeological investigations targeted the two areas of the development; the first area (Area 1) was located on the northwest side of the existing Grove Lodge, where the proposed works comprised the construction of a fire-escape spiral stairway, a car park and tree planting. The second area (Area 2) was at the eastern end of the building where an external fire-escape spiral stairway was to be constructed. Area 1 started as a trench and was widened to a small excavation area, whilst the second area comprised a watching brief where contexts were investigated and recorded when archaeological features were encountered. In Area 1 eight features were recorded, although only five were deemed to be of archaeological interest; the remaining three were modern features such as a pathway. The archaeological features consisted of three ditches, one pit and a roadway surface dated to the Roman period. The roadway surface was also recorded in Area 2.

902

School of Veterinary Medicine, West Cambridge: An Archaeological Evaluation

Hutton, J. (2009). School of Veterinary Medicine, West Cambridge: An Archaeological Evaluation. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 902

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken on land adjacent to the Cambridge University School of Veterinary Medicine, Cambridge, (NGR TL 4240 5900) between 29th and 30th September 2009 to address a condition placed upon planning permission for the construction of a University-related building. The evaluation trenches were excavated across the Proposed Development Areas (PDA) in order to determine the presence/absence of any archaeological remains and investigate their date, extent, character, significance and state of preservation. The trenches revealed archaeological remains pertaining to ridge and furrow agricultural system that contained pottery dating from between the 16th and 19th centuries.

903

The Old Schools, University of Cambridge: An Archaeological Excavation

Newman, R. (2009). The Old Schools, University of Cambridge: An Archaeological Excavation. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 903

An archaeological excavation, consisting of a single trench measuring 2.0m by 2.0m in extent, was undertaken within the north range of the Old Schools of the University of Cambridge during late June and early July 2009. Four distinct phases of activity were identified, the first of which was agricultural in nature and appears to date to the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. Following this, however, the site remained unoccupied until a timber-framed building was constructed during the 11th century. Associated with this structure were a number of refuse pits, along with a probable timber-lined well or cesspit. Domestic occupation then continued until the late 14th century, when the site was cleared in order to allow the construction of University's School of Theology (or Divinity School). Work began on this structure in c.1370, and at least two phases of construction have been identified; the building was completed in c.1400. Finally, later additions and modifications to the structure were also examined, including the foundation of Stephen Wright's Old Schools façade of 1755-58.

904

An Archaeological Watching Brief and Trenching Evaluation, Ormesby St. Margaret Flood Alleviation Scheme: Ormesby St. Margaret - Caister Pipeline

Newman, R. and Timberlake, S. (2009). An Archaeological Watching Brief and Trenching Evaluation, Ormesby St. Margaret Flood Alleviation Scheme: Ormesby St. Margaret - Caister Pipeline. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 904

Archaeological monitoring was undertaken along a 3.3km trenched section of the route of an Anglian Water pipeline inserted as part of the Ormesby St. Margaret flood alleviation scheme, the route of this running between Ormesby St. Margaret and West Caister in northeast Norfolk. The southern section (site 52660) consisting of a 320m long continuous trench some 5-6m wide, whilst the archaeology within the northern section (52659) was widely dispersed. In the northern part a including number of Post-medieval ditches and a series of prehistoric features including Early-Middle Iron Age and Roman pits and ditches were identified, some of which matched existing plotted cropmarks. In the middle section was found the remains of a 13th-15th century AD oven accompanying pottery and quern. The southern section approaching West Caister was denser in archaeology; this was crossed by ditches of suggested Late Bronze Age and Roman date associated with various field systems, a possible Late Prehistoric - Roman trackway associated with a square Roman structure, and two well-dated Late Bronze Age pits containing a very large assembage for Norfolk of Post-Deveril Rimbury pottery. Closer to the southern end on the outskirts of Caister the density of Medieval archaeology rises; this includes features associated with coastal drainage, a possible saltern, field lynchets and ditches, and a possible house structure.

905

Ridley Hall, Cambridge. An Archaeological Evaluation

Brittain, M. (2009). Ridley Hall, Cambridge. An Archaeological Evaluation. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 905

Three trenches were excavated in advance of an application for proposed construction works in the college grounds of Ridley Hall, Cambridge (TL4453 5782).. Archaeology was encountered in all three trenches from the early Neolithic through to the mid-eighteenth century. Prehistoric archaeology was mainly residual or composed of small finds; extensive human activity from the Late Iron Age/Romano-British and Early Roman periods was represented by two large ditches enclosing a cluster of circular pits, all containing high quantities of settlement material. Post-medieval remains included a double-walled linear post structure, foundation deposits associated with the construction of the hall, and built-up ground layers containing substantial artefactual remains.

806

Land East of Dereham, Norfolk: An Archaeological Desk Based Assessment.

Tabor, J. (2008). Land East of Dereham, Norfolk: An Archaeological Desk Based Assessment.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 806

Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) were commissioned by Taylor Wimpey UK Ltd to undertake an archaeological desk-based assessment of land east of East Dereham, Norfolk. The proposed development area (PDA) is centred on TG 0065 1345 to the north of Norwich Road. No known archaeological sites occur within the PDA, although the density of surface finds from the vicinity, point to a moderate potential for artefacts, indicating activity from a number of periods surviving within the plough zone. Such finds scatters, whilst potentially significant in themselves, may also indicate associated sub-surface remains. Furthermore, there is a possibility that the proposed development could impact upon remains associated with an undated rectangular cropmark, immediately adjacent to the boundary of the PDA.

807

Archaeological Investigations at Must Farm, Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire. Phase I Extraction Area. Interim Report

Tabor, J. (2008). Archaeological Investigations at Must Farm, Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire. Phase I Extraction Area. Interim Report. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 807

This report discusses the results of monitoring and excavation of The Phase 1 extraction area at the site of Must Farm, Whittlesea, in the Flag Fen basin, Cambridgeshire. The 5.05 hectare area being monitored revealed three raised gravel islands separated by a deeper 'wet' zone characterised by the presence of lower peat and fen clay-like horizons. The islands were delineated by the -0.50m Ordinance Datum (OD) contour and reached a maximum of 0.30m above OD. A buried soil horizon survived across most of the island tops although in places it had been 'replaced' by metalled surfaces made up of thin layers of compacted gravel. Most of the surfaces were linear and appeared to represent pathways leading off of the islands. A small burnt stone mound with an accompanying watering hole was found close to the -0.50m contour, making it the deepest 'dry-land' feature yet to be found within the Flag Fen basin. Slabs of Grooved Ware pottery were retrieved from the buried soil close to the western edge of the area along with some Late Mesolithic and later Neolithic worked flints.

808

Broom Quarry Extension, Broom, Bedfordshire. Interim Report

Slater, A. (2008). Broom Quarry Extension, Broom, Bedfordshire. Interim Report. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 808

An archaeological excavation was undertaken by Cambridge Archaeological Unit between May and November 2007 at Broom Quarry, Bedfordshire, on behalf of Tarmac Southern Ltd. The excavation formed the 12th phase of predevelopment archaeological investigation at Broom Quarry and involved the mechanical stripping, recording and excavation of archaeological features within an area identified during the 2003 evaluation as containing a high concentration of Middle Iron-Age settlement and excavated in conjunction with the archaeological management plan prepared by Andy Josephs (2003). The results of recent investigations at Broom Quarry are fully published in Past and Present: Excavations at Broom, Bedfordshire 1996-2005

809

24 Thompson's Lane, Cambridge: An Archaeological Investigation

Newman, R. (2008). 24 Thompson's Lane, Cambridge: An Archaeological Investigation. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 809

An archaeological investigation consisting of two trenches covering a combined area of 30m2 was undertaken in advance of redevelopment on a 610m2 area of land at 24 Thompson's Lane, Cambridge, a little to the north of the historic core of the city. A number of features relating to five distinct phases of activity were encountered. The earliest elements in this sequence comprised a series of alluvial deposits that formed from Prehistoric times up until the 14th century, and which included a distinctly drier episode during the Roman period. Then, from the 14th to the 16th centuries, the area was gradually 'reclaimed' by the introduction of numerous dump deposits before becoming incorporated into an area of widespread riverside development undertaken in the early 17th century. The route of the King's Ditch, the Medieval boundary to the city, appears to have been moved at least twice over the course of this period; having run at first adjacent to the southern perimeter of the site, it was apparently recut in the late 13th century along a new alignment parallel to the northern boundary of the area. Then, at some time between 1607 and 1609 (during a period in which St John's College owned the land to either side of the ditch), this recut was backfilled and the original route of the boundary re-established. Following this final reorganisation, any pre-existing structures on the site were demolished and a new series of buildings constructed. Although rebuilt, extended and modified several times - most notably when a series of brewers occupied the site between 1788 and 1902 - the layout of these buildings remained relatively unaltered until the early 20th century.

810

Stanground College, Peterborough: An Archaeological Desktop Assessment

Appleby, G. (2008). Stanground College, Peterborough: An Archaeological Desktop Assessment. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 810

This archaeological desktop assessment was requested by Peterborough City Council to assess the likely impact of the development of the 13.5ha site at Stanground College (NGR TL 204 960). Evaluation of the archaeological, historical, aerial and cartographic evidence shows that the site is situated in an area with a rich archaeological and historical background dating from the Palaeolithic to Medieval periods. The site is situated at the current southern central limit of the Stanground housing development and is bordered to the south by agricultural land.

811

Orton Longueville School, Peterborough. An Archaeological Desktop Assessment.

Standring, R. (2008). Orton Longueville School, Peterborough. An Archaeological Desktop Assessment.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 811

This archaeological desktop assessment was requested by Peterborough City Council to assess the likely impact of the development of the site at Orton Longueville School (centred NGR 516370 / 296353). Evaluation of the archaeological, historical, aerial and cartographic evidence shows that the site contains complex archaeology from the Roman and later prehistoric periods as well as medieval cultivation remains. The wider landscape contains extensive evidence of activity and settlement spanning the Palaeolithic to Anglo-Saxon periods.

bottom of page