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
1358
Jesus College Porter's lodge, University of Cambridge. An Archaeological Desk Based Assessment
Brittain, M. (2016). Jesus College Porter's lodge, University of Cambridge. An Archaeological Desk Based Assessment. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1358
This archaeological desk based assessment was commissioned by Jesus College to assess the potential impact of a proposed development areaincorporating the Grade I listed South Range and Gatetower, the Grade II listed west wall of 'The Chimney', and the existing Porter's Lodge, all broadly centred upon TL 4522 5887. Jesus College was founded in 1497 on the site of the former Benedictine nunnery of St. Radegund, founded in the 1130s. The proposed development will have a direct impact upon buildings of the College phase, with possible archaeological features and deposits also surviving there for both the Nunnery and College phases. Added to this is the distinct possibility of encountering cemetery deposits, including disarticulated human bone and inhumations. Significant pre-monastic activity is registered in the vicinity to the Romano-British period, with settlement, fieldsystems, and later inhumation cemeteries. And low-level prehistoric activity has been identified within the College grounds, most notably of the Middle to Late Iron Age. The PDA is situated within an area known for its archaeological and historical significance at a local, regional and national scale.
1353
St. Edmunds College, Cambridge. Background Archaeological and Historical Review.
Newman, R. (2016). St. Edmunds College, Cambridge. Background Archaeological and Historical Review.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1353
St Edmund's College is situated in a rich archaeological landscape that contains numerous sites dating from the Mesolithic to post-medieval periods. Located closely adjacent to the core of the Roman town, previous investigations at the site have revealed evidence of features, domestic debris and burials of this date. Although significant post-medieval disturbance—primarily in the form of quarrying activity—has also been identified, the archaeological potential of the site nevertheless remains high.
1337
Blackley Quarry, Essex: Extension Phases 1+2. An Archaeological Evaluation
Brittain, M. (2016). Blackley Quarry, Essex: Extension Phases 1+2. An Archaeological Evaluation. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1337
700m of archaeological trenching was conducted as a condition to the extension (Phases 1 and 2) of Blackley Quarry over an area of 3.5ha. The investigation area was centred upon a landfall with minimal archaeological activity composed mainly of linears of a post-Medieval enclosed woodland and later arable landscape. At the base of the landfall were an infilled pond and a trackway, both sealed by colluvium probably accelerated after the 1970s following the area's inclusion into the broader arable landscape. No earlier features or deposits were encountered
1333
Fen Drayton Villa Investigations, Ouse Washland Archaeology. Excavation Report No. 2
Robinson Zeki, I. and Zeki, L. (2016). Fen Drayton Villa Investigations, Ouse Washland Archaeology. Excavation Report No. 2. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1333
An archaeological excavation was undertaken by volunteers and the Cambridge Archaeological Unit as a part of the Ouse Washes Landscape Partnership at the site of a possible Roman Villa at the RSPB's Fen Drayton Lakes reserve, near Cambridge. The fieldwork comprised two 5m x 10m trenches, which were targeted to expose the northern extent of the proposed Roman Villa and southern extent of a potential bathhouse. Excavations revealed additional evidence of Roman occupation, indications of small industry and high-status artefacts
1332
Wyng Gardens, Thompsons Lane, Cambridge. An Archaeological Excavation
Cessford, C. (2016). Wyng Gardens, Thompsons Lane, Cambridge. An Archaeological Excavation. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1332
Archaeological excavations by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit at WYNG Gardens (formerly St. Clement's Gardens), Thompson's Lane, Cambridge, on behalf of Trinity Hall between February and September 2015 revealed several phases of past activity. A Middle/Late Bronze Age–Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age palaeochannel of the river Cam dated by dendrochronology had good waterlogged preservation, but negligible evidence of human activity. This was followed by alluvial flood deposits dated to the Middle–Late Iron Age, again with relatively little evidence for a human presence in the immediate vicinity. Three phases of Romano-British activity, spanning the late 1st to mid/late 4th centuries, included the rear boundary of the lower town/suburban settlement fronting onto Bridge Street, waterside activity and an area of inhumation burials. After a further period marked by natural alluviation the area was reclaimed in the 11th–12th centuries, probably linked to the enclosure of the area by the King's Ditch in the mid-12th century. During the 13th–15th centuries there is relatively sparse evidence for activity, the area was probably part of the garden or curtilage meadow of a property with its main occupational focus to the west. Occupation increased markedly in the 16th century, when the area was sub-divided into nine plots, probably after St. John's College acquired the site in 1533. There is evidence for communal facilities shared between the plots, including a stone-lined cesspit and a well. Later there was further investment in the early/mid-17th century, with the construction of a new communal well and privy, plus an associated drain. In the 1791–95 the area was converted into a garden and later in 1911 a terrace of buildings was constructed. Significant finds, some of which are probably linked to the sites location close to the river Cam, include a Samian sherd with graffiti, an atypically high proportion of Stamford ware in the 11th–12th century assemblage, a rare 13th century imported Saintonge ware pitcher, significant quantities of limestone in 16th century contexts that probably represents material used as ballast, a stone with an incised coat of arms 'trial piece' and ceramic assemblages of the 1790s. The alluvial sequence, which spans c. 2500–3000 years from the Middle/Late Bronze Age to the 12th century AD, allowed various forms of analysis of long-term patterns to be undertaken including plant remains, pollen and X-ray fluorescence.
1341
Willingham Mere-side Investigations 2015. Excavations with Hanson's Over/Needingworth Quarry
Tabor, J., Timberlake, S., and Evans, C. (2016). Willingham Mere-side Investigations 2015. Excavations with Hanson's Over/Needingworth Quarry. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1341
This is the first report covering the Cambridge Archaeological Unit's investigations undertaken as part of the fourth mitigation phase of Hanson's Over / Needingworth quarry (Figure 1). The investigation area comprised a 7.6 ha area on the eastern side of the Ouse and encompassed the northeastern margin of the so-(Unit-) named Langdridge Spit peninsula/terrace and the western margins of Willingham Mere (a former lake deposit-area, which extends over much of the eastern part of the fourth mitigation phase area). The 2015 excavations were undertaken in three areas defined by previous evaluations (Vander Linden & Evans 2007; Tabor & Evans 2013): a 50x50m area targeted a round barrow at Site III (TL 39670 74050) while extensive open area excavations undertaken to the south/southwest of the Site III barrow encompassed Sites IX and XII (TL 39310 73600 and TL 39650 73900; Figure 2). Alongside the latter, the results of archaeological monitoring of the quarry diversion ditch works undertaken in 2013 are also included in this report.
1331
Earith Bulwark Investigations, Ouse Washland Archaelogy. Excavation Report No. 1
Brittain, M. (2016). Earith Bulwark Investigations, Ouse Washland Archaelogy. Excavation Report No. 1. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1331
Three trenches covering an area of 350.2sqm were opened in the environs of Earith's Civil War earthworks known as the Bulwark. Positioned upon a gravel terrace of the Wash, and set between the Old and New Bedford Levels that connect with the River Ouse, the surrounding landscape is archaeologically sensitive, with extensive prehistoric and Roman sites having been excavated to the north and south of the project area. Quarrying identified in two trenches immediately south of the Bulwark may hold some broad contemporary connection to Civil War activities, with 17th century pottery coming from one of these. A geophysical survey mapped a broad but discrete distribution of this quarried area. The trenches were opened across the distinct landfall of a terrace edge that was thought to have once framed a former channel of the River Ouse. A full sequence of sediment deposits was recorded from the later Holocene to the historic era. Items of Mesolithic to Middle Iron Age attribution dominated the finds recovered from these trenches, predominantly coming from sealed 'buried soil' contexts as well as a ditch dated to the latter of this time frame. These important findings are comparable to the Over/Needginworth and Colne Fen landscapes nearby, with the northward extension of the former's Mesolithic landscape being of particular significance. The potential for an early waterlogged organic sequence was clearly identified in one of the trenches in which the edge of a former course of the River Ouse was encountered. A third trench was positioned north of the Bulwark to investigate a raised linear anomaly thought to represent the course of the Roman Car Dyke. This was found to be a silt and alluvium filled roddon that passed through a deflated boggy environment, and although no sign of the dyke was forthcoming this may have been either removed or obscured by a later channel broadly following the West Wash flood deposits.
1318
Excavations at Ham Hill, Somerset, 2011 - 2013. A Post Excavation Assessment
Brittain, M., Sharples, N., and Evans, C. (2015). Excavations at Ham Hill, Somerset, 2011 - 2013. A Post Excavation Assessment. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1318
This document presents the collated results of a three-year programme of excavation and postexcavation assessment at Ham Hill, Stoke-sub-Hamdon, Somerset by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit of the University of Cambridge and the Department of Archaeology at Cardiff University. Ham Hill is located approximately 6km west of Yeovil, on the northern scarp of the Jurassic limestone hills which define the character of this part of Somerset. The hilltop is a plateau of Upper shelly limestone (Ham Hill stone), which rises to a maximum height of 139 metres OD and has extensive views, particularly north across the Somerset Levels. The hill's plateau is rung by a series of up to three rampart earthworks that enclose an area of 88.1 hectares. This comprises the largest Iron Age hillfort in Britain. Whilst the direct remit of the project was the preservation by record of sensitive archaeological remains within a proposed development footprint, the primary aim was to bring coherence to Ham Hill's archaeological resource.
1315
St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, Alconbury, Cambridgeshire. Archaeological monitoring of the North Porch extension and associated works
Timberlake, S. and Dodwell, N. (2016). St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, Alconbury, Cambridgeshire. Archaeological monitoring of the North Porch extension and associated works. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1315
Between March and June 2015 archaeological monitoring was undertaken within the graveyard of St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, Alconbury during groundworks carried out in advance of the construction of a porch extension and associated services and soakaway(s) adjacent to the North Aisle. The area cut by these groundworks proved to be densely packed with un-marked burials, amounting to 154 complete or partial skeletons identified and recorded, alongside several hundred kilos of disarticulated bone. Whilst many of these burials were likely to have been Medieval, there were a number of un-marked Post-medieval burials lying close to the church, amongst which were juveniles and infants. Of archaeological interest was the mixed incidence of Roman pot and tile, Early-Middle Saxon pottery (including sherds of a funerary urn), plus a wide range of 12-15th century Early Medieval wares. Within the area ssociated with the latter were found small fragments of a double-sided composite bone comb which may be Saxon in date, whilst just 3m to the north of this within re-deposited grave soil was found a coin of the Emperor Domitian. This coin appears to have been modified in the post-Roman (Anglo-Saxon?) period with the addition of a punched dot-ring motif, and was perhaps worn as a brooch or pendant. From the service trench excavation to the north of this came further Saxon pottery and a probable Saxon iron knife, the latter associated with a charnel spread. The finds from the excavations indicate a Roman presence nearby, and perhaps also an Anglo-Saxon settlement or church on this site.
1406
New College Court, Emmanuel College
Brooks, M. (2018). New College Court, Emmanuel College . Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1406
This archaeological desk based assessment was commissioned by Bidwells Ltd to assess the potential for the survival of archaeological features within New College Court, Emmanuel College (TL 45350 58187). The College's history is layered, as it was formally founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay, Chancellor of the Exchequer toElizabeth I, partly re-using a number of older buildings that had belonged to the Dominican Priory, which had been dissolved in 1538. Overall the Proposed Development Area (PDA) has a moderate/low potential for buried archaeological remains, as well as for the investigation of older remnants within the fabric of standing buildings. The greatest potential and significance lies in the remains of the Dominican Priory and earlier layouts of the College itself. However, the PDA falls south of the original priory precinct and perimeter wall, laid over to gardens and perhaps horticultural activity in 1592, with little change up to the modern period. Notable changes include the late 19th century back gardens of Camden Place and development of the New College Court car park in the 20th century, as supported by historical maps. Further evidence to support Camden Courts earlier trajectory passing through now Furness Lodge is also supported in the form of a possible ditch. There is a high potential for horticultural and agricultural remains in the form of natural features and ridge and furrows. Due to ridge and furrow activity it is likely that soil horizons and possible archaeology will be heavily truncated within its impact depth. However, it is unknown as to what depths truncation would have negatively affected below ground archaeology, with anticipated deposit depth varying from 0.50m to 2.00m. If archaeology is found to be present, the most interesting and informative evidence would be of structures or features relating to the MedievalDominican Priory, either those linked to the former precinct boundary, or else to the chance finds of burials or a cemetery.
1405
The Former Master's Lodge and Great Hall Corpus Christi College, Cambridge: An Archaeological and Architectural Investigation
Newman, R. (2018). The Former Master's Lodge and Great Hall Corpus Christi College, Cambridge: An Archaeological and Architectural Investigation. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1405
An archaeological and architectural investigation was conducted at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, in advance of the redevelopment of the college kitchen. First established in the early 19th-century, the kitchen occupies the former 14th-century Great Hall and Master's Lodge in the south range of Old Court. Archaeologically, a range of features were investigated that were associated with pre-collegiate occupation at the site, including pits and structural remains. Subsequently, within the Great Hall itself evidence of the original 14th-century pitched-tile fireplace, clay floor and two phases of raised dais were identified. Architectural elements including moulded medieval timbers and five well-sculpted stone corbels were also revealed and recorded here. Within the former Master's Lodge, a range of medieval timbers including rafters, joists and moulded beams were exposed and recorded while numerous archaeological features pertaining to the post-medieval usage of the space were also investigated. Finally, a number of Late Medieval artefacts were recovered from the site, including a copper alloy bag or purse mount, a copper alloy candle holder and a worked bone stylus as well as a large assemblage of early 20th-century college ceramics.
1404
Land East of Eagle Business Park, Yaxley. An Archaeological Excavation
Barrett, H. (2018). Land East of Eagle Business Park, Yaxley. An Archaeological Excavation. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1404
An archaeological investigation comprising four areas of excavation was undertaken by Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) between 24th January 2018 and 23rdFebruary 2018 on Land East of Eagle Business Park, Yaxley, in advance of proposeddevelopment by Barnack Estates UK Ltd.The excavation followed on from an evaluation in December 2017. Areas A, B, and C were designed to target three key areas of activity revealed and sample excavated in the evaluation: a burnt mound feature (the focus of Area B, identified in evaluation Trench 4); Middle Bronze Age boundary ditches (Area A, identified in evaluation Trench 6); a possible Bronze Age pit alignment and associated activity (Area C,identified in Trenches 7, 8, 25 and 26). Area D was opened between Area A and Area C with the agreement of the Cambridge Historic Environment Team (CHET) to identify any continuity of activity between the two areas, in particular the extents of the boundary ditches, but exposed no archaeological features.The excavation revealed three Early Bronze Age burnt mounds sealing buried soils with associated post-built structures and pits, situated on a low-lying northwest southeast slope around the northwest edge of a possible paleochannel. The 'possible pit alignment' (Robinson Zeki 2017) was demonstrated to be a Middle Bronze Age segmented enclosure ditch, with Middle Bronze Age and Early Iron Age pittingoutside of the enclosure. Further ditches, pits, and postholes were revealed and excavated.The prehistoric activity investigated in these excavations is directly comparable with evidence from nearby sites and other fen-edge locations such as Stanground South (Taylor et al. 2011) and Bradley Fen (Gibson and Knight 2006).