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X marks the spot as five medieval windmills found

Cambridge Archaeological Unit An X or cross-shape in the ground showing where medieval mill foundations once were, Cherry Hinton, CambridgeshireCambridge Archaeological Unit
One of the mills was associated with Cherry Hinton and four were associated with the neighbouring village of Teversham

The remains of five medieval windmills and an Anglo-Saxon cemetery have been unearthed during an excavation.

The finds were made at a site between Cherry Hinton and Teversham, Cambridgeshire, ahead of a development of 1,200 homes.

People were using the site as far back as the Neolithic era, but the discovery of so many windmills in one place was particularly unusual, according to archaeologist Christopher Wakefield.

"They are really cool finds as X really does mark the spot - the main foundation is made up of a cross to make the support for the windmill post," he said.

Cambridge Archaeological Unit An aerial view of an excavation of medieval mill showing the cross or X of its foundation and banks surrounding it, Cherry Hinton, Cambridgeshire Cambridge Archaeological Unit
As the excavation progressed, it became apparent four of the wooden structures came from different time periods between 1300 and 1500

"It's a great project that has everything from pre-history to really interesting mills," said Dr Wakefield, from the University if Cambridge's archaeological unit.

The Anglo-Saxon cemetery dated to between AD580 to AD700 and had the remains of about 60 people, one with a cowrie shell from the Red Sea, between Arabia and North Africa.

Other finds ranged from the late Neolithic or early Bronze Age (2100 to 2150BC), through the Bronze Age to the Iron Age, revealing 3,000 years-worth of human activity.

Cambridge Archaeological Unit An aerial view of an excavation of a medieval mill showing the cross or X of its foundation and banks surrounding it, Cherry Hinton, Cambridgeshire Cambridge Archaeological Unit
Two of the mills were actually built on top of each other, suggesting the site remained an ideal location for medieval milling

Dr Wakefield said: "It's the first time I've excavated a medieval mill and you can see where two big pieces of timber called cross trees were put into the ground."

The main post of the windmills, which date from 1300 to 1500 , were used to grind grain which would have been attached to the foundation and the sail attached to that, he explained.

Cambridge Archaeological Unit The front and back of a cowrie shell with a suspension loop at the top, discovered in an Anglo-Saxon cemetery, Cherry HintonCambridge Archaeological Unit
The cowrie shell found in the Anglo-Saxon cemetery came from the Red Sea, showing how far-flung trading routes were at this time

Dr Wakefield said: "The ridge [they were located on] was one of the highest points in the area and the perfect location for a windmill as they got the maximum amount of wind."

As the excavation progressed, it became apparent four of the structures came from different time periods, with two built on top of each other.

"We think that as they were made of wood, they would deteriorate over time, so a new one would be built nearby, salvaging as much wood from the old one as possible," said Dr Wakefield.

Cambridge Archaeological Unit An aerial shot of an excavation between Cherry Hinton and Teversham, showing excavated structuresCambridge Archaeological Unit
The site had not been studied before and its Bronze Age finds include cattle enclosures and a palisaded round house, plus a 100m (328ft) Iron Age boundary

Cambridge Archaeological Unit have been excavating the site ahead of Bellway Latimer's Springstead Village development and its students were allowed to help excavate the mills - found just last month.

Dr Wakefield said: "The department has been having difficulties finding places for students to dig and the developer went above and beyond to get them on the site and to have that opportunity."

Cambridge Archaeological Unit Both sides of a Neolithic or early Bronze Age barbed and tanged arrow head, Cherry Hinton, CambridgeshireCambridge Archaeological Unit
Bellway Latimer project director Ulrich van Eck said preserving and documenting artefacts, such as the Neolithic arrow head above, "is essential for future generations"

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