Proceedings of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society 102

A metalwork hoard dated to the Wilburton phase of the later Bronze Age, found at Barway close to the Isle of Ely in the Cambridgeshire Fens, is reported. Consideration of the hoard, in the context of later prehistoric hoarding in the local landscape, reveals that particular sorts of artefact were associated with particular places in the landscape. In particular a strong association between later Bronze Age hoards and causeways connecting the Isle of Ely to the outside world is identified, and an interpretation suggested. This study demonstrates the potential of a detailed contextual approach for providing a more nuanced understanding of later Bronze Age metalwork deposition that moves away from a simplistic wet'“dry dichotomy.

Excavation in 2012 by Archaeological Solutions Ltd in Water Newton revealed features dated as 10th to 13th century, a partial horse burial of the post-medieval period, and later post-medieval features associated with use of the site as semi-agricultural land or gardens attached to the adjacent farmstead at 2 Old Great North Road. In addition, residual Neolithic, Roman and Romano-British artefacts were recovered. The medieval features represented activity within a plot defined by a boundary, possibly a toft-and-croft type peasant holding. Although the site was small and the evidence somewhat inconclusive, its identification is a significant addition to the corpus of information regarding Water Newton in the early medieval period. Au/LD

Evaluation and excavation undertaken by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit in advance of development at a site on Huntingdon Street, St. Neots, revealed a sequence of fluctuating occupation spanning the 11th to early 20th centuries. A roadside ditch along Huntingdon Street was established around the 11th century and by the 12th century the area was divided into a series of long, narrow rectangular plots, representing a suburban expansion of the town of St. Neots. This development thrived for a time before going into a period of prolonged decline, with identifiable activity ending in the late 16th or early 17th century. Occupation began again in the mid-17th century and has continued until the present. Some early 20th century garden features produced substantial groups of material associated with the inhabitants of Cressner House. Overall, the excavations present a useful insight into the fluctuating fortunes of St. Neots and interesting information on a specific early 20th century household.

In 2010 Wardell Armstrong Archaeology undertook an evaluation and subsequent excavation at the former Whitemoor Marshalling Yard, March. This site had been one of the largest and most important marshalling yards in the UK and was a site of technical innovation. Although abandoned in the 1990s, redevelopment of the site by Network Rail provided an opportunity to re-examine its history and development, including the excavation of some of the buried railway structures. A number of Second World War air raid shelters were also investigated. In addition, the work revealed evidence for Romano-British activity, including a field system, a series of routeways and possible gravel extraction pits. Some features were possibly of Iron Age date. Au/LD