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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

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494

An Archaeological Evaluation at the Old Field Laboratory, Huntingdon Road, Cambridge

Hatherley, C. (2002). An Archaeological Evaluation at the Old Field Laboratory, Huntingdon Road, Cambridge. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 494

This report details the archaeological evaluation carried out at The Old Field Laboratory, 219a Huntingdon Road, Cambridge on the 4th July 2002 by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit on behalf of Traffic International in advance of the construction of an extension to the existing building. The location of the evaluation trench within the area of development was severely limited due to an abundance of services. The activity within this trench appears to be associated with the construction of the Old Field Laboratory and its services. It is possible that the clay seen at the base of the excavation forms a lining for a larger soak away system or backfill from quarrying. The results of this evaluation clearly show that the area under development has been heavily disturbed by services and previous building construction. No archaeology, if ever present, has survived.

495

An Archaeological Evaluation at Homerton College, Cambridge

Hatherley, C. (2002). An Archaeological Evaluation at Homerton College, Cambridge. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 495

An archaeological evaluation was carried out on the 9 and 10 July 2002 by Cambridge Archaeological Unit on behalf of W S Atkins within the grounds of Homerton College, Hills Road (TL46071 56290). This work was undertaken in advance of the proposed redevelopment of a car park and access road. The results of this excavation are unambiguous. No archaeology was encountered within the trenches. This evaluation cannot confirm the absence of a Roman road through the grounds of Homerton College, however the possible truncation of any archaeological remains has been highlighted.

496

An Archaeological Evaluation in the Master's Garden, Clare College, Cambridge

Clarke, A. (2002). An Archaeological Evaluation in the Master's Garden, Clare College, Cambridge. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 496

An archaeological evaluation was carried out by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit on behalf of Clare College. This was undertaken in advance of the proposed construction of a garden building. The site is situated in the Master�s and Fellow�s Garden of Clare College, centred on TL 44448 58469, and the evaluation comprised of 10.5 sq. metres of trial trenching. Although the evidence points to this being an area of high archaeological potential, no significant archaeological features of any kind were recorded. Yet, rather than attesting to negative evidence of occupation as such, this tells of the site's immediate location. The excavation, together with the results of the auger survey, has shown that the alluvial deposits reach a depth of 4m below the ground surface. This must indicate the line of a palaeochannel running beneath western margin the Master�s garden. If this were the case, then it would provide a reason for the absence of archaeological evidence on site amidst the plethora of evidence in the surrounding environs.

497

The Archaeology of the Addenbrooke's Environs: A Desktop Essay

Evans, C. (2002). The Archaeology of the Addenbrooke's Environs: A Desktop Essay. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 497

This report characterises the archaeology of the area specifically in order to: 1) Consider what archaeological remains can be anticipated - and any particular �hot-spots� identified - within the �2020� expansion area 2) Establish the degree of disturbance wrought through construction and earthmoving operations within the core of the Hospital grounds itself.

498

Prehistoric & Roman Archaeology at Stonald Field, King's Dyke West, Whittlesey: Monuments and Settlement

Gibson, D. and Knight, M. (2002). Prehistoric & Roman Archaeology at Stonald Field, King's Dyke West, Whittlesey: Monuments and Settlement. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 498

East of the Flag Fen basin, near a small land bridge that once joined the fen islands of Whittlesey and Northey, our excavations uncovered an intricate pattern of later prehistoric and Roman archaeology. The site produced a rich collection of artefacts dating from the end of the Neolithic (c. 2500 BC) through to the end of the Roman period (410 AD). Prehistoric monuments, burials and settlement were overlain by the route of the Fen Causeway. The relationships between the different features illustrated a long and complex history to this part of the island, the focus of which began with the construction of a circle of posts and the building of a henge. Once erected this monument became a meeting point attracting both the debris of occupation and the burial of the dead. At the beginning of the Bronze Age round barrows were built next to the henge marking the resting place of ancestors, and eventually the cremated remains of other bereavements were incorporated into or around these earthworks. Down slope, and closer to the northern edge of Whittlesey island, groups of pits and post-holes indicated the regularity of occupation as broken pots, used tools and butchered bones littered their fills. Later in the Bronze Age new constructions created a permanency to this occupation with the post-built foundations of circular houses replacing the scatters of pits. The inhabitants of these houses would have been familiar with the fieldsystems at Fengate and intimate with the practices connected with the construction and �use� of the timber alignments and platform at Flag Fen. With the rising water levels this occupation ceased and it was not until the Roman period that the site witnessed renewed activity. Running across the site and making its way to the now relic platform at Flag Fen went the Fen Causeway as it hopped from island to island linking the high grounds east and west of the fen basin. Its construction brought with it roadside paddocks and enclosures and occasionally these were dotted with small workshops producing pottery or metalwork. Over time the road became less important and gradually an accumulation of debris over its surface bore the evidence of its demise.

499

Investigations of the Archaeological Landscape at Broom Quarry, Bedfordshire. Phase 7

Mortimer, R. (2002). Investigations of the Archaeological Landscape at Broom Quarry, Bedfordshire. Phase 7. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 499

The seventh phase of archaeological excavation has been completed at broom Quarry on behalf of Tarmac Quarry products (Southern) Ltd. The assessment area comprised 4.12 hectares. The excavations were conducted by a team from the Cambridge Archaeological Unit over five weeks in May-June 2002. The quarry site (centred on TL 175440) comprises an area of approximately 2.5 square kilometres on the north side of Broom village, to the west of Biggleswade, Bedfordshire.

500

An Archaeological Desk Based Assessment of the Cambridge Water Company Depot Rustat Road, Cambridge

Hall, A. (2002). An Archaeological Desk Based Assessment of the Cambridge Water Company Depot Rustat Road, Cambridge. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 500

This Archaeological Desk Based Assessment was commissioned by Bidwells on behalf of The Cambridge Water Company. It relates to an area of 1.16 hectares to the west of Rustat Road Cambridge, currently occupied by offices and outbuildings of the Cambridge Water Company. This proposed development area is centred on TL 4644/5697. The study reveals the potential for archaeology, most likely to be of the Roman period. This is determined by believed proximity of this area to two important, yet elusive Roman features, notably the Via Devana, and a possible military marching camp or small scale settlement observed during the early part of the 20th century to the immediate north of the Cattle market.

501

An Archaeological Evaluation at Girton College, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

Whittaker, P. (2002). An Archaeological Evaluation at Girton College, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 501

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cambridge Archaeological Unit in the garden area between the Chapel and Library of Girton College, Cambridge, Cambs. (TL 4248 6089). This was carried out in advance of an Archive and Special Collections Library being built. Only one trench revealed archaeology, a posthole of unknown date, though probably pre-Medieval judging by its appearance.

502

Medieval Buildings found during an Archaeological Watching Brief on Land beside Fitzwilliam Museum, Trumpington Street, Cambridge

Whittaker, P. (2002). Medieval Buildings found during an Archaeological Watching Brief on Land beside Fitzwilliam Museum, Trumpington Street, Cambridge. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 502

The construction of a temporary building on land next to the Fitzwilliam Museum, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, required an archaeological watching brief, undertaken by Cambridge Archaeological Unit in the summer of 2002 (TL 4491 5788). The results of which revealed evidence of occupation activity dating from the Saxo-Norman to Medieval periods (11th - 15th centuries), through to the Post Medieval periods (16th - 19th centuries). The earliest horizon was an 11/12th century sub/plough soil into which occupation features of postholes and pits had been cut in the Saxo-Norman period. Residual Roman pottery sherds had also become incorporated into some of these features and the plough soil. Larger pits, also Saxo- Norman in date were partially exposed, possibly being gravel extraction pits later used for rubbish disposal. Sealing these pits were mortar floors and walls relating to a large substantial clunch built structure, of c. 13th century date, one internal wall had the plaster facing still surviving. Evidence of demolition rubble and truncating pits dating to the 15th century suggested that some of the walls had been demolished by this period. Later activity on the site could be seen with 16th century layers and pits cutting through these earlier deposits, as well as an 18th century drain relating to the post-Medieval structures that stood on the site before being demolished in the mid 19th century when the Museum was built.

503

A Watching Brief at The Undertakers, Gravel Diggers Farm, Cottenham, Cambridgshire

Redding, M. (2002). A Watching Brief at The Undertakers, Gravel Diggers Farm, Cottenham, Cambridgshire. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 503

The Watching Brief took place between the 7t h and 9t h of August 2002 during the construction of a haul road and associated bund by M. Dickersons Ltd, in an area previously archaeologically evaluated by trenching in 2000 (Masser, 2000). Two of these trenches (7 & 8) were situated in the location of the proposed area of groundworks and revealed no archaeology. With the exception of remnant ridge and furrow running diagonally across the trench at c.9m intervals, no archaeological features were seen at this level. Evidently, the furrows had been encroached by the fen edge, as desiccated peat was seen in the furrows, notably at the southern end of the trench. Sparse amounts of medieval and post medieval pottery and tile indicative of manuring were encountered in the topsoil. Other than the ridge and furrow, no archaeological features were encountered within the trench or exposed in section

404

An Archaeological Evaluation at St. Michael's Church, Trinity Street, Cambridge

Hall, A. (2000). An Archaeological Evaluation at St. Michael's Church, Trinity Street, Cambridge. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 404

During November 2000, an archaeological evaluation was conducted by members of the Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) to the south of the tower of St Michael's church. Two small testpits were hand excavated to reveal the nature, and condition of any archaeological deposits underlying the present stone flagging. This investigation is in advance of a scheme to provide disabled access to the southern door of the church via a circular ramp. The results of the excavations suggest that although a proportion of the uppermost archaeological deposits have been truncated and disturbed by modern services, areas of intact archaeology, including inhumations are present almost immediately below the present floor makeup.

405

Fieldwalking at Knobbs Farm, Somersham, Cambridgeshire. Lafarge-Redland Quarry Development Phases 2-4

Conneller, C. (2000). Fieldwalking at Knobbs Farm, Somersham, Cambridgeshire. Lafarge-Redland Quarry Development Phases 2-4. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 405

This fieldwalking project was undertaken by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit, on behalf of Lafarge-Redland Aggregates Ltd. The land in the present survey represents Phases 2, 3 and 4 of seven proposed phases of work, due to the planned expansion of the existing quarry. 153 pieces of worked flint, 89 pieces of burnt flint (1274g) and 9 pieces of pottery were recovered. These finds indicate activity spanning millennia, from the Early Neolithic to the Roman period, with a particularly strong Early Bronze Age presence.

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