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Ninth-century Carolingian coins from the reigns of Louis the Pious and Charles the Bald are not the sort of objects you would expect to find on a remote farm on the Isle of Anglesey, so, when metal-detectorists began reporting these and other exceptional artefacts from the early medieval period, the National Museum of Wales (now Amgueddfa Cymru) sent Mark Redknap, then Curator of Medieval and Later Archaeology, to investigate. Between 1994 and 2012, Mark led ten seasons of fieldwork on the site, revealing the remains of a trading settlement with a form unparalleled in Wales. With the full report recently published, Chris Catling describes its key findings.

Lechlade’s buried secrets: Revisiting a long-lived ritual landscape in Gloucestershire

In 2017, excavations revealed an unusual Bronze Age burial alongside other signs of ceremonial activity spanning thousands of years. With some of the grave goods now on display, CA returns to the story of the Lechlade ‘chieftain’.

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Medicine in ancient Egypt… and medieval Wales

Ancient Egypt

December 15, 2025

Rosalie David explores the possible connections between medical practices in ancient Egypt and medieval Wales.

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Hilary Wilson on… A taste of sweetness

Ancient Egypt

December 15, 2025

Hilary Wilson explores the importance of the date palm in ancient Egyptian daily life.

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Rendlesham rediscovered: Exploring landscapes of power in early medieval East Anglia

December 4, 2025

Over the last two decades, evidence of a high-status early medieval settlement has been emerging just four miles from Sutton Hoo. What can Rendlesham tell us about the evolution and exercise of royal power in early medieval England? Carly Hilts spoke to Christopher Scull, Faye Minter, Stuart Brookes, and Tom Williamson to learn more.

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People of the past: Building a future for Scotland’s archaeological human remains

December 3, 2025

National Museums Scotland holds one of the largest collections of archaeological human remains from Scotland. Following the creation of cutting-edge facilities to care for and study these remains, as well as the recruitment of Scotland’s first Curator of Osteoarchaeology, Jess Thompson, Matthew Knight, Kirsty Owen, Adrián Maldonado, Bethany Simpson, and Vesna Podržaj explore what excavated individuals can tell us about past populations, and consider the ethical issues surrounding such research.

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From royal hall to cannonballs: Rediscovering the many lives of the Woolwich Rotunda

December 2, 2025

Currently on the Historic England Heritage at Risk Register and described as being in ‘very bad’ condition, the Woolwich Rotunda is supported by a web of scaffolding and faces an uncertain future. Chris Catling reports on a new book that tells the story of this remarkable 200-year-old building – constructed as a ballroom and then repurposed as a military museum – and explains why it must be saved.

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History in the shallows: Exploring intertidal and inland sites

November 30, 2025

Underwater archaeology is not all deep-sea diving. Artefacts and historic remains are periodically exposed on the shoreline before vanishing as the tide rises again, and can be found further inland in lakes and other bodies of water. Karen Moule describes the experience – and importance – of documenting these finds, and highlights three initiatives that you can join.

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A life less wealthy: The ordinary lives of Nabataean Petra

November 20, 2025

Petra is renowned for its extraordinary tomb architecture, but little is known about the builders of these mausolea. George H Nash, Genevieve von Petzinger, Lina Alrabab’h, and James Nash examine this funerary landscape and the traces of those who made it possible.

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Small rings, great power: Assessing the Vimose mail coat

November 19, 2025

An extraordinary survival plucked from a Danish bog sheds light on the technical virtuosity available in the Roman Iron Age. Olympia Bobou, Ilaria Bucci, and Rubina Raja examine the significance of a remarkable piece of armour.

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The changing faces of Easter Island: Revealing the secrets of shape-shifting figurines

November 18, 2025

Easter Island did not just produce monumental stone sculptures. It was also home to talented woodcarvers making an extraordinary range of figurines. Paul Horley, Rafal Wieczorek, Catherine Orliac, and Paul Bahn explore a side to these sculptures that was hidden in plain sight.

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Pylos: From princes to a palace in Messenia

November 18, 2025

Over the last century, Messenia in Greece has produced an extraordinary range of archaeological riches. Together, these finds showcase sumptuous burials and flourishing settlements, and shed vivid light on life during a pivotal period for the Mycenaean world. To find out more, Matthew Symonds spoke to Claire Lyons, Jack Davis, and Sharon Stocker.

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The road to independence

November 13, 2025

In our latest four-part series, marking the 250th anniversary of US independence, Fred Chiaventone examines first the genesis of America’s Revolutionary War, how discontent exploded into open warfare, and then traces the history of a conflict whose repercussions are still being felt 250 years on.

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A very bloody summer: The American Revolution: Part 2 – a game of cat and mouse

November 13, 2025

In the second part of our series, Fred Chiaventone looks at how the conflict escalated as the two sides struggled to gain the upper hand.

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The American Revolution by numbers

November 13, 2025

£133 million – Britain’s national debt after the Seven Years War. This enormous deficit prompted the introduction of unpopular new taxes in North America.

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Balkan breakdown: The Central Powers at war: PART 4 – BULGARIA

November 12, 2025

Concluding our series on Imperial Germany’s Great War allies, Graham Goodlad examines Bulgaria’s belated and ultimately disastrous entry into the conflict.

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Under the heel: The Iron Curtain falls – Part 3: the crushing of Eastern Europe

November 12, 2025

In the third part of our series on the coming of the Cold War, Taylor Downing reveals how Stalin consolidated military and political control over a new Soviet bloc.

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Assault on Shaizar: How the Assassins met their match

November 11, 2025

They were the world’s most feared killers. But, in 1114, the Assassins were thwarted – not by elite bodyguards, but by a group of middle-aged women who weren’t prepared to be pushed around. Steve Tibble reveals all.

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Lest we forget: A history of Britain in ten war memorials

November 11, 2025

Tessa Dunlop uncovers the stories behind some of the UK’s most fascinating monuments to conflict, and reveals what they tell us about changing attitudes to war.

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A multi-sided story: Examining the Norton Disney dodecahedron in its wider context

November 6, 2025

Around 130 dodecahedra have been found across the northern Roman Empire, but the purpose of these ornate objects is unknown, and few have been recovered from datable contexts in modern excavations. An important exception forms the focus of an exhibition exploring the archaeology of Potter Hill, Lincolnshire. Carly Hilts visited the displays and spoke to Chris Clay, Richard Parker, and Clare Pickersgill to learn more.

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100 years of Woodhenge: Tracing an archaeological icon, from discovery to new dating evidence

November 5, 2025

December 2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the identification of a remarkable prehistoric timber monument just two miles from Stonehenge in Wiltshire. Amanda Chadburn is our guide around Woodhenge and its lasting legacy.

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A store of secrets: Excavating Roman military kit and personal possessions at Caerleon