Cover Story
Setting the scene: early medieval migration into the east of England Newly published research centred on ancient DNA, which is revolutionising our understanding of early medieval mobility and the genetic changes it brought in its wake, forms the focus of this special issue of Current Archaeology. Duncan Sayer discusses some of… Features
Transformations in early medieval England: the perspective from population genetics Ancient human DNA is revolutionising our ability to detect human migration that occurred hundreds of years ago. Joscha Gretzinger and Stephan Schiffels explain how these advances have transformed our understanding… 
The migration question: re-grounding Anglo-Saxon archaeology Was the arrival of the ‘Anglo-Saxons’ in England a limited elite takeover, an invasion force, or a mass movement of migrants? Perceptions of the immediate post-Roman period have shifted and… 
Grave affairs: what can ancient DNA tell us about early Anglo-Saxon cemeteries? By combining excavated evidence from early medieval burials with genetic information, we can gain powerful insights into patterns of population movement, and ideas of identity and integration. Duncan Sayer explains… 
Individual encounters: capturing personal stories with ancient DNA The study of ancient DNA is a potent recent addition to the archaeological arsenal, with the power to illuminate (and eliminate) family relationships between excavated individuals. Duncan Sayer, Dominic Powlesland,… 
Isotopes and aDNA: teasing apart ancestry versus migration in early medieval England The previous articles in this issue have focused primarily on ancient DNA – but what can isotopic analysis add to this picture? Sam Leggett explores how this technique can complement… 
Revisiting the Adventus Saxonum, again: exploring the implications of new evidence Following this issue’s explorations of genetic data, cemetery and skeletal evidence, and isotope analysis, Joanna Story reflects on the significance of the research, and its place within the bigger picture… News
Research reveals Tattershall Castle was an architectural trendsetter A series of new investigations, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council in partnership with the University of Nottingham and the National Trust, has completely rewritten the castle’s history. 
New analysis shines light on medieval anti-Semitism in Norwich The remains of at least 17 individuals found in a medieval well in central Norwich most likely represent a group of Ashkenazi Jews who fell victim to anti-Semitic violence in… 
Investigating Flower’s Barrow hillfort The 2,500-year-old fortifications are perched on the edge of a cliff, and are fast disappearing due to processes of natural coastal erosion. 
Community excavation project digs up local history in Bishop Auckland The project ends in December, but the team are still looking for more places to excavate. For more information, see http://www.thebishopbigdig.com. 
Redrawing the strontium isotope map for the south-west of England Strontium (Sr) isotope analysis has been used in archaeology for several decades now to assess movement and migration at both the individual and population level. To be as accurate as… 
Prehistoric settlement and industry unearthed in Moray The team has unearthed evidence of settlements ranging in date from the Neolithic to the medieval period, though most features relate to the Bronze and Iron Age (c.1500 BC-AD 100). 
Monastic cemetery and production centre found at Cookham ‘While the population of Cookham would have been considerably smaller than contemporary London... there are similarities in the way in which this monastery was organised, reflecting its importance as a… 
Multi-hued Roman gatehouse marks anniversary of Hadrian’s Wall The installation is part of the HW1900 Festival and will be open to the public until 30 October. 
New Hadrian’s Wall turret discovered in Newcastle It is one of the largest turrets yet discovered, and the only known example lying east of Newcastle. Views
Excavating Northamptonshire Comment, Places If there is a challenger to Piddington’s crown as the ‘prime’ site of Northamptonshire, then the multi-period site of Raunds in the north-east of the county, with its intriguing history… 
CA 392 Letters – October Letters Dedication for the Dover Boat This year is the 30th anniversary of the discovery and rescue of the Dover Bronze Age boat (see ‘Context’, CA 391). I am sending a… 
Heritage on the River Thames Comment I was reminded of his contempt for journalism during the summer, when the BBC and scores of newspapers that consider themselves serious reported that the drought was so severe that… 
Museum news: the latest on UK exhibitions and acquisitions Museum, What's on A round-up of some of the latest news from museums in the UK, including new findings from the NMS' Egyptian collections, the opening of the new Brontë at Elizabeth Gaskell's… 
Exhibitions, events, and heritage from home across the UK Museum, What's on As autumn approaches, there are many fantastic opportunities to get involved in history, heritage, and archaeology around the UK, including new exhibitions, events, and conferences. There are also still plenty… 
Ministry of Works Signage Appreciation Society Groups What is it about Ministry of Works signage that motivates so many people to share images via social media? Partly it is just the fact of their survival, as reminders… 
The Lost King: imagining Richard III at the Wallace Collection Museum, What's on A finely crafted suit of armour can be as much a work of art as it is a carefully honed piece of military technology. Carly Hilts visited the Wallace Collection… 
Finds tray – medieval staff terminal Objects This is the terminal of a medieval staff, which was recently discovered by a metal-detectorist near St Mary in the Marsh, Kent. Many similar objects have been identified over the… Reviews
British Historic Towns Atlas – Volume VII: Oxford Review by Graham Keevill The Historic Towns Trust was established in 1965 as part of the International Commission for European Towns to publish analytical maps of our historic urban centres.… 
The Antonine Wall in Falkirk District Review by Andrew Tibbs The Antonine Wall in Falkirk District is the culmination of more than 35 years of archaeological research and excavation along Scotland’s Roman wall by the local… 
Lost Realms: histories of Britain from the Romans to the Vikings Review by CH As the last vestiges of official Roman administration flickered out in Britain, the resulting power vacuum produced a patchwork of small kingdoms. Some – Mercia, Northumbria, East… 
Moel-y-Gaer (Bodfari): a small hillfort in Denbighshire, North Wales Review by George Nash L ittered throughout much of southern Britain are stark reminders of the later prehistoric landscape: the Iron Age hill enclosure (or hillfort). As the generic name –… Museum news: the latest on UK exhibitions and acquisitions A round-up of some of the latest news from museums in the UK, including new findings from the NMS' Egyptian collections, the opening of the new Brontë at Elizabeth Gaskell's… Exhibitions, events, and heritage from home across the UK As autumn approaches, there are many fantastic opportunities to get involved in history, heritage, and archaeology around the UK, including new exhibitions, events, and conferences. There are also still plenty… 
Archaeology, Heritage, and Wellbeing: authentic, powerful, and therapeutic engagement with the past Review by Timothy Darvill Using archaeological sites and museum collections in new and imaginative ways to improve people’s wellbeing has become a significant theme in recent years. This wide-ranging volume… The Lost King: imagining Richard III at the Wallace Collection A finely crafted suit of armour can be as much a work of art as it is a carefully honed piece of military technology. Carly Hilts visited the Wallace Collection… 
Maritime Archaeology on Dry Land: special sites along the coasts of Britain and Ireland from the first farmers to the Atlantic Bronze Age Review by KK. This thought-provoking book reimagines how we approach maritime archaeology – demonstrating that it is not solely for the adventurous diver but can, and should, be practised from… 
From the editor
This month’s CA looks a little different, as it is a ‘special issue’ delving into illuminating new research centred on early medieval England.
Originally published in Nature, the project in question highlights how genetic data can shed light on matters including migration, integration, family histories, and burial customs within different communities in the immediate post-Roman period. When exploring questions of ancestry, it is important to do so in a nuanced and self-aware manner, and our intention with this special issue is to highlight the human stories that can now be discerned from cemetery populations, from otherwise invisible family relationships to intrepid journeys undertaken centuries ago. There are fascinating insights and individual stories to share, from the woman (featured on the cover) who was laid to rest beside a cow at Oakington, Cambridgeshire, to a young girl with West African ancestry who was buried in early 7th-century Kent.
Professor Duncan Sayer sets out the project’s main themes, so I will not repeat his summary here. Instead, I will end with a quick note on terminology. As a historical descriptor, ‘Anglo-Saxon’ has been the subject of academic debate in recent years. While it remains a commonly used popular shorthand for the early medieval period in England, and for the people who lived there, its appropriateness has come under scrutiny as, in some contexts, it has been co-opted for less savoury purposes. In acknowledging this, I want to emphasise that, where used in this issue, ‘Anglo-Saxon’ is intended to refer to the kingdoms of early medieval England, rather than to specific ideas of identity or ethnicity.
