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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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928

Drinkstone Hall, Drinkstone Green, Suffolk: An Archaeological Evaluation.

Hutton, J. (2010). Drinkstone Hall, Drinkstone Green, Suffolk: An Archaeological Evaluation.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 928

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken at Drinkstone Hall, Drinkstone Green, Suffolk, prior to the construction of an extension to the existing 19th century building. Two archaeological features were recorded; one potentially represented an earlier phase of moat (13th century). This was sealed by a layer of re-deposited natural that potentially derived from the excavation of a later, larger moat, the material generated was then used to level the interior of the moated site. The second feature was a shallow wall foundation cut into the layer of re-deposited natural that could potentially be related to an earlier building that previously existed on the site before being demolished during the 19th century.

929

Thelnetham Fen, Suffolk. An Archaeological Evaluation and Palaeoenvironmental investigation.

Timberlake, S. (2010). Thelnetham Fen, Suffolk. An Archaeological Evaluation and Palaeoenvironmental investigation.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 929

In December 2008 an archaeological trench evaluation was undertaken at Thelnetham Fen, Suffolk in order to mitigate the impact resulting from the removal of up to 1m of degraded peat and peaty topsoil required for the fen restoration project being undertaken by the Little Ouse Headwaters Project (LOHP). Apart from possible drainage channels or linear peat cuttings no archaeology was found. However, environmental monolith samples were taken, and at the request of LOHP, the pollen was examined from an undisturbed section of the upper 1m of peat, and a section of the lower peat recovered from a testpit dug on a deeper section of the fen basin (1.85m deep) in June 2009. Radiocarbon dates obtained from this lower monolith show that fen mire development began here some 8000 years ago (7170 +/-50 BP), during which period peat accumulation was reasonably rapid. The pollen record is interesting in that it shows a number of increases in tree pollen (chiefly of oak and from 6000 BC of pine) with an expansion of wet meadow flora and persistence of fen aquatics in between. With the exception of one peak in Plantago lanceolata and Chenopodium around 6000 BC suggesting possible human disturbance associated with clearance, there are few obvious indicators of anthropogenic activity.

930

Lensfield Hotel, Cambridge. An Archaeological Evaluation.

Collins, M. (2010). Lensfield Hotel, Cambridge. An Archaeological Evaluation.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 930

Two test pits were excavated on land to the rear of Lensfield Hotel, Cambridge and no features or archaeological remains were encountered and only modern finds were recorded within the deposits overlying the Terrace gravels.

931

The Waste Management Park, Waterbeach, Cambridge. The Hammerhead: An Archaeological Excavation.

Tabor, J. (2010). The Waste Management Park, Waterbeach, Cambridge. The Hammerhead: An Archaeological Excavation.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 931

An archaeological excavation was undertaken by Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) at the Waste Management Park, Waterbeach, Cambridge (TL 486 688). in advance of the construction of a hammerhead turning area for emergency vehicles, associated with the new Mechanical Biological Treatment Plant at the site. Excavations revealed relatively dense Romano-British remains comprising a rich midden deposit, the postholes of an aisled building and elements of a series of enclosure ditches. The features, particularly the midden deposit, produced a rich finds assemblage including over 3000 sherds of Roman pottery and 55 Roman coins, which suggest a 2nd-4th century AD date for the remains. The work is a continuation of a long running fieldwork programme on the Waste Management Park site and many of the features exposed relate directly to archaeological remains recorded during the excavation of an adjacent site in 2007. The site is located within an apparently densely settled Romano-British landscape - as indicated by extensive cropmarks - and is located in close proximity to a probable temple site to the north-east.

932

Padholme Flood Protection (PFP '08). An Archaeological Watching Brief.

Morley, I. and Murrell, K. (2010). Padholme Flood Protection (PFP '08). An Archaeological Watching Brief.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 932

The report presents the findings of an archaeological watching brief. Two flood-protection ditches, Padholme Drain and Parish Drain, were re-cut to increase their drainage capacity. The newly-exposed sections were recorded. The stratigraphical sequences and features revealed are discussed, and conclusions drawn, in the context of the archaeology and environmental history of the area. The work carried out during this small project contributes further information to our understanding of the formation and use of the Fengate and Flag Fen area in prehistory. Site 1, the Padholme Flood Protection Drain, provides a detailed stratigraphical sequence for the formation of the fen in the heart of Flag Fen between Fengate and Whittlesea Island. Site 2, The Parish Drain, provides further information regarding the form of the Middle Bronze Age droveway and Iron Age features in the Elliot and Cat's Water sites, by the late Fen edge. This includes a detailed section through this area of considerable prehistoric human activity, providing further information about the formation of the land surfaces, and human responses to this, right on the cusp of the transforming Fen edge.

933

Excavations at the CB1 Development Site, Hills Road, Cambridge.

Slater, A. (2010). Excavations at the CB1 Development Site, Hills Road, Cambridge.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 933

An archaeological excavation and small evaluation was undertaken on behalf of Brookgate at the CB1 development site, Hills Road, south Cambridge that continued on from a previous desktop assessment (Dickens et al. 2003) and two phases of evaluation (Mackay 2005 and 2006). Within the excavated area was a multi-phased Romano-British to Medieval gravel quarry field with evidence of Medieval and post-Medieval agricultural activity and a phase relating to the development of the area as a railway goods yard and sidings in the 19th century.

934

Watching Brief at Moat Farm, Alburgh, Norfolk.

Hogan, S. (2010). Watching Brief at Moat Farm, Alburgh, Norfolk.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 934

A watching brief was undertaken at Moat Farm, Alburgh, Norfolk (NGR TM 26335 87657), to monitor the ground works associated with the construction of a new access route. The watching brief was undertaken in accordance with a brief set out by Norfolk Landscape Archaeology. No archaeology was exposed during the ground works.

935

Must Farm Pit Timber Alignments. An Archaeological and Environmental Evaluation.

Gibson, D., Knight, M., and Allen, M. (2010). Must Farm Pit Timber Alignments. An Archaeological and Environmental Evaluation.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 935

This report chronicles the discovery and subsequent investigations of one of the most impressive later Bronze Age wetland sites yet found in north-western Europe. Exceptional preservation and a unique set of finds ensured that the Must Farm site was not overshadowed by its internationally renowned neighbour, Flag Fen, and that it was able to enhance and bring a new dynamic to Peterborough's already impressive prehistoric past. The circumstances of discovery for the two sites were remarkably similar and by the same token, the site's close relationship to Flag Fen is reflected by its participating specialists, as many were involved in both investigations. Ultimately, the parallels, and the differences between, Must Farm and Flag Fen can be used to demonstrate the value of both sites and at the same time illustrate the importance of context when it comes to understanding either. Flag Fen's 'missing' evidence of occupation was present in abundance at Must Farm, so much so that there seemed to be an excess of materials. In fact, the Must Farm conflagration assemblage has no obvious parallels, which begs the question: could it represent a charred expression of what was once a truly exceptional site?

936

Watching Brief and Excavations at West Deeping (King Street), Lincolnshire: Underground Cables)

Murrell, K. (2010). Watching Brief and Excavations at West Deeping (King Street), Lincolnshire: Underground Cables). Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 936

An archaeological watching brief was carried out by Cambridge Archaeological Unit between March and August 2009 on behalf of Integrated Utility Services (IUS) during the excavation for underground cables on land north of West Deeping, Lincolnshire, centred on NGR 510938 309863. This watching brief is situated within the Cemex Quarry where a previous evaluation (Patten 2002), and subsequent 1st phase of excavation (Murrell 2010). In total 0.283 hectares were excavated along the 1746m long cable route. The investigation produced a quantity of artefacts within features from the Bronze Age, Iron Age, Romano-British, Early Medieval and post-Medieval periods. This activity has been given context and has been dated using information from previous investigations and the extensive landscape survey undertaken in the vicinity. This activity included a co-axial Bronze Age ditch system, a triple Iron Age ditch system, and substantial Roman road side activity including; quarry pits, inhumations containing military issue metal adornments within roadside ditches, and large stone lined postholes probably from buildings. The sections of the roadside activity related to settlement were capped by a 'dark soil' layer which contained abundant material culture The results of this investigation revealed significant evidence of Roman roadside activity. As a result of the intrusive nature of this investigation (underground cables) and 'safe stand-off' required, this Roman roadside activity is not likely to be exposed within future phases of excavation at King Street

937

Excavations at CBC Addenbrookes: Site 2 The Boulevard: Interim Report

Newman, R., Collins, M., Appleby, G., and Tabor, J. (2010). Excavations at CBC Addenbrookes: Site 2 The Boulevard: Interim Report. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 937

The initial phase of excavation at the CBC Boulevard site was undertaken between the 17th of November 2008 and the 30th of January 2009. At this time, a north-south aligned area measuring 302m in length and 30m in width (covering 8684m2) was investigated; towards its southern end, this area was bisected by a high pressure gas pipeline, resulting in the establishment of an unexcavated baulk some 12m in width. Subsequently, between the 22nd of June and the 2nd of July 2009, a second area - lying immediately to the north of the first - was also excavated. This measured 45m by 25m in extent (and covered 1210m2). The site code for both phases was ATT08. Overall, a relatively high density of archaeological features was encountered during the course of both of these investigations, although the majority of activity appears to have been focused around the southern end of the site (Figure 2). During the first phase of the excavation, 233 features were investigated via the insertion of 362 'interventions' (or individually dug slots). During the second phase, a further 35 features were identified and 49 additional interventions excavated, resulting in a combined total of 268 features and 411 interventions.

939

Archaeological Monitoring at Audley End, Essex.

Webb, D. (2010). Archaeological Monitoring at Audley End, Essex.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 939

Archaeological monitoring of enabling works within the gardens and yards at Audley End House, Saffron Waldon, Essex. Audley House occupies the site of the Benedictine Abbey of Walden founded in 1139, becoming an abbey in 1190. The Abbey was rebuilt and new buildings added in the 13th and 14th centuries. After dissolution in 1538 the buildings were remodelled to form a private house. Major phases of construction and remodelling followed in the early 17th Century and in the late 18th Century. The works were carried out within the Mill Yard, Lion Lodge Yard, Cart Yard, Stable Yard and Stable Block of Audley End House. Within the Cart Yard remnants of late post medieval horticultural structures were recorded. Within the stable yard an extensive net work of late post medieval brick drainage culverts was revealed. Within the Stable block possible interior walls dating to the earlier period of construction of the 17th century Stable Block were revealed.

940

The Over Narrows. Archaeological Investigations at Hanson's Needingworth Quarry. The Low Ground Barrow Cemetary (Pt. IV; 2008)

Evans, C. and Tabor, J. (2010). The Over Narrows. Archaeological Investigations at Hanson's Needingworth Quarry. The Low Ground Barrow Cemetary (Pt. IV; 2008). Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 940

A c.6ha open-area excavation across the O'Connell Ridge occurred (part of the Over Narrows investigations) within Needingworth Quarry, Cambridgeshire, part of a wider programme of investigations. In addition to the O'Connell Ridge, fieldwork involved excavations along a c. 600m-length the ridge north of a palaeochannel and the five 'Low Grounds' Bronze Age barrows and Beaker cemetery clustered along the southern side of the O'Connell Ridge. Unlike adjacent excavations, the O'Connell Ridge lacked buried soil-derived assemblages: c. 470 worked flints, 510 pottery sherds and c. 1,000 animal bones. With slight evidence of earlier Neolithic activity, the site's sequence was initiated in the later Neolithic, and its early occupation saw Grooved Ware and Beaker pit clusters, as well as dispersed Collared Urn pits. No structures were distinguished with certainty, although a possible roundhouse was identified. Relatively little Deverel-Rimbury pottery was recovered, the site's main phase occurred during the MBA. This raises the possibility of aceramic occupation - loss through funerary use? At the western end of the ridge was found a possible post-built longhouse within an enclosure. Three crouched inhumations lay within the area of the site's settlement swathe; and probablt contemporary with the primary Beaker-associated inhumations of the adjacent barrows. The barrows, two pond and three round barrows, contained a total of 44 inhumations and cremations.

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