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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. 

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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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208

An Archaeological Evaluation at Land off Prickwillow Road, Ely, Cambs.

Whittaker, P. (1997). An Archaeological Evaluation at Land off Prickwillow Road, Ely, Cambs.. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 208

An archaeological field evaluation was carried out as the second phase of work at a site (TL 551 812) designated for housing development on the north-east side of Ely. Although significant archaeological remains were known from the vicinity, previous work in the area had not indicated anything specific on the site. The evaluation revealed evidence of activity from four chronological periods with other features which could not be confidently dated. A general flint scatter across the site indicated later neolithic and bronze age activity, whilst a single isolated feature contained earlier neolithic flint and some degraded sherds of pottery. A series of drainage ditches, dated to the late Iron Age/Romano British period contained a distinctive pottery assemblage. Whilst most sherds dated to the 1st or 2nd centuries AD, they were combined with others indicative of a later Iron Age tradition. The drainage ditches were superseded by a droveway, dated by its pottery to the 1st or 2nd centuries AD, but which did not contain any of the earlier pottery. The interpretation is of a change of land-use from arable to pasture on land which has always been wet. There was no indication of settlement of any period within the area of the evaluation, but it seems likely that Romano British settlement in particular is not very far away. Post-medieval activity was indicated by the presence of former field boundaries and the general occurrence of brick, tile and occasional pottery and glass within the top and upper subsoil.

209

King's College Chapel, Cambridge: A Study of Artefacts Recovered from Beneath the Choir Stalls

Dickens, A. (1997). King's College Chapel, Cambridge: A Study of Artefacts Recovered from Beneath the Choir Stalls. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 209

During January 1993 a programme of treatment was carried out on the timber of the choir stalls in King's College Chapel. In the course of this some fifty sacks of dust were removed from the space beneath the stalls using a large vacuum cleaner. Subsequently a 50% sample was hand sieved and examined by the author. Five hundred and forty-four items were thus recovered. This report is an attempt to examine and explore the significance of the objects, their deposition and the evidence they can offer towards a consideration of life and the passage of time within this ancient building.

210

An Archaeological Evaluation at Heathfields Estate, near Duxford Airfield, Cambridgeshire

Dodwell, N. (1997). An Archaeological Evaluation at Heathfields Estate, near Duxford Airfield, Cambridgeshire. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 210

An archaeological evaluation was conducted on land adjoining the Heathfields Estate, near Duxford Airfield, Cambridgeshire. A series of test pits and trenches were excavated over a c. 2ha. field. The results of the sampling strategy revealed a low background density of flint, however a concentration of worked and burnt pieces was uncovered at the north-west end of the field. This spread appeared to have been cut by a later Neolithic pit filled with highly decorated sherds of pottery derived from six or seven vessels. A large linear ditch, running roughly east-west across the south- western corner of the site, was located in two of the test pits. No dateable material, other than a small number of undiagnostic flints, was recovered from the feature leaving a conclusive date uncertain. Comparison with similar features elsewhere may suggest that it pre-dated the medieval period. Several brick foundations and services were revealed. These related to part of the domestic area of the Airfield, demolished in the 1970s.

211

Grange Farm, Easton, Hunts. Cambridgshire: An Archaeological Desktop Study

Dickens, A. (1997). Grange Farm, Easton, Hunts. Cambridgshire: An Archaeological Desktop Study. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 211

This desktop study was commissioned by Ashtenne Residential Ltd. as the first phase of a two part archaeological evaluation ahead of a proposed small scale housing development at Grange Farm, Easton (Hunts.), Cambridgeshire (TL139 715). This is in response to an archaeological constraint placed on the planning permission by Cambridgeshire County Council.

212

The Lion Yard Cambridge: An Archaeological Desktop Study

Dickens, A. (1997). The Lion Yard Cambridge: An Archaeological Desktop Study. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 212

This desktop study has been commissioned by BDG/McColl on behalf of the Shearer Property Group, in response to a brief issued by Cambridgeshire County Council (27/2/97). This follows a proposal for redevelopment in the Robert Sayles/Lion Yard area of Cambridge (roughly centred at TL451 583). The main focus is the block of land of which the proposed scheme boundary encloses about five-sixths. This is referred to throughout the study as the Lion Yard Block and is bounded to the north by Petty Cury, to the west by Corn Exchange Street, to the south by Downing Street and to the east by St. Andrew's Street. The reorientated St. Tibbs Row splits the southern half of the block in two. The report will consider the history and development of Cambridge, drawing upon both documentary and archaeological evidence. The main focus, however, will be the Lion Yard Block, examining evidence relating to that area in particular to develop a model of archaeological survival potential.

213

The Over Lowland Investigations, Cambridgeshire: Part 1 - The 1996 Evaluation

Evans, C. and Knight, M. (1997). The Over Lowland Investigations, Cambridgeshire: Part 1 - The 1996 Evaluation. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 213

During the autumn of 1996 a three month-long fieldwork evaluation programme was undertaken over a 116ha 'sail-like' or 'banner-shaped' area within three fields beside the River Great Ouse (I-III) immediately west of the village of Over. Commissioned by ARC Central, it represents the first five- year 'pull' of their Over quarry. With an expected lifetime of 25 years and extending over c. 550ha, this will probably be one of the largest exposures of wetland archaeology within Britain. The site is located at the junction of fen and river valley, and integration of environmental and archaeological researches is considered imperative. From the outset the fieldwork has been envisaged as, in effect, a (wet-) landscape laboratory - a testing ground for experimental methodologies, techniques and new ideas.

214

Further Archaeological Investigations at Land off Prickwillow Road, Ely, Cambridgeshire

Dickens, A. (1997). Further Archaeological Investigations at Land off Prickwillow Road, Ely, Cambridgeshire. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 214

Previous investigation at the site (TL 551 812) had revealed evidence of activity from four chronological periods with other features which could not be confidently dated. A general flint scatter across the site indicated later neolithic and bronze age activity, whilst a single isolated feature contained earlier neolithic flint perhaps associated with some degraded sherds of Neolithic pottery. A series of drainage ditches, dated to the late Iron Age/Romano British period contained a distinctive pottery assemblage. Whilst most sherds dated to the 1st or 2nd centuries AD, they were combined with others indicative of a later Iron Age tradition. The drainage ditches were superseded by a droveway, dated by its pottery to the 1st or 2nd centuries AD, but which did not contain any of the earlier pottery. The interpretation is of a change of land-use from arable to pasture on land which has always been wet. There was no indication of settlement of any period within the area of the evaluation, but it seems likely that Romano British settlement in particular is not very far away. Post-medieval activity was indicated by the presence of former field boundaries and the general occurrence of brick, tile and occasional pottery and glass within the top and upper subsoil. The additional investigations considered the area immediately around the early feature in greater detail. A sampling programme through the subsoil revealed no early flintwork and there were no other features associated by either form or content with that found in the earlier investigation. Two additional linear features were found suggesting that the Iron Age/Romano British drainage system was even more dense than had been previously thought.

215

Excavations at the Old Bishops Palace, Ely

Alexander, M. (1997). Excavations at the Old Bishops Palace, Ely. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 215

During the spring of 1997, work began on a new coffee and gift shop for the Sue Rvder Foundation, The Old Palace, Ely. An archaeological watching brief was carried out on the excavation of trenches associated with the construction of a new WC and ramped disabled access to ensure that any archaeological remains revealed by the trenches would be fully recorded. The work was commissioned by Purcell, Miller, Tritton & Partners on behalf of the Sue Ryder foundation and was carried out by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit.

216

Further Archaeological Investigations at the Heathfields Estate near Duxford Airfield, Cambridgeshire

Dickens, A. and Dodwell, N. (1997). Further Archaeological Investigations at the Heathfields Estate near Duxford Airfield, Cambridgeshire. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 216

Mitigation excavation was carried out on land adjoining the Heathfields Estate, near Duxford Airfield, Cambridgeshire. Previous evaluation work had revealed a low background density of flint with a concentration of worked and burnt pieces at the north-west end of the field. This spread appeared to have been cut by a later Neolithic pit filled with highly decorated sherds of pottery derived from six or seven vessels. An unrelated large linear ditch, was located running roughly east-west across the south-western corner of the site. This feature could not be firmly dated. The second phase of excavation revealed that the flint spread and feature were concentrated around a natural feature, probably a solution hollow, which had served as a source of raw lithic material and a focus for the primary reduction of that material from at least the early Neolithic. Similar activity had taken place in the later Neolithic. The spread of pottery around the pit already found suggested either domestic or middening activity around the same natural feature. Parallels were drawn with similar discoveries at nearby sites. The large linear ditch produced some dating evidence. This suggested that the feature was certainly pre-conquest. The probable date was narrowed down to the Roman or Saxon periods, but ambiguity in identification of the pottery types meant a determination could not be made between the two. In the course of investigating the line of the ditch the discovery was made of a large subterranean structure dating to the end of the Second World War or shortly afterwards. The feature was probably an air-raid shelter. The excavation confirmed the importance of the general Duxford Airfield area in a rich archaeological landscape which records several periods.

217

An Archaeological Evaluation at Abbey Farm, Ickleton, Cambridgeshire

Regan, R. (1997). An Archaeological Evaluation at Abbey Farm, Ickleton, Cambridgeshire. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 217

Between the 7th and 15th May 1997, an archaeological evaluation was undertaken prior to the redevelopment of a thirteenth century barn - the Great Barn, with the construction of new office buildings and access road at Abbey Farm, Ickleton, Cambridgeshire (TL490/437). The Cambridge Archaeological Unit were commissioned to do the work by Cowper Griffith Brimblecombe Associates on behalf of M r Lewis Duke.

218

The Barleycroft Paddocks Excavations, Cambridgeshire

Evans, C. and Knight, M. (1997). The Barleycroft Paddocks Excavations, Cambridgeshire. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 218

Undertaken in advance of gravel extraction, during the winter of 1995/6 a five hectare site was excavated within an extension to ARC's quarry at Barleycroft Farm, Needingworth. Falling within the Ouse floodplain, it lies on the edge of an alluviated first/second gravel terrace along the west bank of the river near its junction with the fen basin (TL 351-7/722-7).

219

An Archaeological Excavation at Temple End, High Wycombe

Regan, R. (1997). An Archaeological Excavation at Temple End, High Wycombe. Cambridge Archaeological Unit report no. 219

Between the 17th of March and the 30th of April 1997 an archaeological excavation was undertaken at Temple End/Bellfield Road, High Wycombe (Figure 2). The work was commissioned following an archaeological assessment in October 1996, which indicated the existence of an earlier structure beneath the then standing late Georgian/Victorian building known as Glenister House (Regan 1996). The work was carried out by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit on behalf of Safeway Stores Pic.

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