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
522
Chicksands, Bedfordshire. An Archaeological Desk Based Assessment.
Cooper, A. (2003). Chicksands, Bedfordshire. An Archaeological Desk Based Assessment.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 522
An archaeological desk based assessment was undertaken by Cambridge Archaeological Unit on behalf of Drivers Jonas in December 2002. It focuses on a 4.25 ha proposed development area (PDA) centred at TL 123 388 and covers a study area of 1km around this site. The investigation shows archaeological evidence from the Bronze Age onwards has been recorded from around but not within the PDA. The earliest datable evidence is a complete Bronze Age Beaker pot, found in isolation in the early 20th century. Records of prehistoric flint finds and undated cropmarks have been made across the study area and suggest extensive Prehistoric occupation. A possible Roman road runs to the south of the PDA and a Roman building and cemetery were excavated to the east in the early 19th century. The principal Medieval records relate to the Gilbertine Priory of Chicksands to the north of the PDA and the village of Campton to the south. Post Medieval activity includes the creation of a landscaped park around Chicksands Priory and widespread small-scale quarrying for gravel, sand and clay. More recently a World War II RAF base was constructed on and around the PDA, part of which is still in use. This recent activity is likely to have disturbed any archaeology within the PDA however there remains potential for discovering evidence of Prehistoric, Roman and Medieval occupation.
523
Cambridge Airport Replacement Terminal: An Archaeological Evaluation
Cooper, A. and Evans, C. (2003). Cambridge Airport Replacement Terminal: An Archaeological Evaluation. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 523
An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by a team from Cambridge Archaeological Unit on land at Cambridge Airport (centred TL 4897 5913) in October 2002. The investigation revealed evidence of Iron Age and Roman Conquest period occupation in all but one of the excavated trenches. This included a system of ditched boundaries on a NW-SE and NE-SW alignment as well as the remains of circular structures, a possible post-built structures, pits and a single inhumation. The artefacts retrieved were indicative of settlement activity and included an unusual Iron Age base sherd with a �makers� stamp and a possible Continental import. The evidence compliments the findings from investigations to the north of the site and suggests that the extensive Iron Age settlement found there extends southwards into and probably beyond the current area of investigation.
524
The Former Government Offices Site, Brooklands Avenue, Cambridge: Residentail Site. Archaeological Evaluation (Part 1)
Dickens, A. and Patten, R. (2003). The Former Government Offices Site, Brooklands Avenue, Cambridge: Residentail Site. Archaeological Evaluation (Part 1). Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 524
Residential development is proposed on land to the south of Brooklands Avenue, Cambridge (site centre TL4560 5677). Between the 10th December 2002 and the 17th December 2002 a small team from the Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) was commissioned to do an archaeological evaluation of part of the proposed site. This work was undertaken on behalf of Kajima UK. The area of the proposed re-development covers some 9.25 ha, bounded to the north by Brooklands Avenue, to the east by Shaftesbury Road, to the south by the Cambridge University Press complex and to the west by Hobson's Brook and an area known as 'Empty Common'. Partly occupied by five blocks of single storey offices built in 1946 (the 'spider buildings') with associated roads and services, the area also includes a two storey reinforced bunker built during the Cold War as the Regional Seat of Government (Cocroft 1997). Immediately outside the site lies Brooklands, a brick mansion built about 1827. The gardens associated with the house lie within the development area.
525
Archaeological Evaluation on Land at the Cambridge Water Company, Rustat Road, Cambridge. Phase - 1 The North Area
Cooper, A. (2003). Archaeological Evaluation on Land at the Cambridge Water Company, Rustat Road, Cambridge. Phase - 1 The North Area. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 525
The first phase of an archaeological evaluation on land at the former Cambridge Water Company, Rustat Road, Cambridge (centred TL 4644 5697) was undertaken by a team from Cambridge Archaeological in December 2002. No archaeological features were identified. The results add to the findings of earlier investigations in the area that have revealed patchy evidence for Roman occupation and agriculture over a wide area. However the nature and extent of this occupation remain uncertain.
526
Anglo-Saxon Settlement at Newnham. Institute of Criminology, Sidgwick Site, University of Cambridge
Armour, N., Evans, C., and Tipper, J. (2003). Anglo-Saxon Settlement at Newnham. Institute of Criminology, Sidgwick Site, University of Cambridge. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 526
This study reports the results of an archaeological excavation commissioned by Cambridge University Estates Management Services in advance of the construction of the new Institute of Criminology building on the University's Sidgwick campus (TL 4428 5812). The fieldwork was conducted from the 16th to the 24th of July 2002 and focused on the footprint of the new building. The excavation does not so much document a pristine Anglo-Saxon settlement, but a last chance appearance of a long suspected ancient settlement presence at this locale.
527
Excavations at Colne Fen, Earith: The Holme Fieldsystem.
Evans, C. and Patten, R. (2003). Excavations at Colne Fen, Earith: The Holme Fieldsystem. . Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 527
Hanson Aggregates Ltd.,in advance of mineral extraction, commissioned this archaeological excavation in a southern extension to the Colne Fen, Earith quarry (TL538496/276616). Accordingly, in the spring of 2001 a programme of evaluation fieldwork was undertaken across the field (Regan 2001), which eventually led to the opening of a 4.4ha area that was excavated, between 24th May 2002 and 24th July 2002, by a team from the Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU).
528
Chesterford Park, Little Chesterford, Essex: Archaeological Watching Brief on Access Improvements
Tipper, J. (2003). Chesterford Park, Little Chesterford, Essex: Archaeological Watching Brief on Access Improvements. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 528
A watching brief of topsoil stripping for alterations to the access road at Little Chesterford Park, Little Chesterford, was undertaken by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit in October 2002. A small number of archaeological features were encountered that are indicative of a late prehistoric settlement. The evidence comprised three pits containing Middle to Later Iron Age pottery and two ditches, which did not contain any datable material but are also phased to the period. It seems likely that a ring ditch to the south of the access road, known only from aerial photograph, is associated with the features encountered in this watching brief.
529
The Old Tescos Site, Broad Street, Ely. Watching Brief 2000 - 2001
Cessford, C. (2003). The Old Tescos Site, Broad Street, Ely. Watching Brief 2000 - 2001. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 529
Following on from an earlier evaluation, intensive watching brief was undertaken at the Old Tesco s site, Broad Street, Ely, in advance of housing construction. The results confirmed that the depth of modern overburden and Post-Medieval garden soils meant that the majority of groundworks did not impact upon archaeologically significant deposits. Evidence of possible Roman activity near the river Great Ouse was uncovered. No Saxon period remains were found, although the nature of the work means that this cannot be taken as evidence of their absence. Between the 12th and 15th centuries there is evidence of domestic occupation in the northwest half of the site,� along the Broad Street, Hythe Lane and Back Lane frontages, but only very limited activity in the southeast half of the site. in the 16th century the amount of domestic occupation decreases, but there is evidence for industrial activity near the river with the rest of the area predominantly given over to horticulture. .In the 17th and 18th centuries the focus of industrial activity moves away from the river and there is evidence far increased levels of activity on the Broad Street frontage.
530
Kennett Hall Farm, Cambridgeshire: An Archaeological Evaluation.
Redding, M. (2003). Kennett Hall Farm, Cambridgeshire: An Archaeological Evaluation.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 530
This report details results of a programme of archaeological trenched evaluation across the floodplain at Kennett Hall Farm, Kennett, Cambridgeshire. Deep soils on the floodplain demonstrated that post-Medieval alluvium had encroached across this area, sealing three well defined earlier soil horizons. Archaeological features found on the floodplain included a series of differentially aligned linear ditches and narrower curvilinear gullies, and a large pit/well. The age of these remains is unclear, but they could possibly date to the prehistoric and/or Romano-British periods. Archaeology directly sealed by the alluvium includes several Later Medieval and post-Medieval linear ditches, pits and a large post-Medieval artificial channel cut through the earlier soils. On the edge of the floodplain, a single Bronze Age posthole represents the only certain prehistoric feature from the site. Later Medieval and post-Medieval occupation on the floodplain edge was found in the form of beam slots for wall footings, post holes, post pads, midden pits, clunch pits for building material, a clunch-lined well, and a hollow way. Nineteenth century cartographic evidence confirms the existence of a number of farm buildings in the vicinity of the evaluated area. It was here that a concentration of Medieval and post-Medieval pottery, brick and tile was found along the edge of the floodplain during an earlier programme of archaeological fieldwalking
531
Lodge Farm, Costessey. An Archaeological Evaluation by Field Survey
Beadsmoore, E., Cooper, A., and Hall, A. (2003). Lodge Farm, Costessey. An Archaeological Evaluation by Field Survey. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 531
An archaeological evaluation by field survey was undertaken by a team from Cambridge Archaeological Unit on land at Lodge Farm, Costessey in January 2003. The work was carried out as part of an Environmental Impact Assessment in advance of a planning application to develop the site for housing. It consisted of a systematic programme of field walking and metal detecting covering a 9.5 ha portion of the total development area of 18 ha. A high density of worked and burnt flint was retrieved from across the site as well as a low density of Post Medieval pottery, tile, glass and metalwork. The results complimented the crop mark evidence of a ring ditch on the site and suggested a high potential for the discovery of late Neolithic and early Bronze Age occupation in this area.
532
Moorfield Road, Duxford, Cambridgeshire: An Archaeological Evaluation: Site I, Volvo Construction Equipment Works Depot.
Redding, M. (2003). Moorfield Road, Duxford, Cambridgeshire: An Archaeological Evaluation: Site I, Volvo Construction Equipment Works Depot.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 532
This report details results of a programme of archaeological trenched evaluation to the south-west of the existing Volvo Works Depot, at land of Moorfield Road, Duxford, Cambridgeshire, revealing evidence for Romano-British, Medieval and Post-Medieval activity. With the exception of a residual Neolithic flint blade found in the topsoil, no prehistoric material was recovered. On the eastern edge of the proposed development area (PDA) are a series of coaxial ditches and slighter linear channels, containing concentrations of Romano-British pottery, that included one complete and one partially complete vessel. Quantities of Romano-British roof and floor tile and pottery were found strewn over the field surface of the southern limit of PDA, extending beyond its limit towards Moorfield Road. Other linear ditches are attributable to Medieval and Post-Medieval periods with pottery ranging from the twelfth to twentieth centuries. Two discrete features were excavated, an undated post hole and an undated possible clunch pit. These could be related to archive and cartographic evidence indicating a square moat-like earthwork known as Coldham's, positioned immediately to the south of the limit of the evaluation area. It is highly probable that the earthwork is a Post-Medieval garden feature that has earlier origins, possibly utilising earthworks of an Romano-British enclosure or temple.
533
Selwyn College. An Archaeological Evaluation.
Regan, R. (2003). Selwyn College. An Archaeological Evaluation. . Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 533
The site produced evidence of a possible Roman field/boundary ditch, while also revealing two extant plough soils. The lower of these probably dates from the Roman period, while the upper plough soil dates from the 17th century. Evidence of late 18th century gravel quarrying was also revealed.
