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.

CA 232

This month’s Current Archaeology offers in-depth looks at stories that have been front-page news in recent weeks.  We begin with conclusions: as presented by Alice Roberts in the BBC’s new documentary on human evolution, are we all Africans? The recently completed restoration of the famous garden at Kenilworth Castle is also making headlines.  Is the letter upon which we base our understanding of the famous garden’s design a forgery? These heady examinations are followed by a look at the archaeology on the Otterburn Training Area in Northumberland.  The land of Otterburn is stunning and full of fantastic archaeology from the Neolithic through to recent years; it is also part of the second largest active firing range in Britain. How does archaeology fare on a Defense Estate?  Read on, and find out.

CA 231

In Current Archaeology 231, we open with a fascinating account of excavations in Forteviot, where archaeologists have deiscovered a Neolithic circular enclosure that rivals both Stonehenge and the Ring of Brodgar in scale. We conclude our in-depth series on Barry Cunliffe’s new book, with the final instalment taking us through to 1000 AD.  
Next, we have an investigation into prone burials; why are they so disturbing? What possible meanings are behind a face down burial? The issue concludes with an examination of the town of Burford through the lens of a new project that aims to unite archaeology and local history.

CA 230

The time has come for our 2009 edition of the annual Digs supplement.  We’ve provided all the information you need to get out in the field this season - for reviews of last year’s digs, please visit our companion website at www.ilovethepast.com.
Villas, villas and more villas! This month, we offer two articles on this most Roman of topics; both question whether the collective categorisation of ‘villa’ is really accurate for the plethora of intriguing Romano-British rural sites.  We then step backward in time to examine new research from the Neolithic; was prehistory as peaceful as previously thought? Evidence of violence suggests that the Stone Age was very bloody indeed. Finally, we have our second installment of a three-part series based on Barry Cunliffe’s comprehensive study of the archaeology of Europe - Europe Between the Oceans.  

CA 229

This month we begin the first of a three part series based on Barry Cunliffe’s comprehensive study of the archaeology of Europe - Europe Between the Oceans. Then onto the mystery and intrigue that surrounds the discovery of one of the richest treasures ever found in Britain, The Mildenhall Treasure. The enigmatic Dark Ages have long been shrouded in fantasy and legend: could scrutiny of those historical sources reveal a more prosaic truth? There was nothing fantastic about life in the 19th century slums of Belfast, as recent excavations in the city clearly show.
The Conference Report presents a snapshot of the Archaeology Festival 2009 as well as a round-up of the winners of the first ever Current Archaeology Awards.

CA 228

With this year’s Archaeology Festival in Cardiff just around the corner, things have been very busy here at Current Archaeology. We’re thrilled with the outstanding programme, packed with talks at the very forefront of archaeological research, and will be sure to bring as many of these projects to the pages of the magazine as possible.  We are also looking forward to the Current Archaeology Awards and will be sure to update our readers on the winners - after all, it was your votes that decided them!  
Our features this month cover the four corners of Britain: challenging previous assumptions at Vindolanda, examining a remote Viking settlement in Orkney, celebrating 100 years of hard work in Scotland and Wales, and, finally, uncovering evidence in London of just how ready we were for a German invasion.

 

CA 227

With winter solstice finally behind us and the Spring equinox edging ever nearer, we visit the Scottish island of Foula. Remote and battered by gales, the tiny island boasts a double ring of stones deliberately positioned by Bronze Age sky-gazers to herald the rising sun of the winter solstice. Another craggy island, Tintagel, is famed for its connection with King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. Could a great king really have lived on this rocky headland?
For King and Country: the skeletal remains of veterans buried in the Royal Greenwich Hospital cemetery tell a grim story of life and death in Nelson’s navy. In contrast, the luxurious lifestyle of less reputable mariners is reflected by pirates’ plunder discovered in the unlikely location of London’s East End. Our front cover displays the gleaming treasure of an Iron Age coin hoard discovered by a metal detectorist earlier this year. Current Archaeology brings you this exclusive report on one of the year’s most exciting finds.

CA 226

This month we are featuring a Festival Special, a section devoted to the events and awards at the upcoming Archaeology Festival Cardiff 2009, 6-9 February. The Special includes a full list of award nominees and all the information you need to vote for your favourites. This is your chance, as readers, to tell us what you liked best, so please do remember to vote - the winners will be announced at the Archaeology Festival.
As part of the Festival fun, we are offering delegates the opportunity to tour two major Roman sites in Wales, Caerleon and Caerwent, both of which are featured in this issue. Read their stories, then visit them for yourselves, accompanied by the authors, who will be your guides.
Our dramatic cover picture shows the North Yorkshire moor fire that led to the exposure of some stunning prehistoric carved stone - a once in a lifetime chance to record this mysterious, hidden archaeology.