Strong, D. E., ed. (1973). Archaeological Theory & Practice.

The article presents a reassessment, in the light of recent excavations, of the geo-stratigraphical, archaeological and climatic evidence from the upper levels of the sequence at Barnfield Pit and six other "gravel-pit" sites in the Dartford-Swanscombe area. This provides the basis for a reconsideration of the character and date of assemblages ascribed to the Late Middle Acheulian Phase in the Lower Thames Valley. Common to the sites considered, the author recognises an industry characterised by ovate handaxes, often with twisted profiles, which is consistently associated with deposits datable to an interstadial phase within the Gipping glaciation. Moreover, chronologically and typologically equivalent assemblages occur more extensively over S and E England. It is further suggested that a slightly earlier and less developed twisted ovate industry dating to the final phase of the Hoxnian Interglacial is represented at Hoxne, and possibly at Barnfield Pit. The entire ovate tradition in the Swanscombe area is seen as a development from an earlier (Hoxnian) pointed handaxe tradition. C B

The London Cripplegate fort seems unlikely to have housed an urban cohort; instead, a Governor's Guard of equites and pedites singulares probably formed the main garrison. However, the provincial capital would also need specialists seconded from the legions, such as beneficiarii consularis, stratores and speculatores, and the 11-acre fort could also have housed these.

Historians of medieval technology have tended to assume that inventions such as the treadle-and-spring, the crank handle and the European windmill all date from their first mention in documents. However, where the archaeological and historical evidence can be compared it is clear that devices could exist for a long time before they achieved mention or illustration in documents; a concentration on archaeological evidence is therefore now needed.