British Archaeology Is published bimonthly Next issue out December 9 2022
Membership and Subscriptions Help support our work and become a member of the Council for British Archaeology (cba) for just £44 a year. You will receive British Archaeology (six issues), access to the digital back catalogue, regular newsletters, updates and priority booking for cba events. We also offer a magazineonly subscription: uk print £35 or digital £26.99. Visit our website for details of European and worldwide rates. Find us online at www.archaeologyuk.org/join Email: member@archaeologyuk.org or subscribe@archaeologyuk.org Phone: 01904 671417 Editor Mike Pitts editor@archaeologyuk.org Magazine design by Mike Sigrist Advertising Geoff Connelly geoff@hall-mccartney.co.uk Copyright © authors (text and pictures) and the cba (typography and design) 2022. Views expressed may not reflect cba policy and the cba does not necessarily endorse services and goods advertised issn 1357-4442 Printed on chlorine and kaolin-free paper from well-managed forests
92 Micklegate, York, yo1 6jx Founded in 1944, the Council for British Archaeology promotes archaeology for all. It makes the case for safeguarding our archaeological heritage, and increasing public participation and understanding. It has a growing membership of individuals of all ages and over 600 organisations, and partnerships with Archaeology Scotland, cba Wales/ Cymru and cba English Regional Groups. The cba is an environmental charity registered in England & Wales (287815) and Scotland (sc041971), and a company limited by guarantee (1760254)
On the cover: Harry Lloyd plays a ghostly Richard iii in The Lost King, the second movie in 18 months to feature a real excavation and the first to be released in cinemas (on October 7). How does it treat the archaeology? See page 32. Photo © Pathé Productions Ltd & bbc 2022
From the editor
Where were you? News of the passing of Queen Elizabeth ii crossed my screen as I was writing about the death of King Richard iii – the Queen died ten years after the King was excavated, almost to the day. She awarded mbes to John Ashdown-Hill and Philippa Langley, historians determined to find his grave (“The Queen was fascinated by the whole project,” said Langley), and an obe to Richard Buckley, who led the dig, for his wider contribution to archaeology.
During the Queen’s long reign, the practice of archaeology, like so much else, changed almost beyond recognition. You can see some of that in this magazine, as we consider excavations conducted ten years ago (Richard iii), 20 (the Amesbury Archer) and nearly 50 (in Northampton). The Museum of London, soon to have a new home, was built in the 1970s where bombs had fallen in the Second World War (see Spoilheap). The Queen lived through it all.
As we welcome King Charles iii – who studied archaeology at Cambridge – we can be sure of one thing. The past will never sit still.
DIG DEEP FOR ARCHAEOLOGY Please donate to support the CBA’s activities donate.archaeologyuk.org
This issue’s contributors include
Jacqueline McKinley is principal osteoarchaeologist at Wessex Archaeology. Twenty years ago she had the task of analysing the Amesbury Archer. On page 18 she and Matt Leivers look back on fieldwork that made world news
John Williams was county archaeologist for Kent, and before that director of archaeological units in Lancaster and Northampton. On page 26 he reflects on the excavation of large Anglo-Saxon halls in Northampton
Reb Ellis recently completed a doctoral thesis on animals in late Iron Age art. Her study of the Marlborough Bucket reveals it to be one of the most extraordinary pieces of “Celtic” metalwork of its time. See page 40
Radiocarbon dates Unless otherwise noted, 14c dates in British Archaeology are calibrated at 95% confidence (cal ad or cal bc, expressed as ad or bc), rounded out after Mook (1986). See “Radio-carbon dating” by m Christie et al, WikiJournal of Science (2018), doi: 10.15347/wjs/2018.006
British Archaeology|November December 2022|3
