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
348
Archaeological Evaluation at the Now Stable Block, West Cambridge
Lucas, G. (2000). Archaeological Evaluation at the Now Stable Block, West Cambridge. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 348
A proposed new stabling block (c. 350 sq.m) in a paddock behind the Clinical Veterinary Medicine Site was investigated in order to ascertain the archaeological potential of the site (TL 38500/58950). The archaeology on the site was of little significance - all the features were post- Medieval in date and although probably representing two phases of layout (one associated with arable use), all were part of field systems.
349
An Archaeological Evaluation by Field Survey at Norwich Road, Kilverstone, Norfolk
Gibson, D. and Garrow, D. (2000). An Archaeological Evaluation by Field Survey at Norwich Road, Kilverstone, Norfolk. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 349
This archaeological project has been commissioned by FPD Savills on behalf of the Kilverstone Estate, to assess the archaeological potential of the development area (centred TL 8840 8385). This report is written in response to the Brief for Archaeological Evaluation by Field Survey at land located at Norwich Road, Kilverstone Lane, Kilverstone. The field walking was carried out on 20th December 1999 and 11th - 13th January 2000. The flint assemblage appears to represent a palimpsest of prehistoric activity, most of which derives from the Bronze Age, although some pieces are Neolithic in origin. The densities are not, however, especially high and can be seen to represent a non-intensive utilisation of the area. The pottery and metalwork assemblages are unremarkable. Documentary evidence suggests that the area was both arable and pasture land during the post-medieval period; the same could be suggested for the medieval period. The finds in these categories are consistent with the practice of manuring arable fields with middened rubbish (as well as occasional casual loss), further supporting this picture.
350
Great Offley Garage, Great offley, Hertfordshire: An Archaeological Desktop Assessment
Dickens, A. (2000). Great Offley Garage, Great offley, Hertfordshire: An Archaeological Desktop Assessment. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 350
A desk based assessment was carried out for Offley Garage, Great Offley and the surrounding area. Previous investigations have suggested that the area in general has a high archaeological potential. The site itself is a relatively recent arrival, skirting a road that was only constructed around the turn of the 19t h century. Any evidence is likely, therefore, to relate to the pre-road layout of the village. The settlement of Offley has a long history, perhaps as far back as Offa, after whom it may have been named. Immediately north of the garage site is Westbury Farm, seat of the largest Domesday manor in the district. Recent archaeological work there has uncovered evidence relating to the 12t h century manor with residual finds from earlier periods including prehistoric and Roman. I t is possible that elements of the complex excavated at Westbury Farm extend beneath the new road into the garage site. Due to its recent use history, however, it is certain that parts of the site are unlikely to have any archaeological survival.
351
The Archaeology of Green Land, West Fen Road, Isle of Ely, Cambridgeshire
Regan, R. (2000). The Archaeology of Green Land, West Fen Road, Isle of Ely, Cambridgeshire. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 351
The excavation revealed the presence of a gravel trackway dating from the 12th century that bounded the southern limit of the extensive Medieval settlement lying to the north. Several drainage ditches were also revealed, while some may date to the Prehistoric or Roman periods the majority were Post-Medieval in date.
252
An Archaeological Evaluation at the Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Clarkson Road, Cambridge
White, L. (1998). An Archaeological Evaluation at the Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Clarkson Road, Cambridge. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 252
The following report details an archaeological evaluation carried out between 24 February and 3 March 1998 by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) on land to the north of Clarkson Road, Cambridge. The University of Cambridge commissioned the evaluation in advance of a proposed Centre for Mathematical Sciences. Cambridgeshire Archaeological Office issued the archaeological brief. This evaluation has successfully shown that the Roman and Anglo-Saxon spheres of activity did not extend away from St. John's playing fields, up onto the clay plateau. It has contributed towards defining the loci of settlement and other hinterland activities of these periods to the area around the north end of Grange Road. The excavation results confirm that the site was located within the bounds of the Medieval and Post-Medieval open-fields of west Cambridge and, indeed, it has been possible to place the site on the junction of the Willow's Ditch with a hedgerow boundary, east of a field called Le Hearne.
253
Investigations at the Gatetower and West Range of Jesus College, Cambridge
Dickens, A. (1998). Investigations at the Gatetower and West Range of Jesus College, Cambridge. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 253
Recording work was carried out inside the Gatetower and West Range of Jesus College, by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit, during extensive repair and refurbishment in November 1997. As much of the evidence in the report is concerned with the earliest use of the building to the west of the Gatetower the older name "Grammar School Range" is used throughout.
254
Excavation of the Middle Saxon to Medieval Village at Lordship Lane, Cottenham, Cambridgeshire
Mortimer, R. (1998). Excavation of the Middle Saxon to Medieval Village at Lordship Lane, Cottenham, Cambridgeshire. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 254
Situated on the fen-edge north of Cambridge, the village of Cottenham is an elongated village, string out for c.1.75km along a crooked min street which appears to divert around an early village core. Excavations by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit took place during the autumn and winter of 1996/97 in advance of a large housing development around Lordship Lane. Extending over 2.70 hectares, the site lies immediately to the northeast of the village centre alongside Crowlands Moat, a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Crossed by a dense network of ditches, the chaotic appearance of the site plan reveals a continuity of settlement from the Middle Saxon through to the areas abandonment in the early medieval period, and attests to the dynamic interaction between manor and village. The site confronts questions of the mechanics of village formation, the metamorphosis of a Middle Saxon hamlet into a Medieval nucleated village.
255
An Archaeological Evaluation at St. Chad's, 48 Grange Road, Cambridge
Whittaker, P. (1998). An Archaeological Evaluation at St. Chad's, 48 Grange Road, Cambridge. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 255
On the 25th March 1998 an archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cambridge Archaeological Unit at 48 Grange Road, Cambridge (TL 440 581). This work was undertaken in mitigation of a proposed student accommodation wing to be built by the University of Cambridge. The excavation was conducted in accordance with the design brief prepared by the Cambridgeshire County Council Archaeology Section.
256
Magdelene College Watching Brief
White, L. (1998). Magdelene College Watching Brief. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 256
Between March 16 - April 2 1998 a watching brief was carried out by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit on the north side of the River Cam at Benson Court (Magdalene College) Cambridge, on 0.032ha. of land fronting the river north-east of the mouth of the Bin Brook (NGR: TL 4467 5893). The watching brief was undertaken concurrently with a bank stabilisation scheme funded by Magdalene College. The stabilisation of the bank involved inserting new steel sheet piling along the river front with a series of piles and tie-backs placed along the bank to hold it in place. the work at Benson Court (Magdalene College) did not expose any archaeology, known or otherwise, although, the sequence seen at the north end of the site may be related to an earlier Post-Medieval structure, previous bank stabilisation, or the existing building and its garden/terrace.
257
An Evaluation of the Archaeology at Broad Street, Ely, Cambridgeshire
Alexander, M. (1998). An Evaluation of the Archaeology at Broad Street, Ely, Cambridgeshire. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 257
The Cambridge Archaeological Unit was commissioned by the Mills Whipp Partnership to undertake an archaeological evaluation on behalf of the East Cambridgeshire District Council on land due for re-development on the east side of Broad Street. The results of the evaluation confirmed predictions of continuous, and fairly intense activity over almost the whole of the sampled area from the present day to at least as early as the 14th century, and earlier in some areas. The preservation of remains was remarkably good over the whole area, and there was very little disturbance from later buildings. Evidence from the trenches set at some distance from Broad Street indicated that significant archaeological remains were not confined solely to the land immediately on the street frontage.
258
The Heywood Theatre, the Gallery, Ely: Desktop Study and Test Pit Monitoring
Lucas, G., Dickens, A., and Begg, C. (1998). The Heywood Theatre, the Gallery, Ely: Desktop Study and Test Pit Monitoring. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 258
This desk-based report presents the archaeological implications of a proposed construction of a Music School and Recital Hall for the King's School, Ely on the site of the former Bishop's Palace Gardens, currently within the grounds of the Heywood Theatre (fig.l; TL 5397 8015). It was commissioned by the architects Purcell Miller Tritton & Partners and on the recommendation of the County Archaeology Office.
259
The Iron Age Settlement at Watson's Lane, Little Thetford
Lucas, G. (1998). The Iron Age Settlement at Watson's Lane, Little Thetford. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 259
Between July and September 1995 archaeological excavations were carried out in advance of residential development by Persimmon Homes in a field to the west of Watson's Lane in Little Thetford near Ely, Cambridgeshire. Earlier phases of archaeological work included a desk-top assessment, field evaluation and a geophysical survey which indicated dense archaeological remains across the western and northern part of the development area. The site was a palimpsest of a multi-phase Romano-British agricultural/industrial area over an Iron Age settlement, later scoured by medieval/post-medieval ridge and furrow.
