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
1402
University of Cambridge Sports Ground, Wilberforce Road, Cambridge: An Archaeological Excavation
Brittain, M. and Evans, C. (2018). University of Cambridge Sports Ground, Wilberforce Road, Cambridge: An Archaeological Excavation. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1402
Excavation covering 1.4ha at the University of Cambridge Sports Ground revealed four main episodes of activity. In the first of these, a cluster of Middle Bronze Age pits were the site's earliest features, although a handful of worked flints represent the earliest human presence at the site from at least the later Neolithic. Aside from two Early Iron Age pits, which mark the second episode of the site's activity, no further prehistoric activity was encountered. This was all situated within the south half of the site, near to or upon a geological junction, where a diamict gravel ridge passed downslope into Gault Clay, and perhaps where a perched water table could be located. The ridge later became the focus for Roman settlement in the site's third episode of activity, distinguished by three main phases covering the 1st-3rd centuries. Phases 1 and 2 relate to a primary and secondary phase of settlement. There is clearly considerable overlap across these phases, which may have equally been presented as a single episode of activity; however, their division is warranted on the basis of mismatching feature alignment, albeit with respecting spatial arrangement. A valid assumption is that one develops from the other, where a settlement core of 1st–2nd century date lies to the west of the site and was remoulded within an existing fieldsystem. Stratigraphically later within this sequence, Phase 3 sees a ditched trackway—the provenance of which must lay within the preceding phases—traverse the site from south to north, with further evidence of settlement spreading from the west. The ceramic evidence shows that by the mid-3rd century the majority of settlement activity had ceased. Two notable highlights of the Roman activity are an early pottery kiln with an assemblage of kiln furniture, and the rare finding of Italian-type sigillata pottery that points to an earlier and potentially high status origin for part of the settlement. The final, fourth episode of activity, relates to post-Medieval furrow cultivation which lay across much of the site, though with little impact to earlier deposits.
1401
Land North of The Royal Vetinary College, Brookmans Park, Hertfordshire. An Archaeological Desktop Assessment
Beats, Kate and Tabor, J. (2018). Land North of The Royal Vetinary College, Brookmans Park, Hertfordshire. An Archaeological Desktop Assessment. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1401
This archaeological desktop assessment has been commissioned by Hill Residential Ltd. to better define the scope of archaeological interest of a c.22ha site at Brookman's Park, Hertfordshire.The assessment has shown that—with the possible exception of a group of anti-tank obstacles on Bradmore Lane—there are no recorded heritage assets within the site boundary. Given the lack of previous investigation in thearea, however, this can only be confirmed, and the potential for heritage assets clearly demonstrated, by further archaeological evaluation. The anti tank obstacles—which depending on the exact final location of the site boundary could fall within the Application Area—form part of the nation's Defence of Britain legacy and are the best surviving example of their type, as such any potential impact on them by the proposed development should be carefully considered.
1399
Ely Road, Little Thetford, Cambridgeshire. An Archaeological Evaluation.
Tabor, J. and Wright, A. (2018). Ely Road, Little Thetford, Cambridgeshire. An Archaeological Evaluation. . Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1399
A trial trench based archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) on land to the south of the Two Acres Caravan Park, Ely Road, Little Thetford, Cambridgeshire (TL 5290 7669) between 26th and 29th March 2018. Five trenches totalling 245m in length were excavated revealing a total of nine archaeological features. The majority of features recorded by the evaluation were ditches and appear likely to relate to agricultural activity. These include a series of parallel gullies and apotentially associated boundary, which whilst undated, are reminiscent of features often interpreted as planting beds; thought to be Roman in date similar features havebeen recorded on a number of other sites in the locale. A single ditch, which yielded a medieval/post-medieval iron key represents slightly later activity, whilst potential evidence of the former Ely and St. Ives Railway was recorded in the form of a deposit of sand found at two locations corresponding to the railway's former course.
1397
Archaeological Investigations at Broom South Quarry, Bedfordshire. Phases I and II. Post Exacavtion Assessment
Tabor, J. and Middleton, E. (2018). Archaeological Investigations at Broom South Quarry, Bedfordshire. Phases I and II. Post Exacavtion Assessment. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1397
Archaeological excavations were undertaken by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) ahead of plant site/quarry compound construction and gravel extraction at Broom South Quarry, Bedfordshire (approximately centred on NGR TL 175 417). The work was carried out on behalf of Tarmac Ltd. in two phases; Phase 1 took place between April and November 2013 and Phase 2 between August and December 2016. The combined area encompassed some 38.6ha. The work followed an archaeological evaluation of the area undertaken in 2004, which identified 12 concentrations of archaeology dating from the Neolithic through to the Anglo-Saxon period but with the majority of sites dating to the Iron Age and Roman periods. Of these six fell within the current excavation/strip, map and record area, these comprised: an area of potential Romano-British settlement, which extended beyond the limit of extraction to the south, an Iron Age settlement site and three sites identified respectively by the presence of a Beaker period pit, a potentially Early Bronze Age ring ditch and an Anglo-Saxon Sunken Floored Building (SFB). Situated on the western flank of the Ivel valley, the 2013 and 2016 excavations revealed both archaeology associated with the sites identified by the evaluation as well as significant remains that had not previously been identified. The earliest evidence comprised an Early Neolithic multiple inhumation associated with Carinated Bowl pottery, whilst two pit clusters associated with Mildenhall type pottery represent slightly later settlement activity. Further Neolithic activity was encountered in the form of a long enclosure and two pits, both associated with Peterborough Ware pottery. Bronze Age activity at the site was evidently more limited with a small cremation cemetery the only notable feature, however, Iron Age settlement remains in the form of roundhouse gullies, enclosures and pits, apparently representing a series of discrete farmsteads, were widespread. Whilst the Ivel valley is undoubtedly an important Roman landscap— as indicated by previous evaluations and aerial photographs—remains of this period were limited to two trackways marked by parallel ditches, along with associated field system ditches, and part of an enclosure system in the south of the site. As indicated by cropmarks the densest Roman remains clearly occur to the east of the site closer to the River Ivel. Finally, Anglo-Saxon remains comprising a small inhumation cemetery and four SFBs—which are particularly notable for their worked bone assemblages—complete the archaeological record for the site. The results of the excavations—particularly the Neolithic, Iron Age and Anglo Saxon remains—are significant and add to a growing corpus of evidence, including previous excavations at Broom Quarry, which will allow landscape scale analysis of the prehistory and early history of the Ivel Valley.
1398
Howe's Farm, North West Cambridge: Site X, further Evaluation Fieldwork
Tabor, J. and Evans, C. (2018). Howe�s Farm, North West Cambridge: Site X, further Evaluation Fieldwork. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1398
This report details the results of further archaeological evaluation undertaken by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) at Howes Farm, Huntingdon Road, Cambridge as part of the continuing North West Cambridge development. The evaluation comprised four trenches excavated within the old farmyard and immediate grounds of Howes Farm (formerly part of the University Farm and not accessible at the time of the 2009 evaluation) and an additional five trenches within previously evaluated areas to the northwest and west. The project area (centred on TL 421 609) is located immediately to the southwest of Huntingdon Road on the western fringe of Cambridge and covers c.1.7ha. The trial trenching was carried out between 26th February and 8th March 2018 and was commissioned by the University; work was undertaken in accordance with a project design specification approved by the Cambridgeshire Historic Environment Team.
1396
Chetwynd Court, King's College, Cambridge. An archaeological desk based assessment and deposit model
Dickens, A., Newman, R., and Beats, Kate (2018). Chetwynd Court, King�s College, Cambridge. An archaeological desk based assessment and deposit model. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1396
This study has been commissioned by King's College, Cambridge, to provide an archaeological overview of Chetwynd Court and its surrounding area (centred on TL 4477 5827). The Proposed Development Area (PDA) is located in the southwestern corner of King's College, backing onto King's Parade and King's Lane, where it is surrounded by a series of buildings that were erected on a piecemeal basis during the 19th and 20th centuries. It measures 1538 square metres in area, with the open courtyard of Chetwynd Court itself covering 438 square metres. This study will examine the likelihood of archaeological deposits surviving within the PDA, as well as considering the potential impact of the proposed development upon any such remains. Although for much of its history the site comprised part of the town rather than gown, many of its constituent properties passed into collegiate ownership from the Late Medieval period onwards; eventually, the area as a whole was acquired by King's College in 1823. Previously, from around the 11th century onwards, the principal focus of activity on the site had been a central laneway that connected the medieval High Street (present-day Trumpington Street) to a second major medieval thoroughfare, Milne Street (which no longer exists). Clustered along this laneway, which was most recently known as King's Lane, were a series of properties that are likely to have housed a mixture of domestic and commercial tenants. Indeed, the area appears to have been intensely urban in character during the medieval and post-medieval periods, containing many close-packed buildings with small yards; these structures are visible in the historic maps of the town that began to be produced in the 16th century. During the 19th century, however, the topography of the site was radically altered following its conversion for collegiate use.
1388
Willingham Mere-Side Investigations. 2016 Excavations within Hanson's Over/Needingworth Quarry
Neil, B., Timberlake, S., and Evans, C. (2017). Willingham Mere-Side Investigations. 2016 Excavations within Hanson�s Over/Needingworth Quarry. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1388
The 2016–17 excavations were undertaken between September 2016 and February 2017 as part of the fourth mitigation phase at Hanson's Over/Needingworth quarry. The project was undertaken in response to Hanson's application for mineral extraction within the current target area and a request from Cambridgeshire County Council Historic Environment Team for archaeological investigation. Seven areas of investigation were defined following archaeological evaluation in 2012 and subsequent open-area excavations in 2015. A 0.93ha area—Site XII bund & XIII (TL397737)—targeted a northwest-southeast aligned Middle Bronze Age ditch-line and Post-Medieval features whilst a 6ha area encompassing Site IX bund and Site X (TL395734) targeted Middle Bronze Age field boundaries and Neolithic activity. Two additional double-width trenches were located between Site-areas X and XIII. Prior to these excavations, archaeological monitoring was undertaken during excavation of the Internal Drainage Board (IDB) watercourse (hereafter referred to as the Diversion Ditch), which comprised a 0.42ha, 1366m long 'corridor' (8m-wide) around the footprint of the extraction area to the southwest and southeast.
1387
Must Farm Timber Platform: Post Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design
Knight, M., Ballantyne, R., Gibson, D., and Robinson Zeki, I. (2018). Must Farm Timber Platform: Post Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1387
The Cambridge Archaeological Unit undertook a 53 week archaeological excavation of a Late Bronze Age pile-dwelling settlement at Must Farm Quarry, Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire (TL 2367 9682) between June 2015 and August 2016. Historic England and Forterra Building Products Ltd funded the excavation. The investigations revealed a Late Bronze Age settlement of stilted wooden structures built over a freshwater palaeochannel—the Must Farm pile-dwellings. Its early destruction by catastrophic fire, preserving both extensive structural remains and a diverse assemblage of associated organic and inorganic material culture, provides an unprecedented opportunity to explore the ways people occupied and acted upon their world nearly 3000 years ago.This post-excavation assessment presents a detailed description and evaluation of the stratigraphic, structural, material and environmental remains of Zone A. i.e. of Structure 1 (the best preserved structure) and its immediate environs (incorporating a stretch of the surrounding palisade). The report presents the types of archaeological material encountered in relation to this part of the pile dwelling settlement, analysing the distribution of waterlogged wood, pottery, metalwork, animal bone, wooden artefacts, textiles, beads, worked stone, burnt clay and human bone. . The assessments of many microscopic environmental remains are, however, based on subsamples across the whole excavation area due to their intangibility and thus the unknowable biases of focusing solely on Zone A. The contextual setting of the pile-dwelling settlement is considered in relation to the deposit history of palaeochannel as well as an earlier Middle Bronze Age timber causeway that spanned the same stretch of channel. The report comprises four parts: Volume 1. Post-excavation Assessment, Volume 2. Specialists' Reports, Volume 3. Updated Project Design and Volume 4. Figures.
1382
Antony Gormley's Free Object, Trinity College Statue, Cambridge. Archaeological Monitoring
Newman, R. (2017). Antony Gormley�s Free Object, Trinity College Statue, Cambridge. Archaeological Monitoring. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1382
Archaeological monitoring was undertaken during the installation of a concrete foundation located on the west bank of the River Cam opposite Trinity College's Wren Library. The foundation is to support Free Object, the latest sculpture in Antony Gormley's Blockwork series, which is on loan to the college as part of its celebrations for the 700th anniversary of the foundation of King's Hall. Excavation to a depth of 0.75m revealed the presence of 18th- and 19th-century made-ground deposits associated with landscaping activity. Below this, borehole observations indicate the presence of an extensive alluvial and paleochannel sequence extending a further 5.5m in depth.
1372
Fengate Power Station, Land off Fourth Drove, Peterborough. An Archaeological Assessment
Middleton, E. (2017). Fengate Power Station, Land off Fourth Drove, Peterborough. An Archaeological Assessment. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1372
In 1989, prior to the construction of the Power Station, an archaeological excavation was undertaken on part of the area where the Flag Fen Timber Alignment and associated metal-work had been identified. The current development site formed part of the area of the 1989 archaeological excavation and was in the vicinity of the junction between the Fengate field-system and the Flag Fen Post-Alignment. It was originally thought that all archaeological remains had been destroyed in 1990 after the excavations, with the removal of the silts and peats beneath the Power Station, thus removing the archaeological deposits. However, despite this being the case for the waterlogged deposits, the terrace gravels had been left relatively intact, with the madeground surface built directly on top of this level, keeping the archaeology relatively well-preserved. The excavation covered an area of 1146m, and revealed 2 ditches, 98 postholes (87 of which formed a large Late Bronze Age enclosure), 5 pits and an Early Bronze Age monument comprising of 126 stake holes forming concentric circles, with 5 internal posts and at its most complete side consisted of 4 circuits.
1362
Manea Colony Investigations Excavation Report No. 3
Brittain, M. (2017). Manea Colony Investigations Excavation Report No. 3. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1362
During September 2016 the Cambridge Archaeological Unit in partnership with Octavia Hill Birthplace House undertook survey and trial excavation of Manea Fen Colony. Established in 1838, this was a Utopian socialist community inspired by the principles of the Owenite movement, most notably fostering a cooperative ethos. Documentary sources illustrate that a substantial built environment was constructed by the Colonists, where only a cottage and barn were previously standing. The Colony—named after its founder, William Hodson, as the Hodsonian Community—was of mixed success and only short duration, disbanding in February 1841, just 25- months beyond its beginnings. Following after this Utopian experiment, the site continued to be occupied until 1961 when the last remaining buildings were demolished and the site returned to arable farmland. The project's aim was to characterise the site's archaeological potential for (i) addressing questions concerning the nature and development of nineteenth century socialism, (ii) mapping the distribution of buildings and other features of the settlement's original and changing outline plan, and (iii) to determine the local legacy of Utopia. The project was undertaken with a team of volunteers as part of the Ouse Washes Landscape Partnership in the scheme's third and final year of a Heritage Lottery Grant. The project's fieldwork included surface collection of artefacts, magnetic and earth resistance geophysical surveys, test pitting and trial trenching (totalling 522.5m2). A total of 11,553 finds were recorded, weighing 289.459kg.
1465
Land at 5/6 Clerk Maxwell Road, Cambridge
Middleton, L. (2021). Land at 5/6 Clerk Maxwell Road, Cambridge. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 1465
This report details the results of archaeological trial trenching at Clerk Maxwell Road, Cambridge (centred on TL 43310 25902; Figure 1). The work was undertaken by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) over a week beginning 1st February 2021. The results of the trenching confirm that remains associated with the second to fourth century AD Roman phases of the Vicar's Farm settlement extend beneath Clerk Maxwell Road and into the northwest corner of the evaluation area where evidence of comparatively intense archaeological activity was recorded in Trenches 1 and 2. To the south and east a relatively sharp drop-off in the level of archaeological activity was recorded with just three ditches— probably representing elements of a field system—encountered in the remaining trenches.