Cover Story
Revealing Roman Wroxeter: New insights from one of Britannia’s largest urban centres The first research excavation to take place at Wroxeter in more than 30 years has illuminated a previously unexplored area of one of the largest urban centres in Roman Britain. Peter Guest, Roger H White, and Mike Luke report. Features
A life on the tiles: Exploring the work of David Neal as artist and archaeologist David Neal’s name is synonymous with Romano-British mosaics: since 1960, he has documented every new discovery (more recently in collaboration with Stephen Cosh). His meticulous records and reconstructions fill the… 
The future of studying the past: Showcasing archaeological science at Fort Cumberland Historic England’s laboratories at Fort Cumberland, near Portsmouth, recently reopened after major refurbishment. Carly Hilts visited the new facilities and spoke to Gill Campbell, Jen Heathcote, Ian Morrison, Simon Mays,… 
Current church archaeology: Exploring the peculiarities of excavating in sacred spaces Churches have long been a key feature of Britain’s urban and rural landscapes, and many are of great historical significance in addition to their religious meaning. In this article, Chiz… 
A Midlands milestone: Marking 30 years of excavations by the University of Leicester Archaeological Services With one of the UK’s major commercial units celebrating its 30th birthday this year, Carly Hilts spoke to Vicki Score, John Thomas, Jen Browning, Matt Beamish, and Alice Forward about… News
Science Notes: Analysing amino acids to ascertain Palaeolithic chronologies In this month’s ‘Science Notes’, we are examining amino acid geochronology (AAG) – a dating technique that can be used to help date the whole Quaternary period, from c.2 million… 
Sutton Hoo bucket revealed as cremation urn Following the discovery of more pieces of the Bromeswell Bucket at Sutton Hoo last year (see CA 414), the fragments have now been micro-excavated, revealing its intact base along with… 
Redating the famous Maiden Castle burials New dating evidence from the burials found at the Iron Age hillfort of Maiden Castle, in Dorset, has revealed that they were interred over a period of a century or… 
Excavating Eaglais na h-Aoidhe on the Isle of Lewis The medieval Eaglais na h-Aoidhe (St Columba’s Church) stands on the coastline at Aiginis on the Isle of Lewis. In 2015, coastal erosion threatened to undermine parts of the Scheduled… 
Uncovering Moira Castle A community excavation within Moira Demesne – a public park in Northern Ireland – has revealed finds spanning from prehistory through to the 18th century. Once the location of a… 
Relapsing fever bacteria identified in skeletal remains Four archaeological samples taken from contexts spanning in date from the early Iron Age to the medieval period have tested positive for Borrelia recurrentis – a bacterium that causes relapsing… 
World News Dionysian frieze discovered in Pompeii Ongoing excavations of a grand domus in Pompeii’s Insula 10, Regio IX, have revealed a series of spectacular finds, including a dining room decorated with… 
Ground-penetrating radar reveals new details of Lincoln Castle A ground-penetrating radar (GPR) survey conducted on the open spaces of Lincoln Castle has revealed a series of archaeological features, including previously unknown structures that probably pre-date the Norman castle… Views
The UK’s first crematorium Comment Sherds was intrigued to encounter two interesting items recently that have to do with the treatment of human remains. (Anyone who is grieving or has suffered a recent bereavement might… 
Roman towns and cities: Cirencester – Excavating the CA archive Comment This month’s column comprises the latest in a ‘Roman towns’ miniseries. I have recently visited Chester and Colchester, and next up is Cirencester (Corinium). 
Festival of Archaeology What's on This month sees a return of the Council for British Archaeology’s annual Festival of Archaeology, with a wealth of in-person and online events taking place across the UK between 19… 
CA Letters 425 – July Letters Finding lost farmsteads I was intrigued by the article on South Yorkshire (‘Fields and farmsteads’, CA 424) and the reference to the absence of evidence of farming and occupation of… 
Current Archaeology’s July Listings: exhibitions, events, and heritage from home What's on There is a fantastic selection of opportunities to immerse yourself in history and heritage this summer, from new exhibitions and heritage attractions to conferences and activity days. Or, if you… 
Go digging! Digging, What's on Following on from our special sections in CA 422, 423, and 424, this selection of summer digging opportunities includes projects in Gloucestershire, the Cotswolds, and Nottinghamshire. 
Cornwall Museum & Art Gallery, Truro Museum, What's on Cornwall Museum & Art Gallery in Truro is undergoing a major transformation. Carly Hilts visited the recently refurbished ‘Heart of Cornwall’ archaeology displays. 
Victory at Vindolanda – Bardon Mill, Northumberland The Picture Desk During this year’s annual excavations at the Roman auxiliary fort of Vindolanda, Jim and Dilys Quinlan from Merseyside – who have been volunteering on the site for 21 years –… 
Holst Victorian House Groups Gustavus Theodore von Holst was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, just over 150 years ago, on 21 September 1874. (He changed his name to plain Gustav Holst because of anti-German feeling… Reviews
Festival of Archaeology This month sees a return of the Council for British Archaeology’s annual Festival of Archaeology, with a wealth of in-person and online events taking place across the UK between 19… Current Archaeology’s July Listings: exhibitions, events, and heritage from home There is a fantastic selection of opportunities to immerse yourself in history and heritage this summer, from new exhibitions and heritage attractions to conferences and activity days. Or, if you… Go digging! Following on from our special sections in CA 422, 423, and 424, this selection of summer digging opportunities includes projects in Gloucestershire, the Cotswolds, and Nottinghamshire. Cornwall Museum & Art Gallery, Truro Cornwall Museum & Art Gallery in Truro is undergoing a major transformation. Carly Hilts visited the recently refurbished ‘Heart of Cornwall’ archaeology displays. 
Castles of Scotland REVIEW BY KK With more than 1,500 castles – a term that Andrew Powell-Thomas uses to cover everything from medieval military fortifications and tower houses to crenellated mansions and great… 
‘Your Church Newly Built…’: a history of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire REVIEW BY ADAM KLUPS Few church reordering projects are lucky enough to be celebrated with a book, but this publication by archaeologist Chiz Harward is a compelling exception. Commissioned to… 
Between Peak and Plain: Excavations on a Multiperiod Site at Mellor, Stockport, 1998-2009 REVIEW BY HEATHER BEETON This report is a result of 11 seasons of extensive excavations of the multiperiod site at Mellor hilltop in Stockport, carried out by University of Manchester… 
Landscape Stability and the Formation of Social Memory in Prehistoric Britain REVIEW BY RICHARD BRADLEY Archaeologists study memories in prehistory and help to create them in the present. Ancient people must have had a sense of the past, just as we… 
The Celts: a modern history REVIEW BY JODY JOY Many books have been written about the ancient Celts, whether from the standpoint of a shared identity across a connected Europe, or a more sceptical perspective,… 
From the editor
If you are interested in Roman mosaics, then this issue of CA will be something of a treat for you! Three of this month’s articles touch on different aspects of these fabulous floors, beginning with our cover feature, which highlights the latest discoveries from Wroxeter, once one of the largest urban centres in Britain. There, the first research excavations to take place on the site in over 30 years have uncovered illuminating new insights into the settlement’s city centre – including part of a luxurious residence boasting a beautiful mosaic with an aquatic theme.
We also examine the life and work of an archaeologist who has made a major contribution to our understanding of mosaics: David Neal, who has documented every new discovery since 1960.
Completing this tessellated trilogy, beautiful mosaics also appear in an article celebrating the 30th birthday of one of the UK’s major commercial units. University of Leicester Archaeological Services have been transforming our knowledge of the historic environment in the Midlands since 1995; we explore some of their key discoveries, from a certain ‘king in the carpark’ to elaborately floored Roman townhouses.
Complementing the above, this month we also have a report showcasing some of the latest advances in archaeological science – from analysing Roman cremations to conserving Victorian dinosaur statues – as we mark the recent refurbishment and reopening of Historic England’s Fort Cumberland laboratories.
We close with an exploration of Cotswold parish churches, highlighting some of the features (and challenges) specific to excavating within ecclesiastical environments.
CARLY
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