Urban&Civic and Oxford Archaeology East have launched an exhibition at the Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey showcasing some of the archaeological findings uncovered at the former Waterbeach barracks and airfield site since the start of development.
The exhibition follows on from last year’s highly popular event and includes finds uncovered across the site by Oxford Archaeology’s East office, based near Cambridge.
Oxford Archaeology East has been working with Urban&Civic and Cambridgeshire County Council’s Historic Environment Team to investigate the site since 2016, following years of archaeological research and analysis in the wider area. The latest excavations finished in June 2022, and this will be the first public presentation of the findings since then.
Evidence was found of an extensive farming landscape spanning the Iron Age and Roman periods, including the remains of roundhouses, a barn for storing animals or grain and a corn drier or oven, as well as enclosures and a watering hole for livestock. The finds on display provide a fascinating glimpse into the lives of Waterbeach’s ancient inhabitants, including personal items such as glass beads and a bone hair pin, and fragments of tableware and glassware used to serve diners.
The exhibition is open from 10am to 4pm, Thursday to Sunday until the end of October. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn more about some of amazing history at Waterbeach and what has been uncovered during site preparation work for Urban&Civic’s development.
Clemency Cooper, Community Archaeology Manager at Oxford Archaeology East, said:
“It’s great to be working with Urban&Civic and with the Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey again to showcase the recent archaeological findings from Waterbeach Barracks. We hope that the exhibition helps people bring the earlier pre-military history of the area to life for people living locally, and that they take the opportunity to see the artefacts before we embark on the next stages to analyse and report on them.”
Sarah Michael, Museum Manager at The Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey, said:
“We are delighted to be hosting another exhibition of archaeological finds from our local area, and showcasing some more of the fascinating history of the land surrounding our museum. The exhibition is situated in historic 12th Century Denny Abbey and we look forward to welcoming visitors interested in learning more about Waterbeach, and the Abbey’s, history.”
Bruce Callander, Communities, Communications and Partnerships Manager, said:
“We’re really happy to help support the exhibition at The Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey for the second year in a row. Last year’s event was very popular and we’ve received a lot of positive feedback from members of the local community asking for a follow up, so we’re more than happy to work with both Oxford Archaeology East and Denny Abbey to support this. Uncovering our site’s archaeological history has been a key element of the early stages of this development and the discoveries have helped to ensure that we are honouring that heritage as we continue to progress our work here.”
Learn more about archaeology at Waterbeach
We are delighted to be hosting another exhibition of archaeological finds from our local area, and showcasing some more of the fascinating history of the land surrounding our museum.
