Orkney has been called the Egypt of the north. Studded with spectacular prehistoric monuments, the ancient landscape remains a powerful presence. Yet excavations continue to surprise. The island of Wyre was thought to be devoid of prehistoric activity until recent fieldwalking harvested a wealth of Neolithic finds. Wondering if this could be another Skara Brae, the team had instead discovered the earliest farming village ever found on the islands.

Caerleon is another of Britain’s outstanding sites. Home to the Second Augustan legion for over 200 years, over a century of research has been devoted to establishing its layout. Now 24 days of geophysics has filled in much of the remainder, while further survey detected a completely unexpected monumental complex beyond the fortress walls. Flush with courtyards and what appear to be bath-houses and basilicas, excavation has revealed stunning preservation. But what was the complex for?

Anglo-Saxon art has long brought a touch of glitter to the so-called Dark Ages, but what do the messages conveyed by such complex and subtle decorations mean? Rather than a stark rejection of preceding Roman styles, we see how a fusion of Roman, Germanic and Biblical influences allowed their creators to stake a claim to being the heirs of empire.

Finally, as the country celebrates the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, we investigate the archaeological legacies of her reign, and of royal jubilees themselves. Archaeology has come a long way over the last 60 years. It is astonishing to think that 45 of them could be followed as they happened in the pages of Current Archaeology.