CA 240

This month CA follows the pilgrimage along Hadrian's Wall to bring you a special issue dedicated to one of Roman Britain's most iconic monuments. We follow their progress from Bowness in the west to Wallsend in the east taking in the sites and exploring the remains of Birdoswald, Vindolanda and Housesteads to name but a few. Of course we still bring you our usual selection of regulars including all the latest from the news from the archaeological world.

CA 239

Issue 239 opens with a feature from Northumberland. On the surface, it might seem like a routine rescue excavation. However, with more than half of the site still left to excavate, the results thus far already provide a wealth of new information about the Neolithic through to post-Roman Northumberland. Followed by reports on new research in Durham County, an inspiring educational project at Cambridge and a very successful volunteer excavation in the Peak District, this issue of CA is packed with good reading.

CA 238

There doesn't seem to be a slow moment around the Current Archaeology offices these days! The big news this month is the conference and the Current Archaeology Awards coming up in February. We've included a special section in this issue announcing the session schedule, the nominees for the awards, information on how to register and special offers for conference delegates. This year's event promises to be the best yet, with star speakers and sessions on some of the most controversial issues facing archaeology in Britain today. Read carefully and cast your votes for the best of the best that we've published over the past year.

Our features start out in a seasonal mood with an in-depth look at the archaeology of Christmas: what do we really know about this important holiday? Most of us celebrate at midwinter without realising how far back the roots of this festive season and our traditions stretch; and as for Santa Claus, he's a bit of a shady character. Enjoy!

CA 237

It’s been another big month for archaeology! Hard on the heels of the Staffordshire Hoard comes another amazing discovery: Bluestonehenge. Though official results on the dating of the new circle aren’t expected until January, the untimely leak of information about the excavations to the press has forced the team to release initial results; and they are fascinating, indeed. What will be revealed by this new chapter in the Stonehenge story?
We follow Bluestonehenge with another hot topic: climate change. Our feature, based on Brian Fagan’s new book (published in October) takes a hard look at what the archaeology of climate change can predict about the future of our climate. Will the planet freeze over once more?
Finally, we are thrilled to announce that both Brian Fagan and the Stonehenge Riverside Project team will be speaking at Archaeology 2010 at the British Museum; Be sure to come along: programme and registration details will be available soon.

CA 236

What a month! We thought we had big news at Current Archaeology – preparing to launch our new design in issue 236 – until the Staffordshire Hoard came along and upstaged us. We really hope you like what we’ve done with the new look. And what better way to introduce our redesign than with the dramatic discovery of Britain’s first-ever Anglo-Saxon hoard? A story like the Staffordshire Hoard is a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. It has been thrilling to prepare it for CA, and to have the opportunity to get close to the experts who were on the scene. Nothing can prepare you for actually seeing these spectacular finds; they are, quite literally, breathtaking. In our coverage we’ve included all the details of how the hoard was discovered and excavated, as well as exactly what was found, and the first reports of what it might all mean. There are exciting times ahead.

CA 235

This month, we are very pleased to launch the first of what will be an annual Education Supplement. This special section will contain information on everything you need to know about studying archaeology in the United Kingdom, including courses of study, universities, specialisms, perspectives from academics, professionals and recent graduates, and guidance about how to choose the best option for your interests and career goals.

CA 234

Issue 234 begins by highlighting just how important the little things are in archaeology: what can we learn from Late Roman military insignia? More than a mere fashion statement, these markers show surprising movements, links and trends. What about fragments of Iron Age coin moulds? These discarded lumps of clay are evidence that skilful artisans understood the intrinsic value of money.  Moving from the tiny to the huge: new dating techniques are determining the age of hillside chalk figures and, in so doing, are challenging previous ideas. We then visit Hill Hall to discuss the evolution of this once-grand Elizabethan house; and, finally, on to Blaenau Gwent, where the remains of the Industrial Revolution that defined this region for 200 years have been conserved and made accessible through a new project.

CA 233

Issue 233 opens with an in-depth look at the biggest dig ever undertaken in Liverpool: the excavation of the city’s Old Dock. The Old Dock was responsible for shaping the fortunes of Liverpool, and CA examines how the city’s ingenious engineering and ambitious land reclamation are reflected in the archaeology. Following on from that, we have new research challenging previous assumptions about Lindow Man and bog bodies in general. South Wales makes an appearance in a report from Llanmaes, where a midden site has turned up some interesting results in the shape of the right forequarters of pigs. Finally, the penultimate volume of Neal’s and Cosh’s book series detailing Romano-British mosaics includes some stunning images and interesting conclusions about what makes the South-East unique.