Durobrivae: A Review of Nene Valley Archaeology
Between 1973 and 1984 the Nene Valley Research Committee published 9 volumes of a booklet called “Durobrivae: A Review of Nene Valley Archaeology”. The editor was John Peter Wild and each volume included short articles by archaeologists and historians who were busy investigating sites that would be impacted by the rapid growth of Peterborough new town.
Click on the images or links in the index below to open the relevant volume. Please note that some mobiles may download the file - approx 15,000KB
Inevitably, this website has much content which references "Durobrivae". If it is not this publication you are looking for then try the following links:
Longthorpe, an essay in continuity
Nene valley archaeology in microcosm from Neolithic to Anglo-Saxon
Author: John Peter Wild
Page 7
A Romano-British Cemetery and Farmstead at Lynch Farm
50 burials with Christian characteristics close to farmstead
Author: Richard Jones
Page 13
Potter's Oven, Castor
Excavation of two domestic buildings including a kitchen with 3 ovens
Author: Donald Mackreth
Page 14
The Nunnery of St Kyneburgha at Castor
Anglo Saxon and Medieval occupation over north wing of Roman site
Author: Carolyn Dallas
Page 17
A possible house of Neolithic period at Fengate
Wood and pottery dated to about 3000BC
Author: Francis Pryor
Page 18
The Roman Fishpond at Lynch Farm
Barn, fishpond and drainage channels
Author: John Peter Wild
Page 20
The Lynch Farm complex: the prehistoric site
Ditches, cremation burials and a polished greenstone axe
Author: Adrian Challands
Page 22
An Early Bronze-Age burial at Perio
Excavation of an oval pit containing body, dagger and pottery
Author:John Hadman
Page 24
Perio, the Finds
16th century BC three-riveted round-heeled dagger and a beaker sherd
Author: David Coombs
Page 25
A colour-coated Hunt Cup in the Royal Ontario Museum
Reassembled wheel made beaker with bear-baiting decoration
Author: Alison Harle Easson
Page 27
Three Iron tools from Lynch Farm
Anvil, hammer and axe found in the aisled barn at Lynch Farm
Author: William Manning
Page 29
Roman Industry in Normangate Field
Workshops, kilns, mausoleum, aisled barn and possible shrine
Author: Geoffrey Dannell
Page 7
Fengate 1973: Flint Projectile Points
Flints among 6,000 finds from excavation of early Fengate settlement
Author: Francis Pryor
Page 10
A Roman Industrial Site and Villa at Sacrewell
A domestic building and 8 iron-working furnaces
Author: Adrian Challands
Page 13
A Terracotta Head from Sacrewell
The small, fired head of a statue
Author: Professor Jocelyn Toynbee
Page 17
Furnace-Lining from Sacrewell
Clay containing limestone for furnace linings helped flux the ore
Author: Roger Norwich
Page 18
Hall Farm, Orton Longueville
Saxon buildings, pits and hearths on site of late Roman Farm
Author: Donald Mackreth
Page 19
An Inaglio from Hall Farm
Carved red jasper gem depicting Cupid on a two wheeled cart
Author: Martin Henig
Page 20
The Longthorpe Roman Fortress, 1973
Excavation of a barrack block with 14 sets of rooms
Author: Professor Sheppard Frere
Page 20
Edmund Artis, Antiquary
Archaeologist, geologist, artist, botanist, ornithologist, and restaurateur
Author: Steven Tomlinson
Page 22
The Lynch Farm Complex: Recent Work
Quadruple 400m Iron Age defensive ditches
Author: Adrian Challands
Page 23
Tout Hill Close, Peterborough
1700 pits and evidence for wooden buildings
Author: Donald Mackreth
Page 24
The Roman Villa at North Lodge, Barnwell, 1973
Roman building with evidence for agricultural and industrial use
Author: John Hadman, Stephen Upex
Page 27
A Roman and Saxon Farm at Walton, North Bretton
Romano-British farm house plus Saxon pits and ditches
Author: Richard Jones
Page 29
Fengate 1971-1974
Interim report on settlement and land use from Neolithic to Romans
Author: Francis Pryor
Page 7
The Waternewton Hoard
Bowls and Roman coins discovered in 1974
Author: Catherine Johns, Robert Carson
Page 10
The Roman Settlement at Ashton near Oundle
Evidence for a small planned nucleated settlement at the Nene crossing
Author: John Hadman, Stephen Upex
Page 13
A Roman Pottery Kiln at Sulehay near Yarwell
A second century kiln and analysis of associated pottery
Author: John Hadman, Stephen Upex
Page 16
Longthorpe , 1974
Roman kilns of Longthorpe fort built on the edge of an Iron-Age ditch
Author: Geoffrey Dannell
Page 18
Two Roman Stamped Tiles from Peterborough
A recent find from Sacrewell and a 19th century find from Bainton
Author: Adrian Challands
Page 21
The Roman Villa at Helpston
Layout of the villa partially dug by Artis and again in the 1960s
Author: Adrian Challands
Page 22
Roman Leather Shoes from Lynch Farm
Fourth century child's shoe recovered from a stone lined well
Author: June Swann, Alison Metcalfe
Page 24
A Belgic Farmstead at Orton Longueville
Partial excavation of a late Iron-age and early Roman farm
Author: Carolyn Dallas
Page 26
An Anglo-Saxon Strap-End from Bulwick, Northants
Photo and sketch of a bronze strap end
Author: Carolyn Dallas
Page 28
Industrial and Vernacular Architecture, 1974
London Road windmill and other development affected buildings
Author: Richard Hillier
Page 29
Stop Press
Breaking news of a second Roman hoard from Water Newton!
Author: John Peter Wild
Page 30
The Water Newton Silver Treasure
Listing of items comprising the hoard discovered in 1975
Author: Kenneth Painter
Page 7
Fengate, 1975
A newly found late Iron-Age settlement with detail of houses & ditches
Author: Francis Pryor
Page 10
The Death of the Ailsworth Witch
A Saxon charter records transactions in Yaxley and Ailsworth
Author: David Hill
Page 13
A Multiple Round-Barrow at Barnack
17 burials within a funerary site with 3 construction phases
Author: Peter Donaldson
Page 14
The Barnack Grave-Group
Beaker, dagger, and other grave goods from the Barnack barrow
Author: Ian Kinnes
Page 16
A Late-Roman Nail-Cleaner with Peacock
Detail on a small bronze object found in 1971 at Lynch Farm
Author: Sonia Chadwick Hawkes
Page 17
Industrial and Vernacular Architecture, 1975
Notes on buildings demolished to make way for Queensgate
Author: Richard Hillier
Page 18
Roman Iron Working at Longthorpe
Evidence of iron production and working at Longthorpe fortress
Author: Judith Todd, James Cleland
Page 19
A Significant Findspot for a Penny of Harold I
A rare silver penny from the Stamford mint
Author: Professor Michael Dolley
Page 20
A Roman Limekiln at Helpston
A substantial kiln with well preserved stonework close to King Street
Author: Adrian Challands
Page 22
Hall Farm, Orton Longueville
Multiple buildings and features from the final season at Hall Farm
Author: Donald Mackreth
Page 24
A Roman Farm at Castor, 1975
Three periods of changing land use at Normangate Field
Author: John Peter Wild
Page 26
The Old Workhouse, Cumbergate, Peterborough
Early 17th century house, then Old Workhouse and then Almshouses
Author: Richard Hillier
Page 27
The Manor and Deerpark of Torpel
History of an extensive medieval manor with site plan
Author: Frances Crowther
Page 29
Two Bronze Vessels from Stanground
Review of a bronze cauldron and bronze pan discovered in 1966
Author: Carolyn Dallas
Page 30
Recent Aerial Photography
Crop mark examples from Fengate, Tansor and Castor
Author: Stephen Upex
Page 32
Longthorpe Holy Well
The grotto, ponds and garden features
Author: Donald Mackreth, Francis O'Neill
Page 34
The Treasures of Durobrivae
Protection of historic sites from treasure hunters and the plough
Author: Graham Webster
Page 36
Ashton, 1976
Results of the 1974-75 excavation revealing a small town
Author: John Hadman, Stephen Upex
Page 6
The Lead Tank from Ashton
A large lead tank with Chi-Rho monogram from a well at Ashton
Author: Christopher Guy
Page 10
A Triple Ring-Ditch at Maxey
Emergency excavation of a Neolithic or Bronze-Age feature
Author: Robert Powell
Page 12
Fengate, 1976
Excavation of a Bronze Age house and evolution of field systems
Author: Francis Pryor
Page 14
Two Groups of Anglo-Saxon Pottery
Analysis of pottery finds in the museum from the Ortons and Glinton
Author: Carolyn Dallas
Page 17
Orton Hall Farm - the Saxon Connection
Saxon presence at the Orton Hall site in the 5th century
Author: Donald Mackreth
Page 20
Recent Aerial Photography
Crop mark images taken in 1976 at Northborough and Etton
Author: Stephen Upex
Page 22
The Roman Villa at Cotterstock
A plan of the Roman villa first unearthed in the 18th century
Author: Stephen Upex
Page 24
Retrospect: Douglas Ellicott
An enthusiast appreciated in Salisbury, Whittlesey and Australia
Author: George Dixon
Page 26
The King's Dyke Burials
Eight burials from Roman period with evidence of mutilation
Author: Adrian Challands
Page 27
Industrial and Vernacular Architecture, 1976
Notes on buildings demolished to make way for Queensgate
Author: Richard Hillier
Page 30
From the Museum
Four prehistoric implements including a polished flint knife
Author: Miranda Green
Page 31
Burgh Park
Location of the medieval Burgh Park
Author: Richard Hillier
Page 32
The Archaeological Field Centre - Ham Lane House
New home for the Nene Valley Research Committee
Author: Adrian Challands
Page 34
The Antiquary and the Poet: Artis & Clare
Friends who shared interest in archaeology, poetry and natural history
Author: Steven Tomlinson
Page 6
Fengate: the Evolution of a Landscape
Bronze Age to Romano-British transition at Cat's Water
Author: David Cranstone
Page 10
A Group of Roman Pottery from Fengate
Fixing a date for a group of Nene Valley pots
Author: John Hayes
Page 12
Three New Bronze-Age Weapons
Pryor favours "domestic" rather than "ritual" explanation
Author: Francis Pryor
Page 14
Early Plants in the Nene Valley: an Interim Report
Comparison of Fengate and Longthorpe environmental analysis
Author: Gay Wilson
Page 17
Three Mediaeval Sites from the Air
Crop mark examples from Wakerley, Caldecote and Bainton
Author: Stephen Upex
Page 19
From the Museum
A Roman sword from Whittlesey and belt-mount from Longthorpe
Author: Martin Howe
Page 21
Industrial and Vernacular Architecture, 1977
Notes on buildings demolished to make way for Queensgate
Author: Richard Hillier
Page 23
The Car Dyke
Results of a survey of Car Dyke between the rivers Nene and Welland
Author: Arnold Pryor
Page 24
Ramsey Abbey's Manor at Elton I: the Archaeology
A manor at Elton discovered during construction of a flood bank
Author: Francis O'Neill
Page 26
Ramsey Abbey's Manor at Elton II: the Documents
Documentary history traced back for over 900 years
Author: Stephen Upex
Page 28
Excavations at Bridge Street, Peterborough
Evolution of Peterborough in Medieval and Post Medieval periods
Author: Francis O'Neill
Page 30
The Itter Farm Site, King's Dyke
Excavation of a Romano-British site on the "island" of Whittlesey
Author: Adrian Challands
Page 32
Exhibition 6000
An archaeological exhibition at the PDC's Touthill offices
Author: Adrian Challands
Page 35
A Decorated Sherd at Cambridge
Discussion of a Nene Valley ware sherd from Cambridge museum
Author: Graham Webster
Page 6
The Early Courses of the River Nene
Pre-Roman and Roman courses of the Nene based on aerial photos
Author: Robert Evans
Page 8
The Final Season at Fengate
Fourth Drove and Cat's Water excavations (Bronze Age to Iron Age)
Author: Francis Pryor
Page 11
Industrial and Vernacular Architecture, 1978
Demolition and re-development in the city centre
Author: Richard Hillier
Page 13
The Stone of Group VI Rock from Lynch Farm
Manufacture, transport and re-working of stone axes
Author: Stephen Briggs
Page 14
The Cambridgeshire Archaeological Committee
Structure and fieldwork of organisation established in 1973
Author: Alison Taylor
Page 16
Bog Oaks: a Key to Dating the Past
Use of dendochronology, radio-carbon and magnetic silk dating
Author: Valerie Taylor
Page 18
Durobrivae
Collation of information and a plan based on aerial photographs
Author: Donald Mackreth
Page 19
Roman Ironworking and an Anvil from Nassington
A 6kg blacksmith's anvil recovered during field-walking
Author: Adrian Challands
Page 21
Barnack 1978-9
Interpretation of barrow, ditch and trackway
Author: Donald Mackreth, Francis O'Neill
Page 23
Aerial Photography 1978
Crop mark examples from Oundle, Maxey and Helpston
Author: Stephen Upex
Page 26
Ashton 1977-8
Recent excavations throw light on Late Iron Age phases of the site
Author: John Hadman, Stephen Upex
Page 29
Peterborough New Town: Ten Years On
Update on properties listed in a 1969 "Survey of the Antiquities"
Author: Richard Hillier
Page 30
From the Museum
Setting up a new archaeology gallery at the museum
Author: Martin Howe
Page 32
A Roman Intaglio found near Durobrivae
A cornelian gemstone with engraved eagle found near Durobrivae
Author: Martin Henig
Page 34
Some Pitfalls in Aerial Archaeology
Successes and mistakes from the extensive aerial surveys of the area
Author: Stephen Upex
Page 6
Pottery of "London Ware" Type from the Nene Valley
Second century pottery
Author: Robert Perrin
Page 10
The Monastic Church before 1116
Work undertaken by Irvine and Micklethwaite in 19th century
Author: Donald Mackreth
Page 11
Fieldwork Survey of the Soke of Peterborough
Field by field survey revealing new Iron Age, Roman and Saxon sites
Author: David Hall, Paul Martin
Page 13
Raising the Fengate Dead
Excavation techniques used to lift Fengate skeletons
Author: Francis Pryor
Page 15
More Finds from the Fens
Bronze Age palstave and socketed spearhead
Author: Maisie Taylor
Page 19
Magnetic Geophysical Prospecting
Use of proton-magnetometer and subsequent geophys devices
Author: Adrian Challands
Page 21
Industrial and Vernacular Architecture, 1979
Removal of old power stations and building of Queensgate
Author: Richard Hillier
Page 22
Werrington: an Iron-Age and Roman Site
Excavation of enclosures and ring ditch (near Ken Stimpson school)
Author: Donald Mackreth, Francis O'Neill
Page 23
The Molluscs from the Werrington Enclosure
Inferences about groundwater conditions and land use
Author: Charles French
Page 26
From the Museum
Funerary pot and brooch
Author: Martin Howe
Page 28
Iron Age Metalwork from Orton Meadows
Swords, currency bars and other metal objects
Author: Ian Stead
Page 6
Neolithic Etton: a waterlogged "Causewayed Camp"
Axe handle and Mildenhall pottery from a Neolithic ditch
Author: Francis Pryor
Page 8
Buried Sites in the Peterborough Fens
Dyke survey produces 500 timbers - start of the Flag Fen story
Author: Francis Pryor
Page 10
Prehistoric Woodworking in the Fens
Contrasting wooden finds at two sites
Author: Maisie Taylor
Page 12
Edmund Artis: the Obituary of 1849
Interests and skills of this early geologist and archaeologist
Author: Peter Crowther
Page 14
From the Museum
Viking Spearheads
Author: Martin Howe
Page 16
Recent Work on Monastic Peterborough
Burgh wall, and early evolution of the monastic church
Author: Donald Mackreth
Page 18
Castor
Interpretation of the Roman finds close to the church
Author: Donald Mackreth
Page 22
Ashton Roman Town
Excavation of a small Roman town
Author: Brian Dix
Page 26
Ashton 1979-82
Earlier excavations updated
Author: John Hadman
Page 28