Series: Cambridgeshire Archaeological Reports

A small pit, probably domestic in origin, was found in an area of unpronounced ridge and furrow. It contained many fragments of a Bronze Age Beaker, including two handle sherds, as well as charcoal and a few burnt bone fragments. The pottery was dated to c 1650--1450~BC. An appendix by C A I French (8) provides a soil assessment for the site.

Finds associated with previously identified cropmarks indicated intense but spatially restricted Roman activities, and a number of prehistoric sites were also identified.

Despite being close to the medieval centre of Linton, ten trenches and two test pits revealed only a nineteenth- or twentieth-century ditch and several small natural channels.

Observations of a lift-shaft excavation in the centre of Cambridge noted the remains of a large gravel quarry, several large pits and the base of a large fifteenth-century stone lined well. Appendix A provides a `List of excavated contexts' (7).

A further sixty-three Anglo-Saxon burials were excavated at the Edix Hill cemetery. Twenty-eight Iron Age pits and four major multi-phase ditches were investigated, and a ring-ditch probably dating to the Bronze Age was also discovered. The Anglo-Saxon artefacts extended the use of the site as a cemetery from the late fifth century through to the early seventh. Thirty-nine individuals were represented, with eighteen burials containing the remains of more than one. Male gravegoods included a shield and copper-alloy bound bucket, and spears. The women were accompanied by glass and amber `necklaces', brooches, latchlifters and keys. Two had bags with ivory rings at their openings. Spiral silver wrist-clasps and a pair of hexafoil saucer brooches dated to the sixth century, whilst a necklace of fine silver rings and gold pendants were probably from the late seventh century. Some grouping of important male, and child, burials is indicated. The skeletal evidence shows a healthy and long-lived population.

Excavations were carried out in advance of pipeline construction. Fieldwalking identified Mesolithic to Bronze Age activity on the site, with Middle Iron Age grain storage pits and Roman ditches. Three distinct units of the villa itself were investigated: a complex series of flint wall foundations and grit floors; a range of small storage rooms with flint walls and a cobbled courtyard; and further unit of flint wall foundations in a marshy area which was not examined in detail. Artefacts indicate occupation between the second and fourth centuries AD and activity was clearly extensive. The villa was substantial, on rich agricultural land, and the quantity of finds endorses the impression of wealth. The unexpected extent of the remains meant the villa could not be investigated fully, but the pipeline was directed along the least damaging part of the site and the buildings have been backfilled for future investigation. Prehistoric remains in the area also merit further research. C J Going (20--2) writes Appendix A `The prehistoric and Roman pottery', followed by G A Wait's Appendix B (23--6) on `The artefacts'. Appendix C, `Analysis of plant remains from pit [41]' is by A J Clapham (27), with J Hale (28) contributing Appendix D on `Faunal remains'. G Haley (29) writes Appendix F on `Flints recovered during fieldwalking' and finally Appendix G consists of `Distribution maps of material collected during fieldwalking' (30--2).

A Roman villa dating from the first to fourth centuries AD was identified in 1990, lying on the route of a new water pipeline to be laid by the National Rivers Authority. Excavation revealed a series of rectangular rooms with rammed chalk floors, one of which had substantial flint and mortar foundations, and a second which was retained by timber post holes and wall slots. There was a circular pit located some thirteen metres to the south of the building, cut into a square, rammed chalk platform. This pit contained an intact Roman altar, only the third to be found in Cambridgeshire, and below the altar further architectural fragments including the base of a column. The project also recognised an extension of Fleam Dyke, an Anglo-Saxon defensive earthwork, between Great Wilbraham and Fen Ditton. G A Wait (20--1) writes Appendix A `The artifacts' followed by Appendix B `Fragments from the altar pit' by C R Godfrey (22--3). Appendix C `The pottery' is by C Going (24--6) and finally J Hale (27) contributes Appendix D on the `Faunal remains'.

Earthworks recently identified in the historic core of the village of Orwell proved to be of two major phases: foundations of one or more buildings on the street frontage platform are believed to be of medieval date and a later chalk rubble wall, possibly a boundary feature, dates to between 1350 and 1680. The ditch on the southern edge of the frontage produced evidence for a timber bridge and/or revetment of uncertain date. Further north, about 1.5m of make-up was located adjacent to the `Lordship' ditch -- the only remaining physical evidence for the early medieval Manor of Orwell. The central area of the site contained raised areas separated by ditches. The site has been interpreted as a street frontage platform with medieval occupation, behind which attempts have been made in the late fourteenth to late seventeenth centuries to drain the land and construct dry platforms, for use as an orchard/garden. Appendix A discusses `Historical documentary research for Chapel Orchard and adjacent properties, Town Green Road, Orwell' by Twigs Way (19--25); Appendix B is a `Summary of pottery, Chapel Orchard, Town Green Road, Orwell'; Appendix C gives a `Key for illustrations'; and Appendix D is a `List of contexts'. There is a glossary of archaeological terms.

Trenching prior to development of the site was based on aerial photographs, which appeared to give an accurate representation of the region's archaeology, with cropmarks and stratigraphic evidence indicating the preservation of a prehistoric landscape throughout the area. Neolithic, Bronze Age and probably Iron Age and Roman/post-Roman remains were revealed, including cursus, small henge monuments, ring ditches, pit alignments and trackways. Appendix A by Twigs Way (12--14) presents `Documentary research for archaeological evaluation at Barford Road Farm, Eynesbury, Cambridgeshire TL184/585'. C A I French (15--16) contributes Appendix B on `Eynesbury, Barford Road 1993: soil assessment'.

Proposals for housing development resulted in the archaeological assessment of three fields on the north-western fringes of the village of Abbots Ripton. Historical researches recognised the presence of a post-medieval parsonage located in the south-east corner of Site 1. The evaluation showed that the site was heavily disturbed by demolition and robbing activities which are presumably related to the construction of the nineteenth century rectory. The findings suggest that this area may be important in understanding the present layout of the village and may provide information concerning its social framework in the medieval and post medieval periods. Twigs Way provides an appendix giving `A documentary history of the Rectory Farm site, Abbots Ripton' (9--16).