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Between the 19th and 23rd August 1996 the final phase of drainage improvements to the south side of the choir at Ely Cathedral were carried out by Rattee and Kett. A watching brief of this work was undertaken by the Cambridge Archaeology Unit (C.A.U.) to record the trenches and any archaeology within them. This is a continuation of the work carried out by the C.A.U. which began in January 1995, which compliments work carried out by Anne Holten-Krayenbuhl and Kate Fearn in 1994.

Between July 29, 1996 and August 12, 1996 the Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) carried out an archaeological assessment at Heydon Grange Golf Course, South Cambridgeshire (TL 417425) on behalf of Easthope Associates. The work was conducted in response to a brief issued by Cambridge County Council. The aim was to assess the impact of adding bunkers and planting trees over an archaeological exclusion area, as well as mitigating the effects of placing a driving range over part of Bran's Ditch.

Two evaluation excavations took place within the area marked for development on the corner of Lisle Lane and Forehill, Ely. This was followed by full excavation of a strip of land 750 metres square along the Forehill street frontage, prior to the development of the area for housing. The earliest features to be revealed were a sequence of major ditches beginning in the 10th century, running parallel to the existing road. This evidence for early roadside activity was an unexpected discovery. The consolidation of a route from the river to the hilltop had been previously associated with the transportation of building materials and other provisions for the post-Conquest cathedral and monastic buildings. The earliest structural evidence on site dated to the 13th century and was followed by a full sequence of occupation into the 19th century. The site was divided into tenements running north from the street frontage, and excavation showed that the property divisions preserved in the buildings demolished in the 19th century were essentially those of the seven tenements listed on the area in the 1415 survey. Some of the property boundaries, including an alleyway to the east of Number 47 showed continuity from the earliest occupation phase in the 13th century. Analysis of the standing building at Number 47 suggests that during the 16th century the property occupied the tenement plot to the west and possibly to the east of Number 47 and included a shop front and relatively well-to-do living quarters. The presence of a merchant class in the properties in this area of Forehill reflects the development of this important route between the riverside wharves, market and monastic centre. The early tenement buildings stretched back a long way and only a limited amount of associated backyard activity was found within the excavated area. However waterlogged lower levels had preserved a full range of organic remains, including structural timbers and a large collection of cobbling and shoe-making waste dating from the 12th to the 14th centuries. Pollen and seed evidence has the potential to provide a wealth of environmental information concerning the diet and resources available to the individual properties, and the range of local habitats exploited. The early timber-built structures were replaced by brick and stone buildings. A complex of 16th/17th century brick-built structures indicates some small scale industrial process, possibly baking, took place behind one of these properties. The excavation produced a great range of inorganic finds, including a particularly large and important pottery assemblage, a copper alloy purse fitting decorated with a two-headed beast and a carved bone tool dated to the 10th century. This assessment report follows the guidelines set out in 'The Management of Archaeology Projects' (English Heritage 1991) and was prepared with the aim of guiding subsequent work on the project data towards full publication.

This desk top study was commissioned by Colvin and Moggridge, Landscape Architects as a preliminary stage of a proposed development of University owned land at High Cross, Cambridge. The site occupies an area of approximately 60 hectares situated on the south side of Madingley Road to the east of the M11 junction. The area now comprises a mixture of arable fields and buildings, including the Cavendish Laboratories in the south-east, various constructions associated with the Veterinary School, the Schlumberger Research centre and a series of light industrial units in the area known as Short's to the west. This desk top assessment will bring together all the currently available information concerning the known and the potential archaeological remains in the immediate area, with a view to predicting the nature, extent and state of preservation of archaeological features within the development zone. The impact of the proposed scheme on the archaeology will be assessed, and this information will contribute in the formulation of any development plans.

Investigations at Bene't Court, Cambridge, revealed a considerable depth of medieval archaeological deposits preserved across the site. While these largely related to garden and rear areas of properties, rather that buildings, the excavations provided valuable new evidence on the general development of this part of the town. No prehistoric or Roman occupation was recovered and any stratified deposits of early Saxo-Norman occupation had been entirely removed by later intrusions, although small quantities of residual sherd material from this period survived in later levels. The first major phase of activity may be dated to the thirteenth century when the area was extensively used for gravel extraction. Some evidence for occupation in the close vicinity was also seen in the excavation of the first of many wells dug on the site, while traces of a probable timber structure were found on its east side. Following this, through the fourteenth century most of the area appears to have fallen within garden or similar open areas. By the fifteenth century, the first of a series of lanes, running across the north end of the site mark the existence of a property boundary between No. 9 King's Parade and areas to the north, later supplanted by substantial walls, probably associated with one or more buildings, built along its line. Much of the area to the south appears to have remained open yards , possibly relating to an early Inn on the King's Parade frontage, with associated wells. Substantial changes, marked by widespread pitting and dumping episodes appear to have taken place during the earlier sixteenth century. These may be linked with changes in property ownership associated with Dissolution, and produced the most substantial and important collection of pottery from this period so far discovered in Cambridge. Following this, at least the southern part of the site probably continued to fall within the same Inn property until the early seventeenth century. The latest levels may be related to the incorporation of the site into the rear areas of the 'Eagle Inn', a process which was completed by the last quarter of the seventeenth century.

Excavations within the Master's Garden at Corpus Christi College were carried out to assess the archaeological impact of a possible development along its west side. Test trenches revealed the relatively well-preserved floor levels of the sixteenth century Tennis Court known to have occupied the site. Below this, less than a metre of medieval deposits survived, most of which seem to relate to use of this area as gardens, after the College acquired this land. A gravel surface within these deposits seems likely to be of fifteenth century date. These garden soils directly overlay one or more early medieval pits, probably relating to gravel extraction. The pit fills included significant quantities of well-preserved Saxo-Norman pottery, the earliest likely to be of tenth century date, as well as bones and botanical remains. This evidence indicates early medieval domestic activity in the close vicinity although it is unclear what impact gravel pitting may have had. It is possible that there has been some truncation of earlier medieval deposits.

This desk top study was commissioned by Beazer Homes, as a preliminary stage of a proposed development to construct 12 dwellings and ancillary works at land adjacent to 41, Stukeley Road, Huntingdon (TL2372). The site occupies an area of about one hectare situated on the west side of Stukeley Road, opposite the Huntingdon Business Centre, and approximately 100m. to the south of the roundabout with Wertheim Way. The area has been used for allotments and surrounds a small row of houses fronting onto the Stukeley Road. This desk top assessment will bring together all the currently available information concerning the known and the potential archaeological remains in the immediate area, with a view to predicting the nature, extent and state of preservation of archaeological features within the development zone. The impact of the proposed scheme on the archaeology will be assessed, and this information will contribute in the formulation of any development plans.

A two week long evaluation revealed a series of wall footings situated to the southern side of the existing Georgian building. Probably of a 17th century date, with possible earlier footings also identified. Also found to the east of these foundations was a series of substantial chalk floors which are likely contemporary, representing out-buildings or yards.

On the 14th and 15th November 1996 an archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cambridge Archaeological Unit at the Old Rectory in Brampton, Cambridgeshire (TL 214 708). This work was undertaken on behalf of Project Homes in regard to a building proposal for two houses to be built on the site of approximately 0.3 hectares. Prior to development the area was an orchard and garden.

Between 3rd and 4th December 1996 an archaeological evaluation was carried out in advance of the construction of a new clinical research unit at New Addenbrooke's Hospital Cambridge (NGR TL463/551). The work was undertaken by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit on behalf of SmithKilne Beecham Pharmaceuticals pic.

In mitigation of the construction of a new Accommodation Wing and Study Centre, excavations occurred over a four month period during the winter of 1993/94. The site certainly surpassed expectations. Although its basic components - prehistoric settlement, Roman ditch systems and pitting clusters - were essentially as anticipated through evaluation fieldwork, interpretative scope was greatly broadened by the scale of the excavations and the density of features (and artefacts) was far greater than planned. Extending over 1.5ha with more 2000sq m excavated, this certainly was the largest exposure to date of Roman Cambridge. A very major site, more than 290 features were excavated and 16,000 finds recovered.

This report details the results of an archaeological assessment that took place at 17-35 Castle Street, Cambridge (TL 444592). The work was commissioned by T. P. Associates Ltd and took place between 12th and 25th of September, 1995, as a preliminary stage to the proposed development of the area. The site is situated opposite the Castle Mound on the steepest part of the hill slope and occupies an area of approximately 1450 sq m (Figure 1). In view of the high archaeological potential of the area, the County Archaeological Office advised the Local Planning Authority of the need for the applicant to provide more information on the archaeological implications of the proposed development. Development proposals include the construction of a church and student accommodation. The Cambridge Archaeological Unit were commissioned to assess the archaeological impact of the development proposals in the form of a desk top study, followed by an initial fieldwork evaluation. The development area currently houses a Key's Garage, the Methodist Church and a shared car park between. Both church and garage buildings are destined to remain standing until planning permission has been granted. The initial fieldwork took the form of evaluation trenches in the car park area between the church and garage. It was anticipated that the results of this evaluation could contribute to predicting the potential survival of remains beneath the church and garage.