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Transactions of the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society, 84, 27-75, The excavation of a mid to late Iron Age enclosed settlement, at Hallam Fields, Birstall, has added significantly to our understanding of small Iron Age farmsteads in the region. Often only parts of the enclosure settlements are investigated, whereas the example here was subject to controlled and detailed full excavation. This article presents the results of the excavation, and utilises the finds and environmental data to illustrate how people of the fifth to third centuries BC controlled and utilised space for a variety of activities.

Transactions of the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society, 83, 63-102, Archaeological excavation by University of Leicester Archaeological Services in advance of the redevelopment of 21-33 Newarke Street, Leicester, revealed significant extra-mural Roman deposits. Early activity comprised agricultural plot lay-outs, the alignment of which supports the proposal that Newarke Street follows the line of the Roman road from Leicester to Medbourne (Gartree Road). During the fourth century, the site was part of an extensive inhumation cemetery and 30 burials were excavated. Two contemporary structures are likely to represent mausolea. Two late seventeenth-early eighteenth-century brick-kilns were also located. The finds and archive are held by Leicester City Museums (Accession Nos. A5.2002 and A23.2002).

Transactions of the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society, 90, 13-66, This paper highlights some of the most significant discoveries made during fieldwork at Rothley Lodge Farm, Leicester Road, Rothley, Leicestershire, undertaken in 2004 and 2005 (Hunt 2006). The fieldwork revealed deposits and material of mid-late Neolithic date (c.3600-2300 BC). Evidence of deliberately placed finds has been located in several of the archaeological features, including a large amorphous, flat-based pit, the fill of which contained several thousand finds, including decorated sherds of Grooved Ware pottery, a large lithic assemblage and a remarkable engraved stone plaque displaying figurative art (Cooper and Hunt 2005). Another pit also contained Grooved Ware, calcined stone axe fragments, calcined roe deer bone and a stone rubber with two ceramic spheres, which may represent a fertility symbol. The artefacts are interpreted as symbols of identity and transformation, perhaps connected with the 'closure' of a settlement.

Transactions of the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society, 77, 65-81, Archaeological excavations at Cropston Road, Anstey (SK 553 086) in 1996 and 2002 have revealed medieval occupation dating from the 12th-13th century within a raised toft platform separated from a croft by a hollow-way. Ditches flanked a hollow way in the south-eastern part of the site and beyond this the croft contained remains of a medieval ridge and furrow field system, leading down to the Rothley Brook. Structural evidence included compacted gravel foundations for a rectangular building and three possible post built structures. The excavations suggest that the site was abandoned in the late 13th century before re-use from the 15th century onwards with the toft being sub-divided perhaps for pastoral farming.

Transactions of the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society, 88, 152-153

Transactions of the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society, 82, 39-78, Excavations at North Hamilton, Humberstone, have located a ditch system associated with a small settlement. The system is interpreted as a crowdingalley for livestock management and an indicator of large scale animal stock control in the earlier 1st millennium BC, possibly necessitating co-operation between different families or communities on a seasonal basis. Structural evidence includes at least one circular building that had seen some re-building. The pottery from the site was distinct from the more usual Iron Age assemblages in fabric and form, and flint was being used for tooling.

Transactions of the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society, 93, 169-198, This paper presents the results from the first two seasons of the Bradgate

Transactions of the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society, 91, 45-96, Excavations at the junction of Oxford Street and Newarke Street revealed a well-preserved sequence of archaeology reflecting prehistoric, Roman and medieval occupation. Prehistoric evidence consisted of a scatter of struck flints and a pit containing Neolithic pottery. Early Roman evidence included a pit and post-holes, in association with a complex of boundary gullies dated to the later first-early second century. During the second-third century a large boundary ditch may have delimited the back edge of plots adjacent to the Tripontium Road, which led to the South Gate of the walled town. Three contemporary burials were associated with the boundary. By the fourth century, an area of the site formed part of the southern cemetery of the Roman town, and burials were found on either side of the earlier boundary; 17 burials were revealed, many of which were arranged in well-ordered rows similar to other burials from nearby excavations, interpreted as being buried in a Christian tradition. In other respects the burials from this site were different. Many contained grave goods, while others faced west, were decapitated or were buried in a prone position - strongly suggestive of a more pagan tradition of burial. Eight of the burials were radiocarbon dated and these results have been combined with artefactual information to refine the chronology of the cemetery. Medieval activity was reflected by a spread of large refuse and cess pits, and a malting kiln. During the seventeenth/eighteenth century the area was occupied by the town's Civil War defensive earthworks, and a massive ditch running along Newarke Street was revealed. Following the disuse and infilling of this ditch a building was constructed alongside Newarke Street, relating to the early reoccupation of the south suburb following the Civil War.

Transactions of the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society, 80, 197-208, In 2000 when a group of amateur archaeologists were field-walking on a hillside near Market Harborough they found a number of Iron Age and Roman coins. Subsequent extensive excavation revealed that the coins, along with other artefacts and animal bone deposits, belonged to an impressive ritual site with evidence of feasting. The site was probably a sacred place of the Corieltavi, the Iron Age people who lived in the area and who may have gathered here regularly in the years leading up to the Roman invasion.

Transactions of the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society, 84, 77-94, An archaeological excavation was undertaken by University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS) on land at the junction of Castle Street and St Nicholas Circle, Leicester (SK 5832 0432) between April and June 2005. The work was carried out in response to a planning application by Victoria Hall Ltd for the construction of new student accommodation. The site lies in the south-west corner of the Roman and medieval walled town close to the south gate. The excavations revealed Roman, medieval and post-medieval occupation. The most significant evidence relates to the discovery of a second century colonnaded shop front, on a busy thoroughfare, associated with deposits of food remains and pottery in a cesspit to the rear, which suggests the establishment was a 'delicatessen'. The food remains comprise local produce such as meat, fish and fruits, as well as more exotic items such as wines and fruits from the continent, whilst the pottery assemblage comprised amphorae, flagons and samian ware. Whilst similar assemblages of plant, animal and ceramic material have been found individually before in Leicester, this is the first time they have been found together and in close association with a potential shop front. The archive is held by Leicester City Museums Service under Accession No. A7.2004, and the full report (Score 2006) can be consulted through the Oasis Database. (http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/library/greylit/details.cfm?id=4112).