University of Leicester Archaeological Services
Other publications
Members of ULAS have written or contributed to the following.
Fishing and Managing the Trent in the Medieval Period (7th-14th Century): Excavations at Hemington Quarry (1998-2000), Castle Donington, UK
Lynden P Cooper and Susan Ripper
British Archaeological Reports (BAR) British Series vol. 633 (2017)
Towards the end of the 20th century, sand and gravel extraction in the Middle Trent moved from the higher terrace gravels down onto the wide floodplain zone. The lower Hemington terrace gravels presented waterlogged conditions with excellent preservation of riverine structures, organic artefacts and ecofacts. One of the first discoveries occurred at Hemington Quarry in 1985: a 12th century mill dam and vertical water mill. An ongoing watching brief recorded many riverine structures and culminated in the discovery of three medieval bridges. The present book describes the discoveries from 1998 to 2000 of numerous medieval riverine structures. Three fish weir complexes of the late 7th-12th centuries produced rare evidence for the capture of migrating silver eels. A 12th-century mill dam was later reused as a basket fishery. A series of stone and timber bank-side structures of the 14th century reflect a change in fishing technology: the cribs were used to manage the river and provide river conditions suitable for net fishing.
Lynden Cooper and Susan Ripper have worked in commercial archaeology since the late 1980s, mostly directing urban and rural sites in Leicestershire. They co-directed work for the Hemington Bridges project and the alluvial archaeology featured in this volume. Latterly, Lynden has researched Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic sites in the region. Susan is now a freelance archaeologist and archaeological illustrator, and specialises in recording timber technology.
‘This report is important as it presents a comprehensive record of the excavation and analysis of these wetland sites with their associated remarkably well-preserved structures and material culture. … Anyone interested in the history/archaeology/material culture of fishing will want this book!’ Professor Stephen Rippon, University of Exeter
‘The exploitation of rivers in the Middle Ages remains a rather incompletely understood subject, both from an historical and also archaeological point of view. The work at Hemington Quarry is beginning to emerge as extraordinarily important in this field.’ Dr Mark Gardiner, University of Lincoln
‘The data is excellent, with top class recording of genuinely amazing archaeological materials. … [This work] is very significant for anyone interested in medieval archaeology and economy, in riverine or wetland archaeology, and in the archaeology of fishweirs.’ Professor Aidan O’Sullivan, University College Dublin
Towns in the Dark? Urban Transformation from late Roman Britain to Anglo-Saxon England
Archaeopress (2014)
What became of towns following the official end of ‘Roman Britain’ at the beginning of the 5th century AD? Did towns fail? Were these ruinous sites really neglected by early Anglo-Saxon settlers and leaders? Developed new archaeologies are starting to offer alternative pictures to the traditional images of urban decay and loss revealing diverse modes of material expression, of usage of space, and of structural change. The focus of this book is to draw together still scattered data to chart and interpret the changing nature of life in towns from the late Roman period through to the mid-Anglo-Saxon period. The research centres on towns that have received sufficient archaeological intervention so that meaningful patterns can be traced. The case studies are arranged into three regional areas: the South-East, South-West, and Midlands. Individually each town contains varying levels of archaeological data, but analysed together these illustrate more clearly patterns of evolution. Much of the data exists as accessible but largely unpublished reports, or isolated within regional discussions. Detailed analysis, review and comparisons generate significant scope for modelling ‘urban’ change in England from AD 300-600. ‘Towns in the Dark’ dispels the simplistic myth of outright urban decline and failure after Rome, and demonstrates that life in towns often did continue with variable degrees of continuity and discontinuity.
Leicester Abbey: Medieval History, Archaeology and Manuscript Studies
Joanna Story, Jill Bourne and Richard Buckley (eds.)
The Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society (2006)
Leicester Abbey was founded in 1138 and became one of the most important Augustinian monasteries in medieval England. But it is one of the least known of the Midland monasteries because of the almost total destruction of its buildings and archives after its Dissolution in 1538. This is the first volume on Leicester Abbey for more than 50 years, produced to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society. The book presents eleven papers by leading scholars and local historians on the social, political and landscape history of the abbey as wells as its archaeology, manuscripts, charters, urban rentals and library. Newly discovered charters and manuscripts from the abbey’s archive and extensive library are published here for the first time, as well as accounts of recent excavations in the abbey and gatehouse that formed the core of a post-Dissolution mansion known as Cavendish House.
The Origins of a Leicester Suburb: Roman, Anglo-Saxon, medieval and post-medieval occupation on Bonners Lane
Neil Finn
British Archaeological Reports (BAR) British Series vol. 372 (2004)
Between 1993 and 1997 excavations were carried out on the south side of Bonners Lane, Leicester. The excavation preceded construction on the site of a new De Montfort University building. This report presents a detailed account of the findings of the excavation and attempts to integrate this information with the results of four other excavations undertaken in the same general area. The excavation site (National Grid Reference: SK 5852 0395) encompassed an area of c. 0.16 hectares on the south side of Bonners Lane, at its junction with Oxford Street (the medieval Southgates), approximately 250 metres south of the Roman and medieval walled town. The excavation area was dictated by the footprint of the planned new building and excluded an area in the south of the site and the eastern part of the Oxford Street frontage. This eastern area was subsequently excavated, in order to fully investigate the remains of an Anglo-Saxon building discovered in this part of the site. The total area excavated archaeologically amounted to c. 0.1 hectare. The range of finds included Prehistoric (of particular note was a Neolithic polished stone axe), Roman, Anglo-Saxon, Medieval, Post-Medieval, Post-Civil War, and Modern material.