171 © Society for Medieval Archaeology 2008 DOI: 10.1179/174581708x335486 Medieval Archaeology, 52, 2008 Ramsey Abbey, Cambridgeshire: Excavations at the Site of a Fenland Monastery By PAUL SPOERRY 1 , ROB ATKINS 2 , STEPHEN MACAULAY 3 and ELIZABETH SHEPHERD POPESCU 4 WE KNOW remarkably little about the archaeology of the great fenland abbeys. Ramsey stands with Peterborough, Crowland, Thorney and Ely as one of the principal late-Saxon, post- Regularis Concordia monasteries of eastern England and shares their significance. It ranked among the most important ecclesiastical institutions in England and prospered until the Dissolution. This paper presents new interpretations of the layout of the Benedictine abbey, linked to the recent discovery of possible late-Saxon monastic buildings. It includes rare evidence for a later medieval artificial waterway (or ‘lode’), with an adjacent crane and possible store- house: their implications for monastic trade and economy are set within the wider fenland context. This report is the first of a series of three publications examining different aspects of Ramsey Abbey (Scheduled Ancient Monument Cambridgeshire 14; TL 2931 8512; Fig 1). It deals with excavations and geophysical survey within the abbey precinct conducted at Ramsey Abbey School between 1998 and 2002 by CAM ARC, Cambridgeshire County Council (formerly the Archaeological Field Unit). It partly acts as a synthesis of the excavated findings held in the project archive. 5 The second report will detail a nationally significant assem- blage of relief-decorated tiles that we know Ramsey Abbey manufactured. Finally, an overview paper will discuss recent advances in knowledge about the development of Ramsey town in relation to its abbey. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND The historic town of Ramsey owes its existence to the Benedictine abbey created by Oswald, bishop of Worcester from AD 960, and Aethelwine, the 1 Manager, CAM ARC, 15 Trafalgar Way, Bar Hill, Cambridge CB23 8SQ, England, UK. paul.spoerry@ cambridgeshire.gov.uk 2 Project Officer, as above. rob.atkins@cambridgeshire.gov.uk 3 Project Manager, as above. stephen.macaulay@cambridgeshire.gov.uk 4 Post-Excavation and Publications Manager, as above. elizabeth.popescu@cambridgeshire.gov.uk 5 <http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/resources.html?ramsey_ma_2008> forthcoming.