Cover Story
The Klein Hollandia: Discovering a 17th-century Dutch warship off Eastbourne The discovery of an anonymous shipwreck off the coast of Sussex set archaeologists on the trail of a 350 year-old mystery. Mark Beattie Edwards reports on efforts to identify the sunken vessel and to protect its historic remains, sharing a… Features
Christianity and continuity: Discovering life in early medieval Wales Archaeologists and historians tend to approach the early medieval period through the lens of what was lost after the collapse of Roman rule. In her new book on life in… 
Hard times: Investigating the archaeology of a 19th-century workhouse This spring marked 300 years since the introduction of the 1723 Workhouse Test Act, often seen as the origin of the workhouse system in England and Wales. These institutions were… 
Imperial impact: Illuminating Icenian interactions with Rome at Caistor St Edmund Excavations by the Caistor Roman Project outside the walls of Venta Icenorum are revealing the impact on local Iron Age communities of the development of a Roman regional capital. This… News
Monastic memories: Continuing the hunt for Hyde Abbey Community excavations in Winchester are helping to piece together the layout of a long-demolished Benedictine monastery. Carly Hilts visited this summer’s investigations to find out more. 
Neolithic cairn excavated in Orkney The remains of a rare Neolithic cairn have recently been excavated at Holm in East Mainland, Orkney, showing that, despite 19th-century plundering, many of its main features survived, including a… 
New finds at Navan Fort An ongoing project at Navan Fort, led by Dr Patrick Gleeson and Dr James O’Driscoll, is providing new evidence on the long-term evolution of the site and how it fits… 
World news: From ancient Alaskan house to a meteoric discovery Ancient Alaskan house uncovered Excavations on the shore of Karluk Lake on Kodiak Island in Alaska have revealed a 3,000-year-old ancestral Alutiiq house, so well preserved that woven grass mats… 
Searching for the Knights Hospitaller at St John’s Jerusalem The first major archaeological investigations of the moated house of St John’s Jerusalem in Sutton-at Hone, Kent – once home to a Knights Hospitaller Commandery – have revealed some of… 
Rediscovering the tartan mills of Bannockburn A recent project has set out to rediscover the archaeology and history of the textile mill complex in Bannockburn, Stirling. In its heyday during the late 18th and 19th centuries,… 
Roman plantation unearthed in Leicestershire The remains of a late Iron Age and Roman farmstead have been revealed during works by Archaeological Research Services Ltd which, since late February, have been investigating archaeological remains identified… 
Community dig uncovers prehistoric site at Glendaruel A recent excavation at Glendaruel’s Stronafian Community Forest on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll has uncovered evidence of prehistoric occupation of the site. It had long been thought that a… 
Science Notes: Searching for seaweed consumption in the past It has long been assumed that the advent of agricultural and pastoral practices during the Neolithic saw a major shift in human eating patterns, focusing more on a terrestrial diet… Views
Current Archaeology Live! 2024 What's on In partnership with: Current Archaeology Live! 2024 is almost here, but it is not too late to book your place. The conference, held in partnership with University College London’s Institute… 
Current Archaeology’s December Listings: exhibitions, events, and heritage from home What's on There are lots of great opportunities to get involved in history, heritage, and archaeology this winter. Whether you’re looking for new exhibitions, lectures, or days out, there’s something for the… 
Sherds CA 406 Comment Christopher Catling, Contributing Editor for CA, delves into the eccentricities of the heritage world. Excavating the CA archive Comment Joe Flatman explores over half a century of reports from the past.
Horizon of Khufu Museum, What's on A new virtual-reality experience in London transports visitors to the Great Pyramid of Giza, allowing them to explore its interior and immerse themselves in the world of ancient Egypt. Carly… 
Welwyn Archaeological Society Groups This month’s ‘Odd Socs’ column pays tribute to the late Tony Rook, who died on 11 September 2023 at the age of 91. Tony and his wife Merle Rook (who… 
Conserving a snapshot of the past: Sutton Hoo, Suffolk The Picture Desk Some of the most famous photographs of the1939 excavation of the Sutton Hoo ship burial were taken by two women, Mercie Lack and Barbara Wagstaff (see CA 374). This October,… 
Finds tray: Roman tortoise Objects This is a Roman tortoise or turtle figurine that was recently found by a metal-detectorist near Wickham Skeith in Suffolk. Cast in copper-alloy, it has a flat base with no… Reviews
Current Archaeology Live! 2024 In partnership with: Current Archaeology Live! 2024 is almost here, but it is not too late to book your place. The conference, held in partnership with University College London’s Institute… Current Archaeology’s December Listings: exhibitions, events, and heritage from home There are lots of great opportunities to get involved in history, heritage, and archaeology this winter. Whether you’re looking for new exhibitions, lectures, or days out, there’s something for the… Horizon of Khufu A new virtual-reality experience in London transports visitors to the Great Pyramid of Giza, allowing them to explore its interior and immerse themselves in the world of ancient Egypt. Carly… 
The Hillforts of Iron Age Wales REVIEW BY IAN RALSTON This monograph on Welsh hillforts is by a man who knows them well. It builds on Driver’s innovative doctoral examination of those in Ceredigion, and his… 
Castles of Kent through Time REVIEW BY AB It is easy to think of castles as a static part of the historical landscape, towering relics of a bygone era, but these buildings have rich stories,… 
Yorkshire’s Prehistoric Monuments REVIEW BY PETER HALKON This book aims to provide a guide to the main sites of prehistoric Yorkshire that remain above ground and are possible to either visit or to… 
Dogs, Past and Present: an interdisciplinary perspective REVIEW BY KK This volume brings together the current evidence of dogs in the past: from their evolution from wild animals to domesticated pets, to their presence in the archaeological… 
From the editor
This month’s cover story takes us 32m below the waves off the Sussex coast. There, a previously enigmatic wreck has been named as the Klein Hollandia, a Dutch warship that sank in 1672 following an attack that helped to spark the Third Anglo-Dutch War. We piece together the archaeological detective work that helped to pin down the sunken vessel’s identity, and share what has been learned of its past – as well as how its remains are being protected for the future.
Our next feature explores the aftermath of an earlier conflict, tracing the evolution of Venta Icenorum, a Roman town and regional capital near modern Norwich that developed soon after the Boudican uprising.
Leaping from the onset of imperial influence to what happened when official occupation ended, we then travel to early medieval Wales to explore what changed when Roman administration withdrew, and how Christianity played a key role in what came next.
Our last feature this month takes us to the Dickensian world of the 19th-century workhouse. What can recent excavations in London add to our understanding of such institutions?
Finally, we bring you the latest news on our upcoming annual conference, which will be held in partnership with the UCL Institute of Archaeology on 24 February 2024. Turn to p.60 for details of the timetable, and the people, projects, and publications that have been nominated for the annual CA Awards. Voting is now open!
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