Over 400 recent finds associated with horses and excavated in London, from the utilitarian to the highly decorated, illustrated and discussed. Whether knight's charger or beast of burden, horses played a vital role in medieval life. The wealth of medieval finds excavated in London in recent years has, not surprisingly, included many objects associated with horses. This catalogue illustrates and discusses over four hundred such objects, among them harness, horseshoes, spurs and curry combs, from the utilitarian to highly decorative pieces. London served by horse traffic comes vividly in view. The introductory chapter draws on historical as well as archaeological sources to consider the role of the horse in medieval London. It looks at the price of horses and the costs of maintaining them, the hiring of 'hackneys' forriding, the use of carts in and around London, and the work of the 'marshal' or farrier. It discusses the evidence for the size of medieval horses and includes a survey of finds of medieval horse skeletons from London. It answersthe key questions, how large a 'Great Horse' was, and why it took three horses to pull a cart. This is a basic work of reference for archaeologists and those studying medieval artefacts, and absorbing reading for everyone interested in the history of the horse and its use by humankind. JOHN CLARK is Curator (Medieval) at the Museum of London.

The construction of a natural gas pipeline across southern Wales and into Herefordshire and Gloucestershire between 2005 and 2007 resulted in numerous archaeological discoveries, including sites of national significance. The project not only produced a wealth of new archaeological sites, it also generated important radiocarbon and environmental datasets for the region. The earliest activity is indicated by worked flint of Mesolithic (or earlier) date, with the earliest Neolithic communities represented by pits, evidence for occasional timber houses, and the discovery of a previously unknown henge. Beaker and Bronze Age settlement and burial remains were found too, including a rare copper halberd. The excavations also produced evidence for Early Bronze Age houses and numerous examples of burnt mounds. Other discoveries comprised much new evidence for Iron Age settlement (including some in areas of upland), Roman roads, crop-processing ovens, and ironworking. Rare evidence for the early medieval period was also found, along with the remains of later farmsteads and field systems. Moves towards industrialisation were reflected in the discovery of a brick kiln and charcoal-burning platforms.

Archaeological works conducted during construction of the Chalgrove to East Ilsley gas pipeline identified two large and thirty-two small sites. These were predominantly late prehistoric in date, with Iron Age deposits being the most abundant. A small amount of Neolithic and Bronze Age activity was recorded, and a single Saxon site was found. Very little Roman activity was encountered outside the two main sites. No medieval and only one postmedieval site was encountered, although many undated ditches and pits recorded during the watching brief were probably from these periods. The largest archaeological site encompassed three or four separate settlement areas. The second largest site appears to have been a single enclosed settlement, probably a farmstead, established in the early Iron Age and occupied until the early Roman period. The watching brief located sixteen datable smaller sites and a further sixteen sites containing only undateable features. The earliest features discovered were two early Neolithic pits. An earlier Bronze Age burial, probably a barrow, was found. The Roman road from Dorchester-on-Thames to Silchester was located. A single high status Saxon burial was discovered. One site contained 17th to 19th century domestic structures. Medieval or post-medieval furrows and field boundaries were identified at eight sites. Contents: Chapter One: Introduction; Chapter Two: Methodologies; Chapter Three: Site 11, Berrick Salome; Chapter Four: Everyday Life Before Berrick Salome; Chapter Five: Site 22, Brightwell-cum-Sotwell; Chapter Six: Everyday Life Before Brightwell-cum-Sotwell; Chapter Seven: Smaller Sites along the Pipeline Route; Chapter Eight: Conclusions: Pottery Tradition and the Pastoral Economy; Chapter Nine: Conclusions: Social Life and Social Change.