88 Archaeology 



in pairs either side of a ford, e.g. Grantchester and Trumpington, Barring- 

 ton and Foxton. The clay areas remain completely blank apart from stray 

 fmds of Belgic coins, many of which doubtless continued to circulate at a 

 later date, and, in any case, can hardly be regarded as indicative of settle- 

 ment. The evacuation of the Fenland, already begun in the later stages of 

 the Bronze Age, was virtually complete by the Early Iron Age, with the 

 exception of certain of the larger islands. Coin fmds in the north of the 

 County may well relate to the Romano-British settlement of that region. 

 The only finds from the fens between Cambridge and Isleham consist of 

 a stray brooch and a discarded chariot- wheel boss of Belgic type. Yet, in 

 the Bronze Age, this area was the most populous district in Cambridgeshire. 



The County was affected mainly by two successive spreads: the so- 

 called "A" culture, and the "C" (or Belgic) culture. If the number of 

 brooches and pins of early La Tene type is any criterion, it would appear 

 that the "A" culture spread into the County not later than the latter half 

 of the fifth century B.C. The distribution of the finger-impressed pottery, 

 in Cambridgeshire and neighbouring counties, certainly suggests the 

 Wash as the main entrance, although certain elements, such as the 

 "plugged-in" handle, may well have come here from Wessex by way of 

 the Icknield Way and kindred routes. 



The "B" culture is represented by the famous Newnham Croft burial, 

 at Cambridge, accompanied by outstandingly rich grave goods; but 

 settlement material is entirely lacking. 



Although the "C" culture was essentially intrusive, penetrating from 

 the south about the middle of the first century B.C., it seems unlikely that 

 there was any complete break in the continuity of the Early Iron Age 

 settlement of the County. Many sites, such as Abington Pigotts and 

 Hauxton, have yielded pottery from both cultures. Among the numerous 

 cremation cemeteries of the County, only one — that at Guilden Morden — 

 has been scientifically excavated, and comparatively few graves in this 

 were of pre-Roman age. An iron fire-dog, with ox-head terminals, from 

 Lord's Bridge may have come from the vault of some important individual, 

 but little is known of the circumstances of the find. 



There is ample evidence for trade at this time. Pottery from the kilns of 

 Arezzo in Italy was imported through Gaul, while several finds of amphorae 

 of Mediterranean type probably indicate trade in wine or oil. Such 

 imports were doubtless paid for in part by the export of slaves ; a fine 

 slave chain with six collars from Lord's Bridge may be a reminder. 



The native coins, in which Cambridgeshire is rich, show that most of 

 the County fell within the territory of the CatuveUauni, whose princes' 

 ' Tasciovanus (20/15 b.c.-a.d. 10) and Cunobelinus (a.d. 10-40/3). 



