On the cover: the meaning of mucking

A long time ago in a gravel quarry far away, the first spadeful was raised in an extraordinary, eccentric excavation that ran for 13 years. It has finally been analysed. The result is a unique insight into Britain’s long-term history.

Among other stories

• Women at Stonehenge - Stonehenge is the country’s largest prehistoric cremation cemetery. Known about for nearly a century, only after excavation in 2008 (the remains were all reburied) have archaeologists been able to look at the people beneath the stones. One of the revelations is that half those buried there were women. Stonehenge was not just a man thing
• A woman at Must Farm - Archaeologists have found a human skull at the bronze age house preserved in the Fenland peat. Only the top is visible, but it seems to be female. Did she die when the house burnt down, or was the fire a funeral ceremony? Excavation will reveal if there is more of the skeleton
• Ostia’s final flowering - Ostia was Rome’s port. Mussolini shovelled out nearly half its remains to expose ruined stone monuments. With the dirt, it seemed, went all hope of revealing the port’s final centuries. Can students from Kent University fill the gap?
• Damn funny thing happened - David Collison, who directed films for BBC Chronicle from 1966 to 1974, reflects on the curious old world of archaeology on TV
• Llanfaethlu - Despite decades of development-led archaeology, the very nature of settlement in Britain before 2500BC is a matter for debate. Neolithic houses are still rare. Then three came along at once in a small dig in Wales
• The new VR - Is virtual reality a threat to real heritage?

Regulars include

• Requiem - Annual feature celebrating lovers of antiquity
• Letters - Amelia Edwards, oldest iron and bluestone quarries
• Greg Bailey on TV - Is the government about to kill off TV archaeology?
• Correspondent - The UK must ratify the 1954 Hague Convention
• Casefiles - The Manager’s House at Cromford Mill, Derbyshire
• Books - Celtic art and ancient woodland
• Spoilheap - Going out??Don’t forget the folding maps
• Briefing - The UK's only archaeological events listing, with exhibition reviews

Getting hold of back issues

Past issues of British Archaeology magazine can be purchased online via our web shop.

Alternatively, Members of the Council for British Archaeology have full access to a complete digital back catalogue of every issue ever printed. Plus of course, Members get the latest issue delivered to their door before it goes on sale in newsagents so you need never miss an issue again. You can find out more about the benefits of becoming a Member here.