Current Archaeology

Archaeology Awards Voting - Current Archaeology Voting has now opened for the Current Archaeology Awards! Which people, projects and publications deserve recognition?

Last few days to vote in our Current Archaeology Awards 2026! Visit www.archaeology.co.uk/vote to choose the people, projects, and publications you think deserve to win this year. Voting closes on 9 February.

With the Winter Olympics about to start, this got us thinking that if archaeology was in the Olympics what would the events be?

Hi Doris, my name's Carly - I'm the editor of Current Archaeology magazine. We run a regular 'edible archaeology' box on our Letters page, and I'd love to share your amazing dodecahedron with our readers! If you are interested, please could you email me at carly@currentpublishing.com?

Hi Douglas, my name's Carly - I'm the editor of Current Archaeology magazine. We run a regular 'edible archaeology' box on our Letters page, and I'd love to share your amazing cake with our readers! If you are interested, please could you email me at carly@currentpublishing.com? Thank you!

A tale of two hillforts: Illuminating the inhabitants of Iron Age Leicestershire | The Past An exhibition currently running at the University of Nottingham Museum showcases finds from Breedon Hill and Burrough Hill, hillforts that are both located ...

An exhibition currently running at the University of Nottingham Museum showcases finds from Breedon Hill and Burrough Hill, hillforts that are both located in the East Midlands where such monuments are relatively scarce. CA's Carly Hilts paid a visit:
the-past.com/feature/a-ta...

Iron Age settlement and dog found at Fonmon Castle | The Past As excavations continue on the Fonmon Castle estate, north-west of Cardiff Airport, more intriguing details have been revealed, including the remains of an ...

As excavations continue on the Fonmon Castle estate, north-west of Cardiff Airport, further intriguing details have been revealed, including the remains of an Iron Age settlement. Read more:
the-past.com/news/iron-ag...

This list of ‘books in Irish script’ (Libri scottice scripti) was compiled in the mid-9th century as part of a catalogue of the library of Sankt Gallen Abbey, testifying to the large number of Irish manuscripts that were already in its collections at this time. Image courtesy of Stiftsbibliothek, St. Gallen, Cod. Sang. 728, p.4

How did early medieval Ireland connect with the continent?
From sacred texts to sea routes, explore the cultural currents that linked Irish monks to Europe.
Read about the major new exhibition at the National Museum of Ireland @currentarchaeology.bsky.social‬ the-past.com/feature/word...

Skye Bridge! Really good article in this edition of @currentarchaeology.bsky.social magazine about the remarkable site at High Pasture Cave on Skye! Including find of a bridge for a lyre...

The basilica in the the basement: Rediscovering the heart of Roman London | The Past Traces of London’s earliest Roman basilica, where officials presided over the settlement’s legal, commercial, and administrative affairs c.2,000 years ago, ...

Traces of London’s earliest Roman basilica, where officials presided over the settlement’s administrative affairs c.2,000 years ago, have been revealed beneath a City office block. Sophie Jackson told Carly Hilts about the discoveries.
the-past.com/feature/the-...

Secrets of the Thames: Mudlarking London’s lost treasures | The Past A new exhibition showcasing hundreds of artefacts recovered from the banks of the River Thames sheds illuminating light on London’s long history. Carly Hilt ...

A new exhibition showcasing hundreds of artefacts recovered from the banks of the River Thames sheds illuminating light on London’s long history. Carly Hilts visited the displays at London Museum Docklands.
the-past.com/review/whats...

Tutankhamun: The immersive exhibition | The Past A recently opened experience in London is using virtual-reality technology to explore the life and times of one of ancient Egypt’s most famous pharaohs, as ...

A recently opened experience in London is using virtual-reality technology to explore the life and times of one of ancient Egypt’s most famous pharaohs, as Carly Hilts reports.
the-past.com/review/whats...

Paradise lost: Rediscovering a forgotten pleasure garden at Attingham Park | The Past Recent archaeological research in the grounds of a Shropshire stately home has added a surprising new chapter to the estate’s story. Viviana Caroli and Nige ...

Recent archaeological research in the grounds of a Shropshire stately home has added a surprising new chapter to the estate’s story. Viviana Caroli and Nigel Baker explain more.
the-past.com/feature/para...

Reconstructing the face of an Iron Age woman from Dorset | The Past The face and head of an Iron Age woman whose remains were discovered in Dorset’s Kimmeridge Bay 25 years ago have been reconstructed by an MSc Bioarchaeolog ...

The face and head of an Iron Age woman whose remains were discovered in Dorset’s Kimmeridge Bay 25 years ago have been reconstructed by an MSc Bioarchaeology student at Bournemouth University.
the-past.com/news/reconst...

Building the past: Reconstructing a late Neolithic house from Wyke Down | The Past The newest archaeological reconstruction to be unveiled at Butser Ancient Farm is a late Neolithic house, based on a structure whose 5,000-year-old footprin ...

The newest archaeological reconstruction to be unveiled at Butser Ancient Farm is a late Neolithic house, based on a structure whose 5,000-year-old footprint was excavated in Dorset. CA visited the launch event to learn more.
the-past.com/feature/buil...

From gasholders to chic apartments: Tracing the history of the most prominent landmarks in the gasworks industry | The Past The system whereby coal was heated and the resulting gases purified, stored, and distributed to factories, street lamps, public buildings, and, in due cours ...

From gasholders to chic apartments: the 600 remaining structures, once familiar industrial sights in every city and town, are being recorded by Historic England prior to being dismantled or converted to other uses, as Chris Catling reports.
the-past.com/feature/from...

That's a great article. Thanks for the background information. That intriguing 'smashed with a stone' cauldron - I reckon it could have been used by a brewer to heat the water for making the ale. It's a good size and would represent high status brewing kit. Can give you more detail if necessary. 🤓🍻

The Melsonby Hoard: Exploring unprecedented insights into Iron Age Yorkshire | The Past One of the largest Iron Age hoards ever found in the UK was recently unveiled. Comprising hundreds of metal items, its contents are shedding brilliant light ...

One of the largest Iron Age hoards ever found in the UK was recently unveiled. Comprising hundreds of metal items, its contents are shedding brilliant light on this period of Yorkshire’s past. Carly Hilts finds out more:
the-past.com/feature/the-...

New insights into kinship in Neolithic Ireland | The Past A recently published study has shed new light on the ways in which kinship was tied to monuments from Ireland in the Neolithic period, suggesting that biolo ...

A new study has shed new light on the ways in which kinship was tied to monuments from Ireland in the Neolithic period, suggesting that biological relationships and social status were not strong factors in deciding who was buried in passage tombs.
the-past.com/news/new-ins...

‘Portrait of Lady Jane Grey’ may have been painted during her lifetime | The Past Recent research on a portrait believed to depict Lady Jane Grey has revealed that the painting may be the only surviving image of the ‘Nine Day Queen’ that ...

Recent research on a portrait believed to depict Lady Jane Grey has revealed that the painting may be the only surviving image of the ‘Nine Day Queen’ that dates to her lifetime. Read more:
the-past.com/news/portrai...

A Roman landscape revealed : Celebrating 20 years of the Culver Archaeological Project | The Past Two decades of excavations in East Sussex farmland have uncovered the remains of an unusual enclosed settlement linking the Roman road network with the Rive ...

Two decades of excavations in East Sussex farmland have uncovered the remains of an unusual enclosed settlement linking the Roman road network with the River Ouse. Rob Wallace and David Millum explain more:
the-past.com/feature/a-ro...

The Melsonby Hoard: Exploring unprecedented insights into Iron Age Yorkshire | The Past One of the largest Iron Age hoards ever found in the UK was recently unveiled. Comprising hundreds of metal items, its contents are shedding brilliant light ...

And now a #Melsonby article in @currentarchaeology.bsky.social the-past.com/feature/the-...

Roman Chester: Excavating the CA archive | The Past Roman Chester – Deva Victrix – is one of the unquestioned ‘great sites’ of Roman Britain. This was a major military centre from its late 1st-century AD orig ...

@currentarchaeology.bsky.social 423 is now out and with it my latest column, a start of a #Roman Towns road-trip. This month I visit #Chester (Deva Victrix), to dig into its rich - and sometimes grisly - history: the-past.com/comment/roma....

Bronze Age ceremonial site identified in Farley Wood | The Past Excavations in Derbyshire have revealed that an apparently solitary standing stone in Farley Wood is in fact part of a larger ceremonial complex dating to t ...

Excavations in Derbyshire have revealed that an apparently solitary standing stone in Farley Wood is in fact part of a larger ceremonial complex dating to the early Bronze Age. Read more:
the-past.com/news/bronze-...

Galloway Hoard runic inscription translated | The Past Over a decade after its discovery, the Viking Age Galloway Hoard continues to give up its secrets, following the translation of a runic inscription on one o ...

Over a decade after its discovery, the Viking Age Galloway Hoard continues to give up its secrets, following the translation of a runic inscription on one of its arm-rings, offering new insights into the assemblage’s early medieval ownership. Read more:
the-past.com/news/gallowa...

50 LGBTQ+ Finds from the Portable Antiquities Scheme | The Past REVIEW BY HARRIET HAUGVIK Ben Paites’ addition to the ‘50 Finds’ series is a well-researched and nuanced exploration of the history of sexuality through mat ...

My book isn’t even out yet and I’ve received this wonderful review from Harriet who has reviewed it for @currentarchaeology.bsky.social
🥰🥰🥰

the-past.com/review/books...

Historical birds of prey outed as scavengers | The Past Recently published research focused on the bones of birds of prey spanning the early Bronze Age to the medieval period has revealed striking differences bet ...

Recently published research focused on the bones of birds of prey spanning the early Bronze Age to the medieval period has revealed striking differences between their eating habits and those of modern raptors. More:
the-past.com/news/histori...

A very interesting article.

From Bayeux to Bosham: Tracing ‘lordly sites’ in medieval England | The Past Recently published archaeological research has shed vivid light on the power centres of the Anglo-Saxon aristocracy that were swept away by the Norman Conqu ...

Recently published research has shed vivid light on the power centres of the Anglo-Saxon aristocracy that were swept away by the Norman Conquest – including a site associated with Harold Godwinson. Carly Hilts spoke to Duncan Wright and Oliver Creighton to learn more.
the-past.com/feature/from...

Distilling a clandestine craft: The archaeology and history of illicit whisky-making | The Past To avoid paying tax, in the 18th and 19th century, small-scale whisky-production went underground, moving to isolated bothies hidden in remote locations acr ...

Whisky archaeology, part 1: excavating illicit distilleries in the Scottish Highlands, in the latest @currentarchaeology.bsky.social the-past.com/feature/dist...

Medieval Burials and Sheffield’s Lost Castle Win Big at the 2025 Current Archaeology Awards - Medievalists.net The winners of the 2025 Current Archaeology Awards have been announced, celebrating outstanding contributions to the field. This year’s top honours included Crypt: Life, Death, and Disease in the…

Medieval Burials and Sheffield’s Lost Castle Win Big at the 2025 @currentarchaeology.bsky.social Awards www.medievalists.net/2025/03/medi... #archaeology