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PCA

@pcaarchaeology

Commercial archaeological contractor with offices in Cambridge, Durham, London, Newark, Norwich, Warwick and Winchester.

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Latest posts by PCA @pcaarchaeology

Three Celtic coins in a Roman ditch and what they might tell us – Pre Construct Archaeology Three Celtic coins recovered together from a Roman ditch in Hertfordshire are raising some interesting questions about how Iron Age coinage continued to circulate into the early Roman period. They are...

www.pre-construct.com/news/three-c...

06.03.2026 11:06 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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These Celtic coins - plated copies of Ambiani staters struck from the same dies - ended up buried together centuries later in a Roman ditch in Hertfordshire.

Recently another small group of plated staters turned up in a 1st-century ditch. A pattern emerging, or simply coincidence?

#FindsFriday

06.03.2026 11:05 πŸ‘ 36 πŸ” 6 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

1. a bracelet fragment; 2. part of a large armlet, possibly unfinished; 3. a shaped bead with a mis-drilled hole; 4. a large, undecorated bead; 5. an unfinished worked piece; 6. a finger ring with a plain rectangular panel; and 7. the shank of a dress or hair pin.

27.02.2026 10:05 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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For #FindsFriday we have a #Roman jet/shale assemblage from a coastal site in NE England, close to natural jet deposits and shale outcrops.

The presence of unfinished pieces and production errors suggests that people living nearby made them, profiting from a valuable local resource. Details below!

27.02.2026 10:04 πŸ‘ 20 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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A Late Roman graffito from Bishop’s Stortford has revealed a personal name, LOVERNICCA. It has been identified by Roger Tomlin as a Celtic woman’s name containing the name-element louerno, meaning fox. A small mark that bring a real life back into focus - Vixen of Bishop’s Stortford.
ο»Ώ#FindsFriday

20.02.2026 09:53 πŸ‘ 53 πŸ” 13 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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This deep red, heart-shaped handaxe may already have been ancient when it was swept into Ice Age deposits around half a million years ago. It was found in Suffolk, where finds of this age are rare outside river gravels, making this an exceptional discovery.
#FindsFriday #Palaeolithic #Valentine

13.02.2026 09:14 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
An iron bread shovel used to take bread in and out of the ovens.

An iron bread shovel used to take bread in and out of the ovens.

Tile-built base of a large Roman bread oven, one of two constructed within a shared open room, indicating commercial-scale bread production rather than domestic use.

Tile-built base of a large Roman bread oven, one of two constructed within a shared open room, indicating commercial-scale bread production rather than domestic use.

Detail of third-century mosaic from St-Romain-en-Gal showing a Roman bread oven in use.

Detail of third-century mosaic from St-Romain-en-Gal showing a Roman bread oven in use.

For #FindsFriday we’re celebrating the Roman festival of Fornacalia, the Feast of Ovens, held each February.

Baking hearths were honoured as the goddess Fornax to ensure good bread & large ovens in the City of London show how commercial baking fed Roman London, with an iron shovel found with them.

06.02.2026 11:35 πŸ‘ 12 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
8 INCREDIBLE Archaeology Discoveries from January 2026
8 INCREDIBLE Archaeology Discoveries from January 2026 YouTube video by Inside Archaeology

We’re happy to share a new Inside Archaeology video, where Rachel chats with the PCA team who discovered the Norfolk carnyx. They reflect on excitement of discovery.
Thanks to Rachel for bringing the team together!
The PCA section begins at 13:51.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdIK...

03.02.2026 10:00 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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This mysterious object from Kent is a bifacially worked axehead or handaxe. It resembles a #Mesolithic transverse or tranchet axehead, however given it's heavily worn condition and the gravel from which it was recovered it may be a #Palaeolithic handaxe of an unusually elongate form.
#archaeology

02.02.2026 10:50 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
A detail from a Roman mosaic showing a boar in profile with his head to the right, emerging from reeds. The boar is realistically drawn in detail, with his short tail, ridge fur and tusk shown. Below his feet are shadows to indicate that he is moving.

A detail from a Roman mosaic showing a boar in profile with his head to the right, emerging from reeds. The boar is realistically drawn in detail, with his short tail, ridge fur and tusk shown. Below his feet are shadows to indicate that he is moving.

A certain Iron Age boar has been attracting attention recently, so for this #MosaicMonday here's a perky Roman boar. He's from the wonderful Triumph of Neptune and the Seasons mosaic from La Chebba, now in the Bardo in Tunis, and he represents Winter.
#AncientBlueSky 🏺

19.01.2026 10:36 πŸ‘ 113 πŸ” 26 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 1
Stylised long snouted animal with big eyes drooping over a conical base in green bronze.

Stylised long snouted animal with big eyes drooping over a conical base in green bronze.

For #FindsFriday & #BoudicaFriday let’s stick to Iron Age Norfolk Iceni metalwork - behold this β€˜long-snouted animal’ mount found at Snettisham, c.300-100BC. Possibly from the base of a drinking horn, there is something of the droopy, sleepy carnyx about it…
British Museum
#Echolands

16.01.2026 06:29 πŸ‘ 166 πŸ” 29 πŸ’¬ 4 πŸ“Œ 2

More in our latest post 😊

16.01.2026 10:42 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
The Norfolk Boar Standard – Pre Construct Archaeology β€ͺ This fierce boar's face was the first indication on site that the hoard featured this week on Digging for Britain was something out of the ordinary. What survives is the sheet-bronze head of a boar ...

We love this Playmobil version!

Our #FindsFriday today is the boar standard from the Norfolk hoard.

www.pre-construct.com/news/the-nor...

16.01.2026 10:19 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image Post image Boar standards carved among the captured arms on the Arc de triomphe d’Orange, shown raised on poles above shields and armour as part of Roman representations of Gallic warfare.

Photograph: Arc antique d’Orange (detail) by EmDee, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution–ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Source: Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arc_antique_d%27Orange_-_02.jpg

Boar standards carved among the captured arms on the Arc de triomphe d’Orange, shown raised on poles above shields and armour as part of Roman representations of Gallic warfare. Photograph: Arc antique d’Orange (detail) by EmDee, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution–ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0). Source: Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arc_antique_d%27Orange_-_02.jpg

Today’s #FindsFriday is the head of the Norfolk boar standard! Its fierce face was the first sign, on site, of the Iron Age hoard featured this week on Digging for Britain.

www.pre-construct.com/news/the-nor...

#IronAge #Archaeology #NorfolkCarnyx

16.01.2026 10:14 πŸ‘ 92 πŸ” 29 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 1

Love this so much! 🀣

15.01.2026 14:00 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

You've caught its expression perfectly

15.01.2026 13:59 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Wonderful!

15.01.2026 13:58 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Playmobil Cacofonix the bard blowing a miniature reproduction of the Norfolk carnyx, on a green field with other Iron Age Playmobil figures in the distance.

Playmobil Cacofonix the bard blowing a miniature reproduction of the Norfolk carnyx, on a green field with other Iron Age Playmobil figures in the distance.

The Norfolk Carnyx: a Playmobil story in 4 parts. 🧡
#DiggingForBritain
#DrawingDiggingForBritain
#PlaymobilInfestation
@profaliceroberts.bsky.social
@pcaarchaeology.bsky.social

1: Life

14.01.2026 21:18 πŸ‘ 602 πŸ” 167 πŸ’¬ 23 πŸ“Œ 19
A sketch of the carnyx found at Thetford

A sketch of the carnyx found at Thetford

Phenomenal. The Thetford Carnyx sound by @pcaarchaeology.bsky.social and seen tonight on #diggingforbritain

14.01.2026 21:21 πŸ‘ 105 πŸ” 16 πŸ’¬ 5 πŸ“Œ 2
A sketch of the boar’s head standard from Thetford with the animal facing right

A sketch of the boar’s head standard from Thetford with the animal facing right

The boar’s head standard found by @pcaarchaeology.bsky.social is just so fabulous. #drawingdiggingforbritain #diggingforbritain

14.01.2026 21:38 πŸ‘ 206 πŸ” 34 πŸ’¬ 6 πŸ“Œ 2
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It was fantastic to see the Norfolk Carnyx and Iron Age hoard on Digging for Britain last night!

Many thanks to the Digging for Britain team, and to our partners at Historic England, Norfolk Museums and National Museums Scotland.
www.pre-construct.com/category/new...

15.01.2026 11:29 πŸ‘ 32 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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That moment.
When the scale of what you’ve uncovered starts to sink in.
The Norfolk Carnyx and hoard will feature on Digging for Britain tonight, showing how this remarkable discovery was made, from first sight in the trench to why it matters.
πŸ“Ί Digging for Britain, BBC Two, tonight at 9pm

14.01.2026 10:57 πŸ‘ 50 πŸ” 8 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 4
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You’ll be able to see more of the Norfolk Carnyx and Iron Age hoard on Digging for Britain on Wednesday.

After a busy week of coverage, the programme offers a chance to step back from the headlines and explore why the hoard matters.

πŸ“Ί Wednesday 14 Jan, BBC Two at 9pm

#carnyx #Norfolk #IronAge

12.01.2026 15:29 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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For today’s #FindsFriday, the Norfolk Carnyx!

An Iron Age war horn built to be seen and heard and to unsettle. Polybius wrote that its sound in battle seemed to 'emanate from the entire countryside'. More to come, including on #DiggingforBritain next week.

www.pre-construct.com/news/the-nor...

09.01.2026 10:25 πŸ‘ 98 πŸ” 26 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 4
Iron Age Copper alloy war trumpet being excavated c Norfolk Museum Service

Iron Age Copper alloy war trumpet being excavated c Norfolk Museum Service

Iron Age shield bosses and wild boar standard

Iron Age shield bosses and wild boar standard

Iron Age Copper alloy boar standard being cleaned c Norfolk Museum service

Iron Age Copper alloy boar standard being cleaned c Norfolk Museum service

More on the stunning Iron Age carnyx found in #Norfolk with boar standard and shield bosses

πŸ‘‡πŸ‘‡πŸ‘‡

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Found by PreConstruct Archaeology and featuring in episode 2 of the new series of #DiggingForBritain with @profaliceroberts.bsky.social on BBC2

Wowzers 🀩

07.01.2026 09:31 πŸ‘ 209 πŸ” 58 πŸ’¬ 4 πŸ“Œ 2
"Metamorphosis"
"Metamorphosis" YouTube video by The Prehistoric Society

Here's Letty with a piece she composed for @prehistoricsociety.bsky.social in 2021.

youtu.be/wNVKQw0-cIk?...

07.01.2026 09:37 πŸ‘ 106 πŸ” 16 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 3
A reproduction of the bronze boar-headed Deskford carnyx held in the air.

A reproduction of the bronze boar-headed Deskford carnyx held in the air.

The new Norfolk Iron Age carnyx find featured on #DiggingForBritain with @profaliceroberts.bsky.social is beyond spectacular, dating to that crucial period for the Iceni between Caesar’s expeditions & Boudica’s rebellion. Already my find of the decade, today is a day to worship the carnyx…
1/…

07.01.2026 09:34 πŸ‘ 883 πŸ” 218 πŸ’¬ 13 πŸ“Œ 32
CT scan of the hoard

CT scan of the hoard

We’re incredibly proud of the PCA team behind the discovery of a remarkable Iron Age hoard in West Norfolk, including a near-complete carnyx and parts of another.

Working with Historic England and museum partners as conservation and research continue.

πŸ”— www.pre-construct.com/news/interna...

07.01.2026 10:32 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
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Hyde900 volunteers helping Dr Kevin Hayward and PCA to record medieval stone in abundance! We’re hoping to be able to add some more Abbey stones to our map: hyde900.org.uk/hyde-abbey/reuniting-the-stones
#hyde900
@winchester.gov.uk
@pcaarchaeology.bsky.social
#hydeabbey
#winchesteruk

17.06.2025 18:23 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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More medieval stone processing for Hyde900 volunteers with Dr Kevin Hayward and PCA - and aided by a kind neighbour with a screwdriver just at the right time - thank you!
#hyde900
@pcaarchaeology.bsky.social
#hydeabbey
#winchesteruk

18.06.2025 16:37 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0