Proceedings of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society 89

Excavations in 1996-97 uncovered some prehistoric (Meso, BA and IA) activity, but no Roman, on a mainly Mid-Late Saxon site. The Mid-Saxon phase saw an extensive ditch system with rectangular post buildings and a single grubenhaus set within ditched and fenced compounds. The Later Saxon phase saw radial pattern growth around an unseen core to the south east of the site. At this stage both the focus of the settlement and the pattern of development changed while respecting and incorporating the earlier settlement enclosure. This may represent the genesis of the nucleated village, forming out of a broader scattered hamlet. It is dated to the eighth or early-ninth century. The pattern was continued into the eleventh century until the abandonment of the area.

First of two articles dealing with the pre-Conquest and the medieval town, two periods which in Huntingdon represent a real material distinction. The relation to Godmanchester on the opposite side of the River Great Ouse is considered.