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
471
New Prison at Former Rockwell and APV Work, Westfield Road, Peterborough
Knight, M. (2002). New Prison at Former Rockwell and APV Work, Westfield Road, Peterborough. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 471
An excavation within the grounds of the former Rockwell and APV Works, on behalf of HM Prison Service, has revealed parts of Peterborough's prehistoric landscape. At the same time as replicating regionally characteristic patterns of Bronze Age inhabitation, the site represents a crucial upland contrast to predominant fen-edge observations. Within the excavation area isolated Neolithic and Early Bronze Age pits demonstrate sporadic episodes of occupation of the site prior to the construction of field and settlement boundaries around the Middle Bronze Age. Narrow linear ditches marked the edges of fields, whilst larger detached boundaries gave definition to discrete areas of settlement. Both types of boundary remained 'clean' until the Latter part of the Bronze Age when material from adjacent settlement activity found its way into the upper profiles of the ditches. Large wells, burnt stone pits, hearths and a four-post structure characterised the settlement evidence.
472
An Archaeological Evaluation at Hinchingbrooke Hospital
Armour, N. (2002). An Archaeological Evaluation at Hinchingbrooke Hospital. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 472
An archaeological evaluation of eight trenches within the proposed development areas of Hinchingbrooke Hospital revealed extensive Medieval land usage in the form of ridge and furrow field divisions and post-Medieval landscaping activity. Three earlier ditch features were recorded but could not be dated.
473
An Archaeological Desk Based Assessment of Land at Manor Farm, Holywell, Cambridgeshire
Hall, A. (2002). An Archaeological Desk Based Assessment of Land at Manor Farm, Holywell, Cambridgeshire. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 473
This Archaeological Desk Based Assessment was commissioned by Ashwell Developments Limited. It relates to an area of 0.33 hectares to the north of Conger Lane, Holywell, Cambridgeshire. The plot lies within the property of Manor Farm, centred on TL337/709. The study reveals potential for archaeology spanning several periods. The nature of the local topography of Holywell, in a prominent position above the Ouse floodplain, with access to a range of natural resources including a documented fresh water spring, would have made this a favoured place to settle from the prehistoric period onwards. Although no known archaeology is recorded within the Development site itself, the proximity of other findspots and sites, notably Roman and its position within the Medieval village, suggest potential for archaeological remains to be encountered.1
474
55 Broad Street Ely: A Desktop Assessment
Dickens, A. (2002). 55 Broad Street Ely: A Desktop Assessment. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 474
The Cambridge Archaeological Unit was commissioned by Neale Associates to undertake an archaeological desktop assessment on the site of 55 Broad Street, Ely (TL 543 798). Although there is no archaeological data specifically for this site, investigation in the area, particularly that on the Jewsons Yard site has revealed a history of extensive domestic and industrial activity in this part of the town. Although it seems that the wider river side area was only generally occupied after the 13th/14th century, probably relating to the diversion of the Ouse, this end of the island has seen activity of some kind from the Middle Saxon period onwards. The area of the proposed development is unlikely to reveal evidence of purely domestic activity. The landuse patterns suggested by documentary, cartographic and archaeological evidence would indicate that this is concentrated on the main road frontages and along the smaller access lanes, with gardens yards and industrial areas behind. However, it must be borne in mind that early buildings may stretch back a considerable distance from the street frontage, and that less intensely utilized strips of land may be interspersed by plots of more concentrated activity, depending on the particular history of each individually owned plot. In conclusion it should be noted that intrusive activity, particularly in the central part of the plot, appears to have been limited and therefore it can be presumed that any archaeology on the site will be well preserved. The proposed development, however, is limited in scope with the new buildings occupying much the same locations as those shown on the 1927 map (Figures 3 & 8). Depending on the foundation construction and depth (not presently known) potentially only the services (which are extensive) are likely to significantly impact upon archaeology in the undisturbed areas. 9
475
Holwood Estate, Bromley. A Review of Archaeological Interest around the Redwood Centre
Dickens, A. (2002). Holwood Estate, Bromley. A Review of Archaeological Interest around the Redwood Centre. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 475
This archaeological review has been commissioned by Nicholson Estates. It examines the archaeological effects and opportunities arising from the development of land on the site of the Redwood Building and Stable Yard areas, within the Holwood Estate at Keston, Bromley, NGR TQ41956 63488. The modern day Estate, which includes a post-war industrial complex, is located within an area of archaeological significance as defined in the London Borough of Bromley's Unitary Development Plan (UDP). In addition part of the Estate comprises part of a Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM), Caesar's Camp (LO101), about 200m to the northeast of the Redwood Building. The Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) has been commissioned to: (1) Summarise the known archaeological record for the immediate vicinity of the Redwood Building and Stable Yard. (2) Assess the potential for significant impact upon the archaeological resource in that area. (3) Identify strategies to mitigate development impacts and satisfactorily accommodate and safeguard the future of any archaeological interests.
476
9 West Road, Cambridge. An Archaeological Evaluation
Patten, R. (2002). 9 West Road, Cambridge. An Archaeological Evaluation. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 476
An evaluation was undertaken in advance of proposed building work at the current Faculty of English building, 9 West Road, Cambridge. Three trenches were excavated, two to the rear and one at the front, to assess the potential for any archaeology in particular Saxon evidence. The trenches revealed only evidence of late 19th century quarrying.
477
Archaeological Evaluation at Fairstead, King's Lynn, Norfolk
Armour, N. (2002). Archaeological Evaluation at Fairstead, King's Lynn, Norfolk. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 477
This project was commissioned by Wilcon Homes Ltd to assess the archaeological potential of the development area (centred TL 640 190). The work was carried out from the 8th of February to the 1st March 2002. There is reason to believe that the evaluation has illuminated only a very small sample of the surviving prehistoric archaeology of the assessment area. Following a site visit, Dr. Peter Murphy, Palaeoenvironmental Research Coordinator for English Heritage, wrote that; "although the prehistoric archaeology of the Norfolk fen-edge was investigated during the Fenland Management Project, the sites examined lay to the south, in the peat fen (Crowson et al. 2000). The fen-edge to the north is comparatively unknown. This evaluation, and any future excavations arising from it, are therefore of considerable regional significance" (P. Murphy, pers . comm.). The earliest dating of the flint assemblage to the Late Mesolithic and Early Neolithic has only reinforced this. Malcolm Bradbury, writing in East Anglian Archaeology Report 50 acknowledges the destruction of the fen resource but continues; "there is still an opportunity to confront artefactual and environmental evidence from the same areas and even to locate the Mesolithic/Neolithic transition". It seems that the site at Fairstead offers a rare opportunity to study a hitherto undamaged section of fen edge, where corresponding palaeoenvironmental and archaeological evidence will greatly contribute to our understanding of landscape utilisation in the Late Mesolithic, Neolithic and Early Bronze Age. 23
478
An Archaeological Evaluation on Land at West Deeping (King Street) Lincolnshire
Patten, R. (2002). An Archaeological Evaluation on Land at West Deeping (King Street) Lincolnshire. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 478
An archaeological evaluation was undertaken in advance of a proposed quarry North of the village of West Deeping centred on TL 511175/310000. Sixteen trenches were excavated all of which contained archaeology. The evaluation aimed to answer a specific set of questions derived from the extensive desktop and geophysical survey. Prehistoric activity from the Late Neolithic through to the Iron Age was recorded. Possible Bronze Age activity was evidenced within a number of different trenches at various locations, however, it was not possible to securely date the co-axial 'droveway' to this period. The state of preservation below the headland banks seemed little better than elsewhere, and there was no evidence for the survival of upcast from any feature. The triple ditch system actually consisted of five separate ditches, with the middle ditch being significantly deeper than the others. The settlement was revealed to have probable Iron Age origins and to have been occupied throughout the Roman period flourishing in the 3rd to 4th centuries AD. Fragments of building stone from a number of ditches within the trenches suggest the possibility of there having been a Roman stone built structure.
479
An Archaeological Desk Based Assessment of Land at Lodge Farm, Costessey, Norfolk
Everill, P. and Hall, A. (2002). An Archaeological Desk Based Assessment of Land at Lodge Farm, Costessey, Norfolk. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 479
This Archaeological Desk Based Assessment was commissioned by Wilcon Homes. It relates to an area of approximately 22 hectares to the west of New Costessey, Norfolk. The proposed development area (PDA) lies within the property of Lodge Farm, centred on TG 165/103. The study reveals significant known prehistoric archaeology within the PDA, notably a Bronze Age ring ditch and the find spot of a late Bronze Age hoard. Within the immediate surrounding area there are numerous other findspots and sites of all periods. It is clear this was an area of activity during the prehistoric period and there is the potential to uncover further archaeology, possibly relating to settlement and fieldsystems. With several Roman find spots and scatters within the vicinity, and a possible road running along the southern boundary of the development area, archaeology of this period may also be present. The area would have been an attractive place to settle throughout the past, located between two rivers, the Wensun to the north and Yare to the south, and on a gentle south-east facing slope, with light and well drained, sandy soils.
480
An Archaeological Evaluation at 55 Broad Street, Ely, Cambridgeshire
Armour, N. (2002). An Archaeological Evaluation at 55 Broad Street, Ely, Cambridgeshire. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 480
An Archaeological Evaluation undertaken at 55 Broad Street, Ely, comprised of two test trenches, which uncovered typical 'backyard' activity dating from the Victorian period back to the 14th century AD. One ditch dating to the 14th century was identified but this was mostly obscured by the trench sides. No further features were identified and there was little direct evidence for early habitation in the areas trenched.
481
Homerton College, Cambridge. An Archaeological Desktop Assessment.
Dickens, A. (2002). Homerton College, Cambridge. An Archaeological Desktop Assessment. . Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 481
The objective of this report is to examine the probability of archaeological remains occurring within the proposed redevelopment area and to assess the likely impact of the redevelopment upon any such remains. The study sets the findings in the context of the relevant legislation, both national and local, and proposes a broad archaeological model based on the findings. The proposed development site lies within a rich archaeological landscape with evidence of activity from the early prehistoric period onwards, however there is no concrete evidence at this time to demonstrate that such remains extend within the site boundary. Given the above conclusion further data will be required to construct a detailed archaeological model for the site. This would be best achieved by field based evaluation. The impact of the proposed development on the archaeological record will depend upon the construction techniques used, but are likely to be most significant in Area A and rather less so in Areas B and C.
482
Archaeological Excavations at Land East of Highfields Road, Highfields, Caldecote, Cambridgeshire
Redding, M. (2002). Archaeological Excavations at Land East of Highfields Road, Highfields, Caldecote, Cambridgeshire. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 482
These archaeological excavations have been completed at Highfields, Caldecote, Cambridgshire, on behalf of Wilcon Homes Ltd. (centred on TL 3526 5858). The archaeology revealed two main phases of activity, spanning the Romano-British and Medieval periods. The Romano-British phase was characterised by the establishment of a horticultural system of formulised rectilinear bedding plots, overlain by medieval ridge and furrow field system.
