Series: Council for British Archaeology Research Reports

Essentially a guide to a continuously-maintained card index of sites. Over 3,000 site entries cover the British Palaeolithic sequence up to and including the Mousterian period. The entries are arranged alphabetically according to counties, and for each site the geographical location and principal sources of material (both museum collections and published references) are indicated. The finds are inventoried according to simple artefact classes such as "handaxes", "cores", "Levallois flakes", but no cultural or chronological classification is attempted. Apart from certain collections in private hands and in foreign museums, coverage of the extant material is virtually complete.

Presents the results of excavations carried out in the 1980s. Upwich was historically the centre of salt production in the town as it contained a prolific source of brine from natural springs. The excavations confirmed the importance of the area during medieval and post-medieval periods, but also recorded evidence of earlier salt production extending back into the prehistoric period. Major structures included large Roman timber structures, sub-Roman/AS brine-boiling hearths, and the Upwich brine well itself (built in AD 1264--65) with its associated salt-making workshops and equipment. The `Introduction' (1--4) and an account of the `Background to the 1983--4 excavation' (5--8) are by J D Hurst. The structural phases are described and discussed in `The excavation' by J D Hurst & J A Hemingway (9--67). Finds reports comprise: `Pottery' by I J Lentowicz (68--89), covering IA to post-med and incorporating a `Note on samian ware' by B Dickinson (72--3 & microfiche) and a `Comparison of Upwich brine well group with other 13th century assemblages' by I J Lentowicz & J D Hurst (82); `Ceramic building materials' by J D Hurst & J Evans (89--90); `Clay pipe' by J D Evans, D Higgins & J D Hurst (90--3); `Ironwork' (93), `Copper alloy' (94), and `Lead' (94--6), all by I J Lentowicz; `Coins' (post med, except for a penny of Alfred the Great) by I J Lentowicz & W Seaby (96); `Glass' (mostly post-med wine bottles) by J Evans (96--8); `Worked stone' by F E S Roe (98--100); `Animal bone' by B Meddens (100--6 & microfiche), including worked bone; `Wooden artefacts' by J D Hurst (106--11); `An analysis of woodworking techniques and woodland origins of the Anglo-Saxon stakes' (111--19 & microfiche) and `Barrel hoops' (120--1), both by R A Morgan; `Tree-ring analysis and dating of timbers' by C Groves & J Hillam (121--6 & microfiche); `Leatherwork' (mainly med and later shoe parts) by Q Mould (126--33 & microfiche); `Textiles' (med silk and RB rope) by E Crowfoot (133); `Archaeobotany' by J Greig (133--45 & microfiche); `Mollusca', comprising `Snails' by D Williams (145--6) and `Other mollusca' (oysters) by J D Hurst (146); `Diatoms' by S Juggins (146 & microfiche); `Avian eggs' by D Brothwell (146--7); pine `Resin' by J Evans (147); `Beetles' by P J Osborne (147); `Radiocarbon dating' by R L Otlet & G W Pearson (148 & microfiche); `Infrared-stimulated luminescence dating' (of post-Roman alluvium) by M J Aitken (148); and `Miscellaneous artefacts' by J D Hurst (148). The final `Overview and conclusions' are presented by J D Hurst (149--52).

Papers from a symposium held in April 1974. Techniques of remote sensing and survey are treated by R J A Jones and R Evans (factors controlling development of soil and crop marks); D R Wilson (photographic techniques, equipment and procedures), J N Rinker (emulsions), W A Baker (infra-red) and I Scollar (manual or computer transformation of extreme oblique views to maps/plans). In the section on archaeological interpretation, D R Wilson illustrates some pitfalls, and is followed by writers on three different regions: R Agache (N France), C Leva and J J Hus (Belgium - low-level photography and magnetic/electrical checking on the ground of features seen from the air), and H C Bowen (development of landscape in S England). Section III is on availability and use of air-photographic information: J Hampton (organisation in Britain, especially the National Monuments Record), D Baker (relevance to planners) D Benson (Oxford region), C C Taylor (field archaeology) and H Thorpe (documentary and field study of Wormleighton). The need for a central air-photographic interpretation and dissemination centre is put by P J Fowler.

Report on the first large-scale excavation of an almost complete Anglo-Saxon cemetery, located in the frontier zone between Bernicia, the northernmost of the Northumbrian kingdoms, and Deira. Of the 120 burials recorded three were inhumations and the rest urned cremations. Grave finds cover most of the sixth century AD and possibly the early seventh, and indicate close links with sites from the Tyne valley in the north to Anglian England. `The Anglo-Saxon pottery' is described by Wendy Sherlock (54--5), the `Textile remains' by Penelope Walton (57--61), and a `Conservation report and technological examination' is provided by Carol E Brown (61--72). The discussion of the human remains in chapter six consists of `The population' by Mandy Marlow (107--18), `Skeletal pathology' by David Birkett (118--9) and `Cremations' by Sally Parker (119--20). A microfiche shows glass bead types.

A report on work undertaken in the Ironbridge Gorge Conservation Area and World Heritage Site, Shropshire, as part of the Severn Gorge Repairs Project. Six of the key archaeological monuments in Ironbridge are covered in detail, and these are: the Upper Works, Coalbrookedale; Upper Forge, Coalbrookedale; Bedlam blast furnaces; Blists Hill blast furnaces; Blists Hill Brick and Tile Works; the Hay Inclined Plane and Shropshire Canal. Appendices cover the `Approach to conservation in the Severn Gorge Repairs Project' (195--6), `Conventions for archaeological drawings' (197--9), `Project management' (200--3), and proposals for `Future management' (204--11)

An introductory paper by R H Allen and R G Sturdy (1-7) outlines the environmental background, geological history, and changes in vegetation and climate. J J Wymer (8-11) summarizes the main finds of Clactonian, Acheulian, and Levalloisian industries. The Upper Palaeo is not well represented; R Jacobi (12-13) considers isolated Late Glacial artefacts, and in a second paper (14-25) describes the Early Meso assemblages (particularly from Hillwood and White Colne) and major collections of Late Meso artefacts; non-microlithic equipment is illustrated as well as microliths. J D Hedges (26-39) collates information for Neo monuments and material culture, with a gazetteer of pottery-producing sites; there are several possible cursus monuments and small henges, and the Stour valley emerges as an important region during Late Neo. C R Couchman (40-6) offers a preliminary study of recorded evidence for BA settlement: EBA-MBA material had a riverine and coastal distribution, and LBA is additionally represented by metalwork concentrated around the Thames. P J Drury (47-54) surveys the Early and Middle Iron Age; hillfort occupation was largely replaced by oppida in late IA, and a trend from open to enclosed settlement occurred during the period, with a tendency to rectangular houses. A tentative framework for the development of IA ceramics is offered. C F Hawkes (55-8) identifies Caesar's 'maritime states' as the Trinovantes, seen as originating from Gaul (Ambiani) c 150 BC with appropriate equipment (chiefly swords, coins, and pottery). P J Drury and W Rodwell (59-75) discuss evidence for five aspects of Iron Age-RB settlement, arguing for landscape continuity between the two; military occupation, 'small towns', rural settlement, and the 'end' of Roman Essex are also treated. The development of Colchester from Roman times to the Norman conquest is discussed by P Crummy (76-81): he notes 5th-8th century occupation, a possible period of desertion 750-900, and reoccupation, first by Danes and finally by English in 0th century. M U Jones (82-6) reviews the Essex evidence for early Saxon rural settlement, and then concentrates on the evidence from Mucking of pottery, metalwork, and buildings. A catalogue of twenty-nine early Saxon cemeteries in Essex is provided by W T Jones (87-95). Mid-Saxon features at Wicken Bonhunt were excavated by K Wade; they represented a well-organised settlement of at least two phases with twenty-eight structures, using imported wares, and undergoing two later replannings (96-102). Certain features of the medieval landscape are surveyed by O Rackham, finding RB or even EIA origins and continuity of use from then on (103-7). C A Hewett (108-12) considers AS carpentry techniques, which displayed features and concepts which were archaic rather than crude; he lists Saxon/Saxo-Norman joints. A survey of twenty-four towns with urban status in the Middle Ages is given by M R Petchey (113-17), noting three phases of foundation - pre conquest, 12th century castle towns, and market-dominated towns of 1180-1260, many exhibiting evidence of deliberate planning. W Rodwell (118-22) discusses ecclesiastical sites and structures in Essex from Asperiodon, and K C Newton (123-5) evaluates the archaeological potential of four classes of archives. M C Wadhams (126-30) stresses the need for specialist knowledge and expertise in interpreting late vernacular architecture, and considers some specific recent research. D G

The volume is divided into two parts. In Part I (entitled `Long ago, in the land of far horizons . . .': an introduction to the archaeology of Northumberland National Park), following an introduction, the author presents a general overview of the archaeology and history of the Park in nine chapters which correspond to the main archaeological periods from the Mesolithic to the present day. This is followed in Part II (entitled `A decade of digging in the hills': recent archaeological work in Northumberland National Park) by a series of separately authored reports on particular projects, most of which are based on presentations given at a conference held in October 2000, entitled `Long ago, in the Land of the Far Horizons . . .'. Contributions include

A report based on papers presented at a conference organised by the Roman Research Trust at the Museum of London in 1991, its aim being to highlight some recent discoveries and current thinking on architecture in Roman Britain. The `Introduction' by J J Wilkes (1--5) outlines the differences and similarities of architecture in Britannia with the rest of the empire and points to the scarcity of inscriptions and other documentary evidence for buildings in this northern province. Part I of the report deals with exteriors, and begins with `The external decoration of Romano-British buildings' by T F C Blagg (9--18), including columns, sculptured decoration, use of colour, and contrasting building materials. Paul Bidwell (19--29) in `The exterior decoration of Roman buildings in Britain' concentrates on exterior decoration carried out with lime plaster and plain or coloured washes, and the use of building materials with contrasting colours.Part II is on elevations: David S Neal (33--43) considers `Upper storeys in Romano-British villas'. The tendency in the past has been to assume that most Roman buildings, especially villas, were single storeyed. One villa with an upper storey is reconstructed by Graham D Keevill (44--55) in `The reconstruction of the Romano-British villa at Redlands Farm, Northamptonshire'. Here, the east wing gable was found collapsed. An exceptionally well-preserved fallen wall of a late Roman aisled building was also found at Meonstoke, Hampshire, and this is discussed by Anthony King (56--69) in `The south-east façade of Meonstoke aisled building'. The unusual tower-like building at Stonea is described in `The Roman stonebuilding at Stonea, Cambridgeshire' by T W Potter (70--4).Part III is on military architecture, and begins with `An elliptical peristyle building in the fortress of Deva' by David J P Mason (77--92), which was excavated in the centre of Chester in 1939 and again in the 1960s. It was part of the legionary fortress and was apparently a range of tall open chambers around an oval peristyle court with an adjacent bath building; its interpretation remains disputed. Further work at Chester is outlined by T J Strickland (104--19) in `Recent research at the Chester legionary fortress: the curtain wall and the barrack veranda colonnades'. Tony Wilmott (93--103) in `Birdoswald: a military case study' discusses various architectural elements in the fort at Birdoswald, including gates, defensive walls, basilica, and horrea. Bridges, many probably constructed by the army, are dealt with by Neil Holbrook (120--32) in `Roman bridges in Britain'.The final part of the report is on late empire architecture, and Nicholas Hodgson (135--51) discusses `A late Roman courtyard house at South Shields and its parallels' -- the house has been excavated within the eastern part of the fort. It dates from the early fourth century and possibly housed the military commander.`Exotic structures in 4th-century Britain' are presented by Bryn Walters (152--62) -- a number of buildings in south-west Britain had elaborate structures, such as at Holcombe in Dorset and Littlecote, Wiltshire. LRA