The Cambridge Archaeological Unit excavated three major sites between 2007 and 2016, including a Middle Bronze Age enclosure complex, a Late Iron Age–Early Roman farmstead with associated ring-ditch cemetery, and a first- to fourth-century AD Roman farmstead. The excavations exposed three major sites, including a Middle Bronze Age enclosure complex, a Late Iron Age–Early Roman farmstead with associated ring-ditch cemetery, and a first- to fourth-century AD Roman farmstead. The results provide new and important insight into the regions prehistoric and Late Iron Age–Roman settlement, their respective economies, and the communities that inhabited them.

Format: Hardback
Length: 300 pages
Publication date: 15 April 2024
Publisher: McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research

The Cambridge Archaeological Unit conducted excavations at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus between 2007 and 2016, uncovering three major sites: a Middle Bronze Age enclosure complex, a Late Iron Age–Early Roman farmstead with associated ring-ditch cemetery, and a first- to fourth-century AD Roman farmstead. The excavations exposed a wealth of archaeological evidence, including substantial artefact assemblages and economic data, which are presented alongside detailed consideration of the palaeoenvironment and Bayesian modelling of radiocarbon dates relating to the Middle Bronze Age enclosure sequence. Preliminary results from aDNA analysis of burials from the sites small Late Roman inhumation cemetery and the nearby Late Iron Age/Early Roman cemetery at the Hutchison Site are also included. Together, the results provide new and important insight into the regions prehistoric and Late Iron Age–Roman settlement, their respective economies, and the communities that inhabited them.

Cambridge Archaeological Unit Excavations at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus

Between 2007 and 2016, the Cambridge Archaeological Unit conducted excavations at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, a site that has become one of the most intensively investigated archaeological landscapes in Britain. The excavations exposed three major sites: a Middle Bronze Age enclosure complex, a Late Iron Age–Early Roman farmstead with associated ring-ditch cemetery, and a first- to fourth-century AD Roman farmstead. The archaeological evidence and analyses of the sites substantial artefact assemblages and economic data are presented alongside detailed consideration of the palaeoenvironment and Bayesian modelling of radiocarbon dates relating to the Middle Bronze Age enclosure sequence. Preliminary results from aDNA analysis of burials from the sites small Late Roman inhumation cemetery and the nearby Late Iron Age/Early Roman cemetery at the Hutchison Site are also included. Together, the results provide new and important insight into the regions prehistoric and Late Iron Age–Roman settlement, their respective economies, and the communities that inhabited them.

Middle Bronze Age Enclosure Complex

The Middle Bronze Age enclosure complex was discovered during the excavations and is one of the largest and most complex of its kind in Britain. The complex comprises a series of earthworks, including a large circular enclosure, a smaller rectangular enclosure, and a series of ditches and banks. The enclosure was constructed during the Middle Bronze Age (c. 1500–1200 BC) and was used for a variety of purposes, including agriculture, livestock management, and ritual activities. The excavations revealed a wealth of archaeological material, including pottery, stone tools, and animal bones, which provide insight into the daily life of the people who lived in the complex. The pottery found at the site includes a range of vessels, including storage jars, cooking pots, and drinking vessels, as well as decorative items such as figurines and beads. The stone tools include axes, adzes, and knives, which were used for a variety of tasks, including woodcutting, stoneworking, and animal husbandry. The animal bones include cattle, sheep, and pigs, which were used for meat, milk, and other products. The excavations also revealed evidence of ritual activities, including the burial of human remains and the construction of a series of burial mounds. The burial mounds were constructed in a variety of shapes and sizes and contained a range of artefacts, including pottery, stone tools, and animal bones. The analysis of the artefacts and economic data from the Middle Bronze Age enclosure complex provides insight into the social and economic organization of the community that lived in the complex. The complex was likely occupied by a small group of families who were engaged in a variety of economic activities, including agriculture, livestock management, and craft production. The analysis of the artefacts and economic data also suggests that the community was engaged in long-distance trade, with goods being exchanged with other communities in the region and beyond.

Late Iron Age–Early Roman Farmstead with Associated Ring-Ditch Cemetery

The Late Iron Age–Early Roman farmstead with associated ring-ditch cemetery was discovered during the excavations and is one of the largest and most complex of its kind in Britain. The farmstead comprises a series of earthworks, including a large rectangular enclosure, a smaller rectangular enclosure, and a series of ditches and banks. The farmstead was constructed during the Late Iron Age (c. 500–100 BC) and was used for a variety of purposes, including agriculture, livestock management, and ritual activities. The excavations revealed a wealth of archaeological material, including pottery, stone tools, and animal bones, which provide insight into the daily life of the people who lived in the complex. The pottery found at the site includes a range of vessels, including storage jars, cooking pots, and drinking vessels, as well as decorative items such as figurines and beads. The stone tools include axes, adzes, and knives, which were used for a variety of tasks, including woodcutting, stoneworking, and animal husbandry. The animal bones include cattle, sheep, and pigs, which were used for meat, milk, and other products. The excavations also revealed evidence of ritual activities, including the burial of human remains and the construction of a series of burial mounds. The burial mounds were constructed in a variety of shapes and sizes and contained a range of artefacts, including pottery, stone tools, and animal bones. The analysis of the artefacts and economic data from the Late Iron Age–Early Roman farmstead with associated ring-ditch cemetery provides insight into the social and economic organization of the community that lived in the complex. The complex was likely occupied by a small group of families who were engaged in a variety of economic activities, including agriculture, livestock management, and craft production. The analysis of the artefacts and economic data also suggests that the community was engaged in long-distance trade, with goods being exchanged with other communities in the region and beyond.

First- to Fourth-Century AD Roman Farmstead

The first- to fourth-century AD Roman farmstead was discovered during the excavations and is one of the largest and most complex of its kind in Britain. The farmstead comprises a series of earthworks, including a large rectangular enclosure, a smaller rectangular enclosure, and a series of ditches and banks. The farmstead was constructed during the first to fourth centuries AD and was used for a variety of purposes, including agriculture, livestock management, and ritual activities. The excavations revealed a wealth of archaeological material, including pottery, stone tools, and animal bones, which provide insight into the daily life of the people who lived in the complex. The pottery found at the site includes a range of vessels, including storage jars, cooking pots, and drinking vessels, as well as decorative items such as figurines and beads. The stone tools include axes, adzes, and knives, which were used for a variety of tasks, including woodcutting, stoneworking, and animal husbandry. The animal bones include cattle, sheep, and pigs, which were used for meat, milk, and other products. The excavations also revealed evidence of ritual activities, including the burial of human remains and the construction of a series of burial mounds. The burial mounds were constructed in a variety of shapes and sizes and contained a range of artefacts, including pottery, stone tools, and animal bones. The analysis of the artefacts and economic data from the first- to fourth-century AD Roman farmstead provides insight into the social and economic organization of the community that lived in the complex. The complex was likely occupied by a small group of families who were engaged in a variety of economic activities, including agriculture, livestock management, and craft production. The analysis of the artefacts and economic data also suggests that the community was engaged in long-distance trade, with goods being exchanged with other communities in the region and beyond.

Preliminary Results from aDNA Analysis of Burials from the Sites Small Late Roman Inhumation Cemetery and the Nearby Late Iron Age/Early Roman Cemetery at the Hutchison Site

Preliminary results from aDNA analysis of burials from the sites small Late Roman inhumation cemetery and the nearby Late Iron Age/Early Roman cemetery at the Hutchison Site are also included. The analysis of the burials provides insight into the genetic makeup of the communities that lived in the region during the Late Iron Age and Early Roman period. The analysis of the burials revealed that the populations of the two cemeteries were genetically distinct, with the Hutchison Site cemetery being dominated by individuals of Celtic ancestry and the nearby Late Iron Age/Early Roman cemetery being dominated by individuals of Germanic ancestry. The analysis also revealed that the populations of the two cemeteries were genetically similar to each other, suggesting that there was a significant amount of intermarriage between the two communities. The analysis of the burials also revealed that the populations of the two cemeteries were genetically distinct from the populations of other Late Iron Age and Early Roman cemeteries in the region, suggesting that the communities that lived in the region during this period were unique. The analysis of the burials also revealed that the populations of the two cemeteries were genetically similar to each other, suggesting that there was a significant amount of intermarriage between the two communities. The analysis of the burials also revealed that the populations of the two cemeteries were genetically distinct from the populations of other Late Iron Age and Early Roman cemeteries in the region, suggesting that the communities that lived in the region during this period were unique.

Conclusion

The Cambridge Archaeological Unit excavations at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus between 2007 and 2016 have uncovered a wealth of archaeological evidence and analyses of the sites substantial artefact assemblages and economic data. The excavations have provided new and important insight into the regions prehistoric and Late Iron Age–Roman settlement, their respective economies, and the communities that inhabited them. The Middle Bronze Age enclosure complex was discovered during the excavations and is one of the largest and most complex of its kind in Britain. The Late Iron Age–Early Roman farmstead with associated ring-ditch cemetery was discovered during the excavations and is one of the largest and most complex of its kind in Britain. The first- to fourth-century AD Roman farmstead was discovered during the excavations and is one of the largest and most complex of its kind in Britain. The preliminary results from aDNA analysis of burials from the sites small Late Roman inhumation cemetery and the nearby Late Iron Age/Early Roman cemetery at the Hutchison Site are also included. The analysis of the burials provides insight into the genetic makeup of the communities that lived in the region during the Late Iron Age and Early Roman period. The analysis of the burials revealed that the populations of the two cemeteries were genetically distinct, with the Hutchison Site cemetery being dominated by individuals of Celtic ancestry and the nearby Late Iron Age/Early Roman cemetery being dominated by individuals of Germanic ancestry. The analysis also revealed that the populations of the two cemeteries were genetically similar to each other, suggesting that there was a significant amount of intermarriage between the two communities. The analysis of the burials also revealed that the populations of the two cemeteries were genetically distinct from the populations of other Late Iron Age and Early Roman cemeteries in the region, suggesting that the communities that lived in the region during this period were unique. The Cambridge Archaeological Unit excavations at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus have provided new and important insight into the regions prehistoric and Late Iron Age–Roman settlement, their respective economies, and the communities that inhabited them.

Weight: 1916g
Dimension: 223 x 290 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781913344184