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
284
Car Dyke, Peakirk, Peterborough: An Archaeological Evaluation
Hall, C. and Challands, N. (1998). Car Dyke, Peakirk, Peterborough: An Archaeological Evaluation. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 284
An archaeological evaluation of this site was commissioned by Mr. S. Badger in relation to a housing development. The work was carried out in accordance with the Peterborough City Council Archaeological Service's Brief for Archaeological Evaluation (Robinson 07-08-98). A project design was prepared by the CAU, and the fieldwork was carried out on the 18-19 August 1998. No archaeological deposits were encountered. Most of the site to the north and east seems to have been a low lying area just off the edge of the Peakirk "island". Since evidence of the Car Dyke was not encountered in this area, its course is likely to be that suggested by examination of the historical observations, immediately west of the area tested.
285
The King's Parade Water Mains Watching Brief, Cambridge, Part 1
Alexander, M. (1998). The King's Parade Water Mains Watching Brief, Cambridge, Part 1. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 285
A trench dug to replace the water mains on Trinity Street and King's Parade provided the opportunity to record the archaeological deposits that were revealed. This report concerns the first 50 metres of the trench from the south end of Trinity Street to opposite the entrance to St. Mary's church. A deep sequence of road surfaces was revealed in Trinity Street with seven or more gravel surfaces interspersed with layers of debris accumulated during periods of use. Along King's Parade the pipe trench cut through the foundations and cellar walls of at least five cellars associated with the houses on the west side of the street that were demolished to build Senate House in the 17th/18th centuries. The cellars were infilled at the time of demolition. In the gaps between the cellar walls parts of an earlier sequence of floors, surfaces, gullies and pits had survived. This sequence shows that the road side was built up from at least the 13th century, while a stray find of Saxo-Norman pottery suggests earlier activity.
286
An Archaeological Evaluation at Clare Hall, 11 Herschel Road, Cambridge
Alexander, M. (1998). An Archaeological Evaluation at Clare Hall, 11 Herschel Road, Cambridge. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 286
This report details the results of an archaeological evaluation that took place at 11, Herschel Road Cambridge on 21 October 1998. The work was commissioned by Kenneth Caldwell of Nicholas Ray Associates on behalf of Clare Hall, as a preliminary stage to the proposed development of the area as college accommodation. The programme of work outlined by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit was approved by S. Kaner of the CAO . The site is situated in the grounds of 11, Herschel Road TL 43525835. No features of archaeological significance were found, despite the proximity of the projected line of the Roman road. In Trench 1 all the earlier deposits had been truncated by landscaping in the 1960s. Trench 2 revealed a deposit of material presumably derived from the demolition of structures at the time of the construction of the present buildings, and used to create an artificial bank. This overlay the former ploughsoil of medieval or later date. The ploughsoil was also present in Trench 3, cut by a small garden feature and a land drain. One sherd of possible Iron Age pottery found in a residual context suggests a low level of Iron Age activity in the area.
287
Archaeological Investigations of the Anglian Water Northborough to Fletton Watermain and Excavation of a Terminal Bronze Age Settlement at Nine Bridges
Knight, M. (1998). Archaeological Investigations of the Anglian Water Northborough to Fletton Watermain and Excavation of a Terminal Bronze Age Settlement at Nine Bridges. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 287
Excavation revealed part of a Late Bronze Age settlement comprising roundhouses and pits located next to, and in direct association with, a relict stream channel south of the Maxey Cut. Located on the southern side of the River Welland the settlement also contained evidence of early salt production consisting of unique briquetage forms (prototypical?). Significantly, for an area renowned for its Iron Age and Roman salt industries, the pieces from the site are different enough to suggest differences in the scale of production, with implications for how salt was used in the Bronze Age as opposed to later periods. The sites mixed ceramic repertoire - including fineware bowls and jars - demonstrates a marked contrast from the preceding bucket-urn dominated period. This may be seen as indicative of a change in the ways food was eaten and presented. An acquired taste for salt may be related to such a change. The site can be related to adjacent cropmarks demonstrating an extensive area of settlement situated in and around an area occupied by clusters of ring-ditch monuments and an early fieldsystem. Elsewhere on the pipeline segments of ditch lines and isolated pits were excavated giving some chronology to the palimpsest of cropmarks encountered along its route.
288
The Excavation of Terminal Bronze Age & Medieval Settlement Remains at Baston Quarry No. 2, Langtoft, Lincolnshire (Phase IV, Area A)
Hall, C. (1998). The Excavation of Terminal Bronze Age & Medieval Settlement Remains at Baston Quarry No. 2, Langtoft, Lincolnshire (Phase IV, Area A). Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 288
On behalf of Hanson Aggregates (then known as ARC), in advance of gravel extraction, an archaeological excavation was carried out by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit at Baston Quarry No.2, Langtoft, Lincolnshire (NGR TF 131 130) between 9.6.98 and 31.7.98. Eighty-six distinct archaeological features were identified which can, when used in combination with the Test Pit and other surface recovered material, be separated into four main groups of activity: 1) Palaeolithic and Mesolithic residual/surface collected lithics 2) Neolithic and Early Bronze Age features 3) Late Bronze Age pit features/settlement 4) Medieval enclosure system
289
A Fieldwalking Survey at the Site of Proposed Reservoir, Soham, Cambridgeshire
Hall, D. (1998). A Fieldwalking Survey at the Site of Proposed Reservoir, Soham, Cambridgeshire. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 289
A fieldwalking survey was commissioned by Paul Dunham Associates on behalf of their clients East Fen Farms, prior to the construction of an agricultural reservoir. The survey was undertaken in response to a request issued by S. Kaner of Cambridgeshire County Council, Archaeology Section. From these results, the absence of any finds made previously, and the absence of archaeological cropmarks, it seems unlikely that any significant archaeological monument or deposit lies in the field.
290
Second Stage Evaluation at the Former Coalyard, Jubilee Terrace, Ely, Cambridgeshire
Alexander, M. (1998). Second Stage Evaluation at the Former Coalyard, Jubilee Terrace, Ely, Cambridgeshire. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 290
This report concerns the second phase of the evaluation undertaken by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit on behalf of Beauville Properties on the site of the former coalyard, Jubilee Terrace, Ely . Work took place between October 28th and November 3rd, 1998. The area investigated is designated for redevelopment comprising housing, access, services and landscaping. Extending a little under c. 0.25ha in area, the site lies at the east end of Jubilee Terrace and is bounded to the north by the old Jewson's site, to the east by Riverside Walk and the river itself, and to the south by the building and car park of the Cutter Public House. Site centre lies at approximately TL544 797 on the eastern side of the city.
291
Archaeological Evaluation at the Former Sargeant's Garage, High Street, Chesterton, Cambridge
Alexander, M. (1998). Archaeological Evaluation at the Former Sargeant's Garage, High Street, Chesterton, Cambridge. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 291
Features excavated in the evaluation trenches at the former Sargeant's Garage, High Street, Chesterton indicate multi-period occupation central to Chesterton Village. Pre-historic features were not identified, but several worked flints were found in later pits and ditches. Roman activity was represented by a pit containing abraded Roman pottery sherds and middle Saxon pottery was found re-deposited in a Saxo-Norman pit. The site appears to have occupied from the Saxo-Norman period onwards, with the main focus of development along Union Lane. Sporadic pitting for gravel extraction took place behind the street frontage and a late 15th / early 16th century foundation was partially excavated.
292
Archaeological Investigations at Guilden Morden, Cambridgeshire, 1997
Dickens, A. (1998). Archaeological Investigations at Guilden Morden, Cambridgeshire, 1997. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 292
Road construction for a new housing development uncovered human skeletal remains. Investigation revealed two graves containing three skeletons, the single burial being that of a child aged about jour. The double grave contained a young adult male and an older adult female. Both the child and the female had associated grave goods suggesting a sixth century or earlier date. Although the village is known to have Saxon origins there is no immediate context for these burials.
293
Cottenham to Landbeach Sewerage Pumping Main - A Desktop Study
Lucas, G. (1999). Cottenham to Landbeach Sewerage Pumping Main - A Desktop Study. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 293
A 4.2km pipeline proposed to run between Cottenham and Landbeach crosses through several archaeologically sensitive areas, the most significant of which lies at the eastern end of the route. Here, dense Iron Age and Romano-British settlement activity has been recorded with a probable Bronze Age component. Despite extensive quarrying in this area in the past, substantial remains are likely to survive, including a section of the Roman canal, the Car Dyke. At the western end, the gravel subsoil changes to Kimmeridge clay and much less archaeology is identified, probably due both to its invisibility and absence.
294
Investigations of the Archaeological Landscape at Broom, Bedfordshire: Phase 3 (1997)
Mortimer, R. (1999). Investigations of the Archaeological Landscape at Broom, Bedfordshire: Phase 3 (1997). Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 294
The second stage of archaeological excavation has been completed at Broom Quarry on behalf of Tarmac Quarry Products (Central) Ltd. The assessment area comprised 13 hectares with the main excavation area centred on two known cropmark ring ditches in the north-eastern part of the site. The excavations were conducted by a team from the Cambridge Archaeological Unit between April and July 1997.
295
Archaeological Investigations within Jesus Close, Jesus College, Cambridge 1998
Whittaker, P. (1999). Archaeological Investigations within Jesus Close, Jesus College, Cambridge 1998. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 295
Archaeological work was undertaken by Cambridge Archaeological Unit at Jesus College, Cambridge (TL 4527/5879) in the summer and autumn of 1998. These excavations were commissioned by the College in advance of the construction of a new accommodation block. The excavation revealed four phases of activity; the earliest remains were broadly datable to the Prehistoric period. Remnants of ditches and postholes could relate to a possible Bronze Age field system. Other ditches and pits were only datable to pre-15th century. A Medieval plough soil truncated these earlier deposits and was probably related to farming during the time the land was enclosed within the grounds of the Nunnery of St. Radegunds (1138 - 1497). The majority of the features revealed were related to the Nunnery, with major strip quarry pits found as well as smaller pits, ditches and a large midden deposit dated to the 15th century. Early College activity was represented by two probable quarry pits of 16th/17th date, with a buried soil sealing these suggesting the land was then utilised as grassland for at least 200 years. The last phase of activity relates to the 19th century expansions to Jesus College with the gateposted entranceway built during this time found along the lane-side wall. The excavations also indicated a background presence of the Romans in this area, with a handful of residual Roman pottery found.
