Cover Story
Roman recycling at Reedham: Exploring the imperial origins of a Norfolk church Some 12 miles east of Norwich, Reedham’s church of St John the Baptist has a distinctive appearance, dominated by reused Roman stone, brick, and tile. Mike Fulford describes how archaeological research has identified a potential source for this material: a… Features
From brewing to bread: Exploring the buildings of the British malting industry In CA 419, Chris Catling reported on the history and development of kilns and oast houses used for drying the hops that help to preserve and give flavour to beer.… 
Bronze Age brutality? Exploring evidence for interpersonal violence at Charterhouse Warren Why were the remains of dozens of men, women, and children thrown into a deep shaft in Bronze Age Somerset? They had suffered violent deaths, after which their bodies were… 
‘A neat and beautiful theatre’: Tracing the surprising story of Bury St Edmunds Market Cross Bury St Edmunds’ neoclassical Market Cross recently celebrated its 250th anniversary – but the structure has a much longer tale to tell. Former County Archaeologist Adrian Tindall explores the Suffolk… News
Branching out: New genetic analysis illuminates Iron Age and early medieval migrations A new, more precise way of analysing historic ancestries has revealed previously unknown waves of human movement during the 1st millennium AD. Carly Hilts and Rebecca Preedy report. 
A sticky subject: Exploring ancient adhesives in museum collections Recent research has shed invaluable light on the use of adhesives on ancient metalwork, and how these substances can be identified and analysed in curated artefacts. Carly Hilts spoke to… 
World News Neolithic site uncovered in Sweden Archaeologists working in the Swedish village of Hammar have excavated the remains of a unique ceremonial site associated with the Funnel Beaker Culture. A large… 
Painted dog penis bone linked to Roman fertility rituals Analysis of hundreds of human and animal bones recovered from a Roman quarry shaft at Ewell, Surrey, has revealed the presence of a red-painted dog baculum (penis bone), which may… 
Rare Roman sarcophagus burial found near Peterborough A rare stone sarcophagus is among more than 20 Roman burials that have been uncovered by archaeologists working on a road improvement project between Wansford and Sutton. The investigation, undertaken… 
Roman kiln site found near Poole Harbour The remains of a large Roman pottery production site have emerged during major excavations at the Moors at Arne, near Poole Harbour in Dorset. Important wildlife habitats are threatened by… 
‘Lost’ fragment of music identified in Scotland A short fragment of musical notation has been identified as part of a pre-Reformation religious chant, offering interesting insights into the musical traditions of 16th-century Scotland. The piece of music… 
Anglo-Saxon coin hoard discovered in Suffolk A hoard of more than 300 11th-century coins, still carefully packaged within their lead and cloth container, has been uncovered in Suffolk. The discovery was made during archaeological work ahead… 
Ornate sword recovered from Anglo-Saxon cemetery in Kent Archaeological work centred on an early medieval cemetery near Canterbury has uncovered a number of high-status graves, one of which produced an exceptionally well-preserved 6th-century sword. The weapon is being… 
Science Notes: Writings on the wall -Revealing the historical graffiti of the Tower of London A major project at the Tower of London has revealed hundreds of graffiti written by prisoners, as well as other historical visitors to the site, thanks to cutting-edge technology. The… Views
Current Archaeology’s February Listings: exhibitions, events, and heritage from home What's on There are many exciting opportunities to get involved in archaeology over the next few months, including upcoming exhibitions, conferences, and lectures. If you would prefer to enjoy history and heritage… 
CA Letters 420 – February Letters Mentioning money I wanted to comment on the excellent article ‘Fields of Gold’ in CA 419.Snettisham is not only notable for buried torcs but it is also a ‘hot spot’… 
Current Archaeology Live! 2025 What's on In partnership with: Current Archaeology Live! 2025 is almost here, and tickets are selling fast. The conference, held in partnership with University College London’s Institute of Archaeology, will be on… 
Dover boat & Newport Ship: Excavating the CA archive Comment My ‘great’ site this month comprises two sites – actually, two ships – linked by common stories of survival against the odds. In September 1992, the remains of a boat… 
Novel words Comment Dictionary publishers like to end the year by announcing the new words that that they have added to the lexicon based on the frequency with which they have appeared in… 
The Great Mughals: art, architecture, and opulence at the V&A What's on A vibrant exhibition currently running at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London illuminates the ingenuity and influence of the Mughal Empire. Carly Hilts visited to learn more. 
Tantalising tesserae: North Leigh Roman Villa The Picture Desk These photographs show a colourful mosaic at North Leigh Roman Villa: the only example in Oxfordshire that remains in situ. The villa was excavated in 1813 by Henry Hakewill, and… 
Partners for Sacred Places Groups For this month’s ‘Odd Socs’, we cross the Atlantic to look at the work of Partners for Sacred Places (PSP), an organisation dedicated to finding creative ways to maintain America’s… 
Finds Tray – Nail cleaner Objects This object was found by a metal-detectorist in Roxby cum Risby, North Lincolnshire, and was subsequently identified by the local Finds Liaison Officer as a nail cleaner, or possibly a… Reviews
Current Archaeology’s February Listings: exhibitions, events, and heritage from home There are many exciting opportunities to get involved in archaeology over the next few months, including upcoming exhibitions, conferences, and lectures. If you would prefer to enjoy history and heritage… Current Archaeology Live! 2025 In partnership with: Current Archaeology Live! 2025 is almost here, and tickets are selling fast. The conference, held in partnership with University College London’s Institute of Archaeology, will be on… The Great Mughals: art, architecture, and opulence at the V&A A vibrant exhibition currently running at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London illuminates the ingenuity and influence of the Mughal Empire. Carly Hilts visited to learn more. 
The Snettisham Hoards (British Museum Research Publication 225) REVIEW BY TIM PESTELL Only a handful of British archaeological sites can be truly described as iconic, but Snettisham in Norfolk has a strong claim, having become synonymous with the… 
Neolithic Life and Death in the Yorkshire Dales REVIEW BY PENNY BICKLE For the Neolithic of Britain and Ireland, there is a tendency for the usual famous monuments – such as Stonehenge or Newgrange – to capture the… 
Terror and Magnificence: The London churches of Nicholas Hawksmoor REVIEW BY RP To those who regularly stroll the streets of London, the churches of Nicholas Hawksmoor might be a familiar sight, even if the architect’s name is not. Perhaps… 
Murder in Anglo-Saxon England: Justice, wergild, revenge REVIEW BY RP The early medieval period is often thought of as a hotbed of violence. It is perhaps, then, a surprise to learn that only around 90 reported murders… 
A Short History of British Architecture: From Stonehenge to the Shard REVIEW BY ALISTAIR FAIR Simon Jenkins’ Short History of British Architecture ranges over several thousand years of cathedrals, castles, and grand buildings. Jenkins enjoys a good example and a memorable… 
Baltinglass and the Prehistoric Hillforts of Ireland REVIEW BY GARY LOCK The Baltinglass area has rightly been called ‘Ireland’s Hillfort Capital’ due to the 13 or so large enclosures on hilltops surrounding the modern town. The area… 
From the editor
This month’s articles follow two main themes, highlighting the latest insights from the worlds of historic architecture and archaeological science. We begin in the latter category, with two reports drawing on recently published research.
The first covers intriguing analysis of ancient adhesives and how they were used between the 5th century BC and the 1st century AD; this is followed by details of a new data analysis method that has transformed our understanding of migration patterns across Europe in the 1st millennium AD.
We then travel to St John the Baptist, Reedham: a strikingly attractive church in my native Norfolk, which was largely built from reused Roman stone, brick, and tile. Could these have come from a possibly military predecessor that now lies buried beneath the church? We discuss the findings of geophysical surveys and excavations that set out to learn more.
From religious buildings to structures associated with more worldly delights, our next feature traces evidence of malt production from prehistory to the present day, and examines the evolution and outputs of British malthouses.
Departing from the cheer of the alehouse, we then examine a rather darker episode in human history, which is reflected by an unusual group of Bronze Age human remains from Charterhouse Warren in Somerset. What do they add to our understanding of interpersonal violence in prehistoric Britain?
We end with a close look at the elegant neoclassical Market Cross in Bury St Edmunds, which recently celebrated its 250th birthday, and whose colourful history includes theatrical episodes and an unusual artistic link to the National Anthem.
CARLY
