PCA’s Senior Project Officer, Rita Pedro, and Project Manager, Judy Mlynarska, delivered a talk to Grantchester’s After 8s group on 10 July 2025, sharing preliminary findings from the archaeological excavation at 19 High Street, Grantchester.
The excavation uncovered substantial evidence of Saxon occupation, including several structures or ‘halls’ constructed using a variety of techniques: post-built, post-in-trench, and beam slot. A cooking pit or hearth was identified, along with numerous pits and both boundary and enclosure ditches. Notable finds included two decorated needles or dress pins, and a rare fragment of an amber bead.
The event was warmly received, with organisers describing it as “such an amazing evening,” and praising “a wonderful and interesting presentation.”
We’re pleased to be contributing to this year’s Essex Festival of Archaeology, where our team will be sharing results from recent excavations at Great Chesterford, a site that’s proving to be one of the most illuminating early Saxon settlements we’ve investigated.
Mark Hinman and Charlotte Lockwood will present their findings from this exceptional site, which sheds new light on the complexity and character of early medieval life in the region. Their talk will highlight key phases of occupation and some of the discoveries that make the site at Great Chesterford so significant.
Alongside the talk, Sian O’Neill and the finds team will be displaying a selection of the great artefacts from the excavation, offering visitors a close-up look at the material culture of 5th- to 6th-century Essex.
If you’re heading to the festival, we’d love to see you there!
Recent archaeological work by PCA at Saxon Fields in Woodton, Norfolk, uncovered the remains of a Bronze Age ring ditch, evidence of a funerary monument long since ploughed away at ground level. The excavation was carried out in advance of a new housing development by Crocus Homes, who invited pupils from nearby Woodton Primary School to visit the site and learn more about the discoveries.
The children were shown how archaeologists identify and record features like the ring ditch, and had the chance to explore the site with the team and ask questions. Short talks on the Bronze Age, Iron Age, and funerary monuments were given by Project manager Peter, Supervisor Naomi and archaeologist Conor, who also escorted the teachers and children safely around the site, whilst the children looked for archaeological finds on the surface. For many, it was their first encounter with archaeology in the real world, not in a textbook or museum, but in the place they live.
The visit formed part of a broader commitment to community engagement. Crocus Homes were keen to make the archaeology accessible, and to give local people a sense of connection to the history beneath their village. The ring ditch may once have marked a burial or ceremonial space. Though subtle now, its discovery adds a new layer to the story of the area and for the pupils, offered a memorable glimpse into its deeper past.
PCA is pleased to work with developers who recognise the value of archaeology in planning and heritage-informed development, and who are willing to support opportunities like this for public learning.
Back in May, field archaeologists Luke Hall and Anna Robson from PCA Durham had the pleasure of visiting St Helen’s Primary School in Hartlepool to talk about the excavations taking place on their school field ahead of construction of a new school building.
Luke and Anna led a whole-school assembly and delivered an in-depth object-handling session to Years 5 and 6. They shared site photographs, real artefacts, and historical sources to show the children what the excavation was uncovering, while also passing on their enthusiasm for archaeology and why it matters. During the object-handling session, pupils and teachers got stuck into object identification, working together to identify a selection of finds and place them on a timeline from youngest to oldest.
A particular highlight was the enthusiasm shown by the older pupils, some of whom are considering archaeology as a future career, and the excitement of handling real objects and some of the tools we use, like our trowels.
We’re grateful to Galliford Try and St Helen’s School for all their help in facilitating these outreach sessions.
PCA recently carried out an assessment of stone from a collapsed section of wall in Hyde, Winchester, working alongside specialist Dr Kevin Hayward and local heritage group Hyde900.
The wall, which probably dates to the late 1540s, includes reused masonry from Hyde Abbey, demolished following the Reformation. Among the fallen material were carved fragments and plain dressed blocks, now recorded as part of the groundwork for a Listed Building application.
Our thanks to Hyde900 and their volunteers for their support on site.
We’re delighted that Becket’s Chapel in South Norfolk has been recognised with a 2025 AABC Conservation Award as part of the Civic Trust Awards. Established in 2014, these awards honour projects that set the standard for historic building conservation, making a lasting impact on the built environment.
The work at Becket’s Chapel shows how sensitive conservation can balance old and new, keeping historic sites relevant and valued by the community. During the project, PCA revealed key evidence of the chapel’s medieval origins, as well as later changes that reflect how the building adapted to new uses over time. Well-preserved masonry and foundations helped to trace the architectural evolution of the site, while artefacts like medieval ceramics and coffin fittings provide further glimpses into its past.
Becket’s Chapel has long been a part of South Norfolk’s heritage, with roots stretching back to the medieval period and a continuous thread of religious and community use. The recent conservation work not only preserves this history but also keeps the building as a familiar landmark for future generations.
PCA is proud to have been involved in the project, bringing archaeological insights to a complex and rewarding scheme, and with Stage 2 still to come, we’re looking forward to uncovering even more of Becket’s Chapel’s story.
Spring LAF – Monday 19th May, 6pm 📍 UCL Institute of Archaeology, 31-34 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PY
There will be a great variety of speakers:
Jacqui Pearce (MOLA), a leading specialist in medieval and later ceramics, will explore the global reach of Bartmann jugs (or Bellarmine ware). These distinctive German vessels have been unearthed worldwide, and Jacqui will discuss a new project pushing the boundaries of Bartmann research beyond north-west Europe.
Mike Curnow, Project Officer at MOLA, will present the intriguing findings from Tideway Site 4: Barn Elms. Once a thriving mid-late Iron Age settlement, the site was occupied for centuries before its decline around the 1st century BC. Evidence suggests this unassuming sports field may once have been a wealthy oppidum.
Andrew Mayfield will share insights from the four-year community archaeology programme he’s been leading in Greenwich Park. Highlights include the excavation of a WWII air raid shelter, recent works on the Grand Ascent as part of the Greenwich Park Revealed project, and ongoing investigations around the Roman temple precinct.
As usual, the conversation continues at the pub afterwards.
This footage captures Phase 2 of PCA’s excavation at Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, part of a phased programme of archaeological work being carried out for EDP, on behalf of Spitfire Bespoke Homes Ltd.
The site is revealing a Romano-British ladder enclosure system on the edge of settlement. The adjacent area (Phase 1) has already been excavated and is now under development. In the coming weeks, excavation will move beyond the Heras fencing into Phase 3, where we hope to uncover more of the settlement itself.
Thanks to SUMO Geosurveys for the fantastic footage.
This large conch shell was recently found in a 19th- or early 20th-century deposit at a site in Shadwell, E1W. It’s been identified as a Giant Spider Conch (Lambis truncata truncata), a subspecies found in the tropical and subtropical Indian Ocean. At 34cm long, this specimen is close to the species’ maximum size of around 40cm.
Large exotic shells like this have been collected for centuries, valued as souvenirs and decorative items. In Victorian Britain, there was a particular enthusiasm for shell collecting, then known as conchology, which became a fashionable hobby and decorative trend. Some collections were modest, others extravagant, including the shell grottoes found in the gardens of country houses and seaside resorts. While many used locally sourced shells, the growing reach of empire and trade networks meant exotic specimens became increasingly accessible by the 19th century.
The location of the find, close to the East End docks, suggests a few possibilities. It could have been a memento from a sailor, or part of a domestic collection. Charles Jamrach, a well-known dealer in exotic animals and curiosities, ran a shop on nearby St George Street (now The Highway). Alongside live creatures, he sold shells and other natural specimens to satisfy Victorian tastes for the exotic.
This week’s #FindsFriday is a Mesolithic tranchet axe from a site near Chichester.
Tranchet axes were essential tools in the Mesolithic, used for woodworking and other daily tasks. This one was found in a pit beside four parallel curvilinear features dating to the Early Bronze Age.
The site revealed evidence of thousands of years of activity, with features from the Neolithic through to the Roman period. Among the Early Iron Age remains were structures, a large posthole and ditch enclosure, and a well. A landscape shaped and reshaped over time, with this axe as a small trace of its earliest inhabitants.
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