Brit Archaeol 46

Notes the discovery of a Bronze Age bridge on the River Thames foreshore at Vauxhall; excavations at a Neolithic causewayed enclosure with interrupted boundary ditches in Husbands Bosworth, Leicestershire, and at an Iron Age hillfort in Taplow, near Maidenhead; and reports on the rise in peat sales which may have a significant impact on the preservation of archaeological deposits. `In brief' notes the find of a thirteenth-century ship supporting the walls of a later medieval fishpond that was filled with Tudor rubbish containing the earliest English banana; the discovery of the oldest roof yet dated in Britain (timbers felled between 1120 and 1150) at St Mary's Church, Kempley (Gloucestershire); and the departure from the CBA of Richard Morris, Director since 1991.

Argues that Roman Britain remained at the height of its prosperity late into the fourth century evinced by the extravagant remains from villa sites such as Lullingstone and massive treasure hoards from Thetford and Hoxne. Also notes indications from temples of this period that many Roman citizens rejected Christianity and retained a more pantheistic tradition of deity worship.

Reports on the success of a Government scheme set up to encourage members of the public to inform local archaeologists of their discoveries, which has recorded 13,500 finds, documented in the first year's annual report. Notes the sometimes difficult job that liaison officers have in persuading local metal detectorists to produce their finds and reveal the location of the findspot.

Comments on growing links between metal detectorists and archaeologists and the role of Finds Liaison Officers working under the aegis of the Portable Antiquities Scheme in establishing such communication. Large quantities of artefacts have been unearthed from sites such as IA and Roman Thetford and many rescue operations in the City of London as a result of using local detectorists to survey the site prior to excavation.