Our cover story takes us to the territory of the Iron Age Brigantes, in what is now North Yorkshire. There, major works on the A1 have revealed extensive settlement remains, telling a powerful story of how a community’s first contacts with the Roman Empire brought unprecedented prosperity, but also set wheels in motion for the settlement’s demise.

Remaining in the Roman period, we next explore evidence for whether the 2nd-century Antonine Plague reached Britain, as well as considering whether disease might explain why so many extramural settlements on Hadrian’s Wall seem to have been abandoned in the late 3rd century.

In the present circumstances, it is a comforting thought that we are able to talk about past pandemics precisely because they ended. While we are once again running our special ‘Heritage from Home’ section to help you explore the past without leaving the house, we are delighted to report that this month – as things gradually begin to open again – it also includes details of some heritage sites that are welcoming visitors back.

Our third and fourth features showcase recent research on the Cerne Abbas Giant. The chalk hill figure is one of Dorset’s most famous landmarks, but how old is it? Intriguing clues are beginning to emerge – and if we can narrow down the monument’s origins, what was the historical context behind its creation?

Finally, we venture back inside to examine the remarkable legacy of cruck-built structures. Once stereotyped as crude and unsophisticated, this intricate architectural style has much to tell us about medieval society.