War Ditches, Cherry Hinton, Cambridge 1854-2008 Michelle Bullivant, 2010 in revision 2024
War Ditches, Cherry Hinton, Cambridge
1854-2008
Michelle Bullivant, 2010 in revision 2024
This report is currently undergoing review and preparation for publication. As a temporary measure, it is provided here as a draft PDF for your reference and fair use. I believe it is essential to make such material available rather than risk it never seeing the light of day due to protracted publication processes or ongoing research endeavours, which may continue indefinitely if not managed carefully. Originally authored in 2010, it is high time that the valuable information and research contained within be accessible to others. I intend to update and refine it further before its final publication. I trust you will find it both informative and engaging in the interim.
This report details the discovery of the War Ditches archaeological site, an Iron Age hill fort, now almost completely destroyed by years of extensive chalk quarrying, situate within East Pit nature reserve on Lime Kiln Hill, Cherry Hinton, Cambridge. It follows in chronological order the discovery of the archaeological remains on the site and details their excavation, destruction, and subsequent rediscovery along with the interactions of the people involved with the excavations and archaeological investigations over the last 115 years. This report merely begins to disentangle the wealth of disjointed site notes, excavation reports and material available about the site, of which there is a surprisingly large amount. Recommendations for further research are made at the end. It is hoped that this report will also go some way towards creating a thorough history of East Pit itself for which the background stretches from at least the Bronze Age period and has seen activity ever since, in one form or another, from settlement to agriculture, from burial site to heavy industry and is undergoing yet another transformation and use at this time, as it becomes a nature reserve and public space for all to enjoy.