Cover Story
Ponteland’s prehistoric past: tracing life and death on the edge of the Northumberland Coastal Plain Recent excavations on the south-western part of the Northumberland Coastal Plain have revealed an early Bronze Age ring-ditch with a remarkable sequence of human burials. Milena Grzybowska, who analysed the human remains, reports on this discovery and other prehistoric features… Features
Gateway to Britannia: reimagining Richborough Roman fort Richborough in Kent was one of the key locations in the early stages of the Roman invasion of Britain, later flourishing into a wealthy port town and then a significant… 
Deciphering the Stone of Destiny The Stone of Destiny – an ancient symbol of the Scottish monarchy – has undergone extensive new analysis in preparation for its role in the Coronation of Charles III at… 
Rural Romanitas: rethinking the role of villas It has been an undergraduate essay topic for the last 50 years and is a question that continues to challenge archaeologists studying the history of Roman Britain: what exactly is… 
Found and lost: tracing a later prehistoric engraved stone from Shropshire When a rock carved with late prehistoric imagery was uncovered in Shropshire – a county where examples of ancient artwork are notably scarce – it was recognised as a very… 
Scent back in time: how ancient odours can bring the past to life For half a century, AromaPrime has been creating historically accurate scents for museum exhibits and heritage attractions. Carly Hilts spoke to Heritage Scenting Consultant Liam R Findlay to learn more… News
The future of proteomics and teeth Joannes Dekker, along with researchers from the Universities of York, Copenhagen, Chester, and Leiden, used a type of mass spectrometry to visualise the two-dimensional distribution of proteins in both archaeological… 
Roman mosaic uncovered in Buckinghamshire The mosaic will now be carefully preserved in situ with the whole excavated surface re-covered using materials that will protect the tiles from any wear or damage in the future. 
Major Roman bathhouses revealed in Carlisle Who used this huge bathhouse is not clear, but finds including 34 carved intaglios, more than 100 hairpins, multiple gaming counters, and fine glass beads within the drains, as well… 
Anglo-Saxon ivory: exploring exotic artefacts from Scremby’s early medieval cemetery In CA 349, we reported on the discovery of a previously unknown Anglo-Saxon cemetery at Scremby, Lincolnshire. Since the dig finished in 2019, study of the 49 graves and their… 
Domesday pottery location excavated in Gloucestershire Investigations by Cotswold Archaeology revealed finds spanning the Mesolithic through to the modern period, with the majority of the remains relating to a medieval farmstead with associated enclosures and trackways 
Multi-period cemetery discovered in West Yorkshire One of the interments contained a lead coffin with a female occupant; such coffins are relatively uncommon in Britain, and would probably have been expensive. 
Bronze Age and Roman occupation found near Newquay Fragments of Trevisker ware pottery, with slightly different styles perhaps reflecting the different phases of the site, were found throughout each of the four roundhouses. 
Earliest-known true tartan identified Radiocarbon dating revealed that the fabric dated to AD 1500-1655, with a 95.4% probability that it came from 1500-1600, confirming it as the oldest-known piece of tartan. 
Anglo-Saxon cemetery found in Lincolnshire The investigation uncovered 24 burials, all dating to between the late 5th and mid-6th centuries AD, and almost all of the individuals were buried with elaborate grave goods Views
Wren 300 Groups In CA 373, we lamented the lack of a society ready to take on the task of managing the tercentenary of the death of Sir Christopher Wren. Fortunately, the Georgian… Deciphering the Stone of Destiny Feature, The Picture Desk The Stone of Destiny – an ancient symbol of the Scottish monarchy – has undergone extensive new analysis in preparation for its role in the Coronation of Charles III at… 
Museum news: Stonehenge on screen and seven sites added to the UK’s Tentative List Museum, What's on The latest on exhibitions, acquisitions, and key decisions. 
Exhibitions, events, and heritage from home – CA’s May Listings Museum, What's on Over the coming months, there are many great ways to get stuck into history and heritage around the UK, from exciting new exhibitions to a variety of events and activities… 
Beyond the sea Comment Humans in the late Palaeolithic lived mainly on the coastline at a time when sea levels were up to 100m lower than they are today, meaning much of the archaeology… 
Excavating the Lowlands and Borders Comment, Places The Scots borders have it all in terms of archaeological content. Within a discrete area, this column spans the Neolithic through to the post-medieval period 
Rendlesham Revealed: the heart of a kingdom AD 400-800 Museum, What's on An exhibition running at Sutton Hoo tells the story of nearby Rendlesham, an early medieval elite settlement whose remains have been brought to light just four miles from the famous… 
Finds tray – Roman lion brooch Objects This is a copper-alloy brooch that was discovered in East Lindsey, Lincolnshire, in March. It dates to the later Roman period, sometime during the 3rd century AD. Image: North Lincolnshire… 
Guernica, 1937 Pablo Picasso The Picture Desk On the afternoon of 26 April 1937, the air force of Nazi Germany’s Condor Legion, working on behalf of the Spanish Nationalists led by General Franco, sent its bombers over… Reviews
Doggerland: lost world under the North Sea Review by Bryony Coles The blurb on the back of this book gives an uncommonly accurate description of its contents: ‘a popular science book that tells the story of one… 
The Public Archaeology of Treasure Review by Emily A Freeman The term ‘Treasure’ is complicated and has a variety of connotations for those inside and outside the heritage sector. This book of collected papers explores the… 
Tarradale Through Time: community archaeology on the Black Isle Review by CH This beautifully presented book (illustrated in colour throughout) showcases the results of an archaeological initiative that set out to engage the Tarradale community with their local heritage,… Museum news: Stonehenge on screen and seven sites added to the UK’s Tentative List The latest on exhibitions, acquisitions, and key decisions. 
Rethinking Roundhouses: later prehistoric settlement in Britain and beyond Review by Trevor Creighton This book is, in part, an update of D W Harding’s 2009 publication, The Iron Age Roundhouse. Significant new insights from the author justify the updated… Exhibitions, events, and heritage from home – CA’s May Listings Over the coming months, there are many great ways to get stuck into history and heritage around the UK, from exciting new exhibitions to a variety of events and activities… 
Signalling and Performance: ancient rock art in Britain and Ireland Review by Ceri Pennington This book presents a compilation of new interpretations of prehistoric rock art across Britain and Ireland. The beautifully illustrated volume is filled with images displaying art… Rendlesham Revealed: the heart of a kingdom AD 400-800 An exhibition running at Sutton Hoo tells the story of nearby Rendlesham, an early medieval elite settlement whose remains have been brought to light just four miles from the famous… 
Whispering Walls: First World War graffiti Review by AB Almost every village in the Hauts-de-France region is home to a quarry, dug centuries ago as a source of limestone for their houses and churches, and often… 
From the editor
Around 4,000 years ago, a teenaged girl was laid to rest in what today is Northumberland, about 12km north-west of Newcastle. She would not be alone for long, as the ring-ditched monument in which she lay would soon accommodate the remains of at least five more individuals. Now the sequence of these burials and other insights into the area’s prehistoric past have been revealed, as our cover story reports.
We also visit rural outposts of empire to explore the latest thinking on Romano-British villas. What light can new discoveries and interpretations shed on their role in the cultural and religious landscape – and is it possible to devise a definition that fits them all
Remaining in the Roman period, we next visit Richborough Roman fort, which reopened to the public last month. The site museum has been completely transformed, showcasing Richborough’s astonishing wealth of finds: what new stories can these objects tell about the fort and the people who lived and worked there?
Our fourth feature spotlights a Shropshire site where a significant example of later prehistoric rock art was uncovered during the digging of a trench for a new fence. We consider the Whixall Stone’s motifs, its contribution to our understanding of ancient artistry, and its uncertain future.
Finally, what does the past smell like to you? Heritage attractions often tap into our sense of smell to help bring history to life, and years after visiting together, my sister and I still use ‘like the JORVIK Viking Centre’ as shorthand for a particular wood-smoky aroma. This month’s ‘In Focus’ features AromaPrime, the company behind many of these scents, which has just celebrated its 50th birthday.
