The discovery of London’s Temple of Mithras enthralled the public and inspired a generation of archaeologists. In 1954, tens of thousands queued for hours to see the newly uncovered Roman remains. Today, the temple has opened to visitors once more, reconstructed close to its original location – CA went along to find out more.
Around 4,500 years ago, vast crowds also came together at Durrington Walls, two miles from Stonehenge. This Neolithic village hosted huge winter feasts, new analysis reveals – and animal bones bear witness to how far people were prepared to travel to visit the Stonehenge landscape.
Growing up in Norwich, I heard it said that the city had enough churches to attend a different congregation every Sunday (and enough pubs for every day of the year, but that’s another story…). The city is also popularly held to be as holey as it is holy, underlain in places by warrens of chalk mines, sewers, and other tunnels. We explore how these subterranean workings have shaped not only Norwich’s history, but its physical landscape.
Moving above ground, we visit one of the UK’s largest ongoing dendrochronological projects, where tree rings preserved in Tilley’s timber-framed houses have revealed some surprising secrets about the Shropshire village. Hidden history is also on view at the Museum of London, where an exhibition about alternative currencies demonstrates how these unofficial means of commerce can have powerful social stories to tell.
Finally, plans are coming together for our annual conference. In this issue, you can find preliminary details of the timetable, the people, projects, and publications nominated for CA Awards, and how to vote for them.
Carly Hilts
IN THIS ISSUE:/n
FEATURES/n
LONDON MITHRAEUM/n
Reimagining the famous Roman temple
The London Temple of Mithras has enthralled visitors ever since it was first uncovered in 1954, but its early reconstruction left much to be desired. Sophie Jackson of MOLA takes us through how the structure’s remains were reconsidered, relocated, and reconstructed once more.
NEOLITHIC FOOD MILES/n
Feeding the ‘builders of Stonehenge’
A new exhibition at Stonehenge details the diet of the community thought to be responsible for building the monument. Analysis of animal bones found at Durrington Walls reveals quite how far some of their food, and the people who brought it, may have come.
GROUND UNDERFOOT/n
Delving into the secrets of subterranean Norwich
The people of Norwich have known for decades that they live in a decidedly ‘holey’ city – with several instances of buses and houses disappearing under the ground. Here we explore the reasons behind Norwich’s unusual subterranean topography.
TILLEY’S TIMBER TIME CAPSULE/n
Witch marks, medieval recycling, and 500 years of a Shropshire hamlet
Although it is only a small village, Tilley has an impressive number of medieval and post-medieval buildings. A major dendrochronology project sheds light on the sometimes surprising histories of these houses.
(UN)COMMON CURRENCY/n
From small change to social change
During times of strife, when offi cially minted small change can be scarce, other forms of payment tend to emerge. A new display at the Museum of London investigates the story of these alternative currencies, and their social impact, in the capital.
NEWS/n
Highlighting Hull’s Tudor history; Ruminations on food supply at the Roman fortress of Caerleon; Investigating the Iron Age in Inverness-shire; Threading through Cork’s Viking past; Fulham Palace: full of finds; Science notes; Digital exploration of the Sculptor’s Cave; Finds tray
REGULARS/n
Comment
Joe Flatman excavates theCAarchive
Context
Small change? Scotney Castle, Kent
Reviews
The Anglo-Saxon Fenland; Neolithic Stepping Stones: excavation and survey within the Western Seaways of Britain, 2008-2014; Pudding Pan: a Roman shipwreck and its cargo in context; From Bridgehead to Brewery: the medieval and post-medieval archaeological remains from Finzel’s Reach, Bristol; Hadrian’s Wall on Tyneside; Molluscs in Archaeology: methods, approaches, and applications
Exhibition
Scotland’s Early Silver at the National Museum of Scotland
Calendar
Our selection of exhibitions and events
Sherds
Chris Catling’s irreverent take onheritage issues
Odd Socs
The Conchological Society of Great Britain and Ireland