ABBEY

A religious house for monks, with an abbot or abbess in charge. Find records of Abbeys from the Historic Environment Record

ACHEULIAN

The main type of Lower Palaeolithic flint tool industry, which lasted from over one million years ago until about 100,000 and the early part of the last Glaciation. Acheulian flints have been identified over much of Africa, western and Central Europe and as far east as India. The tool-kits are characterised by biface handaxes (multi-murpose tools), waste flakes and flake blades, which show considerable local and regional variation. The Acheulian takes its name from the type-site of Saint-Acheul, Amiens, in the Somme Valley, France.

AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

A method of survey used to locate sites and buried structures from the air. Features can be seen on photographs due to differences in soil texture and moisture content as well as vegetation growth....

AGGER

A raised causeway used as the foundations for the construction of Roman roads. Also a rampart forming part of a series of fortifications.

ALLUVIUM

A general term for sediment deposited by rivers, including material at the river bed, margins and over-bank deposits. The material is often organic-rich and produces fertile soils suitable for farming.

ALMSHOUSE

A house for poor people to live in, given by charity.

ALTAR

A raised table for making offerings to a god.

AMPHORA

A large pottery jar of Roman date, often with two handles used to store oils and wines.

AMPITHEATRE

A round or oval building with rows of seats rising up around a central space used for religious ceremonies, entertainment, training or armed contests.

AQUEDUCT

An artificial channel for carrying water over long distances, sometimes over bridges and across valleys.

ARBORETUM

A place where rare and interesting trees are grown which is often open for people to visit.

AUROCH

The wild ancestor of domestic cattle, which generally inhabited open woodland across Europe and Asia. Aurochs had dark coats, stood up to about 6ft at the shoulder and weighed up to one tonne. They became extinct due to hunting and interbreeding with domestic cattle. The last auroch died in Poland in AD 1627. An auroch horn was found in Mixnam's Pit, Staines, together with part of a human skull. It is now in Chertsey Museum.

AWL

A piercing tool made of bone, antler wood, metal or stone, often found in Prehistoric assemblages.