Cover Story
Fit for an emperor? Excavating a monumental building in Roman Carlisle Excavations at Carlisle Cricket Club are uncovering the remains of the largest Roman building ever found on Hadrian’s Wall. Carly Hilts visited the site and spoke to Frank Giecco to find out more. Features
Holyroodhouse: Tracing the history of Scotland’s official royal residence The Royal Collection Trust, the Department of the Royal Household that manages the public opening of the King’s official residences, has published new histories of Windsor Castle (CA 341) and… 
Fleeting finds: Investigating intertidal discoveries in the Severn Estuary Intertidal archaeological sites are challenging to investigate, often being exposed for just a few hours at a time, but they can be rich repositories of organic finds and environmental evidence.… 
Unearthing the Peebles Hoard: A unique collection from Bronze Age Scotland In CA 417, we described how best-practice reporting, expert archaeological work, and cutting-edge analysis were coming together to give intriguing insights into a remarkable assemblage that had lain undisturbed in… 
Intentional offerings? Examining Bronze Age metalwork from the River Trent An exhibition running at the University of Nottingham Museum showcases the intriguing and eclectic Bronze Age metalwork that has been recovered from the waters and wetlands of the River Trent.… News
Traces of medieval Richmond revealed Richmond in North Yorkshire has an unusual semi-circular marketplace in the town centre, and it has long been suggested that this might be because it once formed part of the… 
Science Notes: Put that in your pipe – archaeological evidence for the effect of tobacco-consumption on bones Many studies have been carried out into the impact of smoking on the human body, and one need only to glance at a pack of cigarettes to be confronted with… 
Exploring a lost landscape and palaeolithic practices in Oxfordshire Archaeologists working in north Abingdon have revealed evidence of one of our early human ancestors, as well as traces of ancient river systems, during preparation works for the new A34… 
Protective symbols revealed at Gainsborough Old Hall Previously undiscovered markings identified as apotropaic symbols (protective carvings sometimes referred to as ‘witch marks’), as well as a rare ‘curse’ inscription, have been revealed during volunteer research at English… 
Uncovering Oxford’s Anglo-Saxon defences Excavations at Oxford University’s Oriel College have helped to confirm the limits of the city’s Anglo-Saxon defences. Oxford first appears in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in AD 911/912. It was a… 
Almost 4,500 burials uncovered at Bristol workhouse cemetery Archaeological work on the site of a Victorian workhouse and hospital has revealed the remains of almost 4,500 individuals, offering a rare opportunity to study the lives and deaths of… 
‘King Arthur’s Hall’ 4,000 years older than thought Dating analysis of a monument on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall has revealed that it may be 4,000 years older than previously imagined. King Arthur’s Hall – comprising 56 standing stones… 
World news Painted throne room discovered in Peru Excavations in a large square-pillared Moche building in Peru have uncovered a painted room which is believed to be the throne room of a… Views
Current Archaeology’s December Listings: exhibitions, events, and heritage from home What's on There are many brilliant archaeological events coming up into the New Year, from new exhibitions to conferences, talks, and more. If you would prefer to get your history and heritage… 
Current Archaeology Live! 2025 What's on In partnership with: Our upcoming conference, Current Archaeology Live! 2025, will be held on Saturday 1 March. We are delighted to be returning to University College London’s Institute of Education… 
CA Letters 418 – December Letters Poem to remember This poem was written at a time when I was a Chemistry Lecturer at Llandaff College of Technology and also an amateur archaeologist. At the time, I… 
Star Carr: Excavating the CA archive Comment After more than 50 columns exploring the archaeology of the British Isles through a geographic lens, I begin here a new thematic focus: that of ‘great’ sites visited by Current… 
Rock to the rescue Comment The sounds that one associates with places of worship are those of an angelic choir or the intricate patterns of a Bach fugue. Some churches have, however, been enjoying success… 
Friends of the Roman Road and Fleam Dyke Groups Fleam Dyke is a linear earthwork some 5km in length, built in phases between the mid-4th and the mid-7th centuries. The path along the top leads to Mutlow Hill, where… 
Medieval Women: In Their Own Words What's on A new exhibition at the British Library shines vivid light on female deeds and desires between 1100 and 1500, as Carly Hilts reports. 
Finds Tray – Vulcan figurine Objects This figurine was found by a metal-detectorist near Holton-le-Clay in East Lindsey, Lincolnshire. Although it is lacking its head, enough stylistic features have survived to identify it as representing Vulcan,… 
Celebrating heritage ‘Game Changers’: Whitby Abbey, North Yorkshire The Picture Desk A giant ephemeral land artwork the size of four Olympic swimming pools has been unveiled by Sir Tony Robinson at Whitby Abbey, to mark the 30th birthday of the National… Reviews
Current Archaeology’s December Listings: exhibitions, events, and heritage from home There are many brilliant archaeological events coming up into the New Year, from new exhibitions to conferences, talks, and more. If you would prefer to get your history and heritage… Current Archaeology Live! 2025 In partnership with: Our upcoming conference, Current Archaeology Live! 2025, will be held on Saturday 1 March. We are delighted to be returning to University College London’s Institute of Education… Medieval Women: In Their Own Words A new exhibition at the British Library shines vivid light on female deeds and desires between 1100 and 1500, as Carly Hilts reports. 
Where Men No More May Reap or Sow REVIEW BY SOPHIA CHAPPLE In Where Men No More May Reap or Sow, Richard Oram analyses five centuries of Scottish environmental history across 13 chapters. This project initially sought to… 
Artefact REVIEW BY CH Corinium is how the Romans knew Cirencester; today it is the name of the Cotswold town’s museum. Its displays include a wealth of Roman finds, as well… 
Daisy Wheel, Hexfoil, Hexafoil, Rosette: Protective marks in gravestone art REVIEW BY BRIAN HOGGARD The title of this book suggests it will look at the occurrence of the daisy-wheel symbol in gravestone art, which it partly does. The geographical area… 
Trelawny’s Cornwall REVIEW BY JOANIE WILLETT Growing up in Cornwall has been indelibly etched throughout my social learning, which makes reading (and viewing) material about Cornwall tricky. The overwhelming most books, TV,… 
Ash-sharq: Bulletin of the Ancient Near East REVIEW BY CH The latest issue of Ash-sharq includes a particularly thought-provoking contribution by Dr St John Simpson, senior curator in the British Museum’s Department of the Middle East, which… 
Footpaths: A British history REVIEW BY RP Most people see the British footpath for its immediate purpose: a means of getting from A to B (seldom achieved without also acquiring muddy shoes and the… 
From the editor
This month’s cover story showcases a monumental mystery from the Roman frontier. Excavations at Carlisle Cricket Club are uncovering the remains of a sumptuous building dating to the early 3rd century. Could its construction be connected to Septimius Severus’ Caledonian campaigns?
From the footprint of a massive building to footprints left by Mesolithic hunter-gatherers, we then visit Goldcliff to learn about the ephemeral echoes of ancient journeys that are being documented in the Severn Estuary.
Our next feature takes us into the Bronze Age, teasing apart the contents of a unique hoard of objects discovered near Peebles in the Scottish Borders. What has conservation and comparison with other finds revealed so far?
We remain in Scotland for our penultimate article, tracing the eventful history of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, from its monastic origins to its role as a royal residence.
Finally, we dip into the waters of the River Trent, as an exhibition in Nottingham explores the make-up and the meaning of Bronze Age metalwork that has been found along its course.
P.S. I couldn’t resist asking Design to include this image so we could share it with you. It was sent with photos for the Carlisle feature, but we weren’t able to squeeze it in – however, I think it is a beautiful illustration of how the right find can suddenly bridge almost 2,000 years of history.
CARLY
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