Bibliography - Professor Barrington Windsor Cunliffe C.B.E., F.B.A., F.S.A.
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Excavations at Fishbourne, 1961: First Interim Report, by Barry Cunliffe, published March 1962 in The Antiquaries Journal (vol. 42 issue 1, article, pp.17-23) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 1845]   View Online

For many years ever-increasing reports of Roman buildings and other finds from the neighbourhood of the village of New Fishbourne, one mile west of Chichester, have indicated the existence of an extensive early Roman settlement in the area. Early in 1960, during the construction of a water main across fields to the north of the main Chichester-Portsmouth road, a trench was cut through a Roman building which was found to incorporate massive masonry blocks and a mosaic floor. The pottery from the trench was predominantly first century. Accordingly, the Chichester Civic Society arranged a three-week trial excavation at Easter 1961, on the results of which further excavations were undertaken during the period 22nd July to 31st August. The work was made possible by generous grants from the Chichester Corporation, the Ministry of Works, the Society of Antiquaries, the Haverfield Trustees, the Marc Fitch Fund, the Sussex Archaeological Society, and by the public's response to the appeal. Nine students, mainly from Cambridge and Oxford, were employed throughout the excavations.

Excavations at Fishbourne, 1962: Second Interim Report, by Barry Cunliffe, published March 1963 in The Antiquaries Journal (vol. 43 issue 1, article, pp.1-14) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 2919][Lib 1847]   View Online

The second season's excavation at Fishbourne was concentrated on the eastern part of the southern field, shown by last year's work to be occupied by the eastern wing of the Period 2 building. In addition, trial trenches were dug in other parts of the village in order to examine the extent and nature of the Roman settlement.

Excavations at Fishbourne, 1963: Third Interim Report, by Barry Cunliffe, published March 1964 in The Antiquaries Journal (vol. 44 issue 1, article, pp.1-8) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 2931][Lib 1848]   View Online

Early in 1963 much of the land occupied by the Roman building at Fishbourne was purchased by Mr. I. D. Margary, M.A., F.S.A., and was given to the Sussex Archaeological Trust. The Fishbourne Committee of the trust was set up to administer the future of the site. The third season's excavation, carried out at the desire of this committee, was again organized by the Chichester Civic Society. About fifty volunteers a day were employed from 24th July to 3rd September. Excavation concentrated upon three main areas; the orchard south of the east wing excavated in 1962, the west end of the north wing, and the west wing. In addition, trial trenches were dug at the north-east and north-west extremities of the building and in the area to the north of the north wing. The work of supervision was carried out by Miss F. Pierce, M.A., Mr. B. Morley, Mr. A. B. Norton, B.A., and Mr. J. P. Wild, B.A. Photography was organized by Mr. D. B. Baker and Mrs. F. A. Cunliffe took charge of the pottery and finds.

Fishbourne 1961-4, by B. W. Cunliffe, published 1965 (offprint, The Society of Antiquarians) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 6421] & West Sussex Libraries

Excavations at Fishbourne, 1964: Fourth Interim Report, by Barry Cunliffe, published March 1965 in The Antiquaries Journal (vol. 45 issue 1, article, pp.1-11) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 6423][Lib 1850]   View Online

During the fourth season of excavation at Fishbourne work was spread over an area of about ten acres, most of it being concentrated on three main sites: the west wing of the main building, the eastern half of the north wing, and the southern half of the east wing. In addition, exploratory trenches were dug through the area to the north of the north wing and several trial excavations were made in gardens to the south of the modern main road. Previously, in December 1963 and January 1964, limited excavations had been undertaken in the garden of no. 65 Fishbourne Road, in the area of the greenhouses to the west of the main site, and in other gardens further west.

Excavations at Fishbourne, 1965: Fifth Interim Report, by Barry Cunliffe, published March 1966 in The Antiquaries Journal (vol. 46 issue 1, article, pp.26-38) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 6424][Lib 1852]   View Online

The excavations of 1965 were largely concerned with the examination of the field containing the east and west wings of the palace and the Great Court which lies between them. As last year's work had almost completed the outline plan of the palace, the 1965 season was concentrated upon the detailed examination of the audience chamber and the entrance hall, the sample excavation of the garden about which practically nothing was known, and the area excavation of those parts of the timber and early masonry buildings belonging to the first-period settlement which had not previously been examined. In addition to this, trial trenches were cut through the newly acquired market-garden to the west of the main site, and further trenching was carried out in the fields to the north of the north wing and the field to the south of the modern main road. The final excavation of the north wing of the palace has been postponed until next season, after the construction of the modern cover-building has been completed.

Excavations at Fishbourne, 1966: Sixth Interim Report, by Barry Cunliffe, published March 1967 in The Antiquaries Journal (vol. 47 issue 1, article, pp.51-59) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 1854]   View Online

The excavations conducted in the summer of 1966 were concentrated upon two projects: the final excavation of the previously unexamined parts of the North Wing, and of the early structures lying beneath it, and the large-scale stripping of selected areas of the garden belonging to the Roman palace. The modern cover-building, which is being erected by the Sussex Archaeological Trust over the remains of the Roman North Wing and which was begun in July 1965, had reached a state of near-completion by September 1966. The excavation work beneath was therefore carried out with the benefit of a roof above it, but with minor inconveniences incurred by being surrounded by builders and subcontractors. Earlier in the year some trial trenching had been carried out in the modern gardens of houses which now occupy the site of the Period I bath building. This work, though limited, has added considerably to the outline plan hitherto available.

Excavations at Fishbourne, 1967: Seventh and Final Interim Report, by Barry Cunliffe, published March 1968 in The Antiquaries Journal (vol. 48 issue 1, article, pp.31-40) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 1856]   View Online

The last major season in the present series of excavations at Fishbourne took place between 29th July and 2nd September, with a labour force restricted to sixty volunteers a day. This year the main effort was concentrated upon the excavation of the garden belonging to the Flavian Palace: a substantial area was examined during the main period of work, but it was not until the early spring that the final stages were completed by a small team of volunteers working in conjunction with a mechanical excavator. Several other areas were examined during the summer. By great good fortune a small site became available for study on the south side of the modern main road, providing for the first time clear evidence that the Palace possessed a South Wing. On the main site, the east front of the aisled hall was excavated together with the early levels beneath it, and further work was undertaken on the west front of the entrance hall. Finally, some time was spent finishing details of the excavation of the area lying north of the West Wing and west of the North Wing-a site which in the previous spring had been almost totally excavated, prior to the building of the site Museum and concourse.

Excavations at Fishbourne, 1961-1969. Vol I - The Site; Vol II - The Finds, by Barry Cunliffe, published 1971 (The Society of Antiquarians & printed at W. S. Manley) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

Fishbourne: A Roman Palace and Its Garden, by Barry Cunliffe, published 1 May 1971 (Thames and Hudson, ISBN-10: 050039007X & ISBN-13: 9780500390078) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 15826] & West Sussex Libraries

The discovery in the early 1960s of the site of a Roman palace and its garden at Fishbourne, near Chichester, was by far the most important and exciting achievement of Romano-British archaeology for very many years. Lasting for a decade, the excavation was supervised by one of the most brilliant younger British archaeologists, and involved the efforts of over a thousand people. As work proceeded, it became clear that the site was indeed that of a palace, the great size, the many mosaic floors and the luxurious appointments all indicating this. Excavation showed that the palace possessed a military function and must have been connected with the Roman invasion of AD43 and its aftermath. The high-ranking occupant was probably Tiberius Claudius Cogidubnus, a British client-king who had been granted Roman citizenship under Claudius. Quite as remarkable as the palace itself is the large formal garden around which it was built: no comparable Roman garden has been discovered west of Italy itself. Fishbourne is now open to the public and this invaluable book provides a complete history of the palace, from its military origins up to its final destruction by fire. The text is fully supported by photographs of all stages of the dig, of the mosaics and other finds, and with many plans.

Chichester: The first hundred years, by B. Cunliffe, published 1978 in Chichester Excavations (vol. 3, article, pp.177-183, ISBN-10: 0850332729 & ISBN-13: 9780850332728) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 6611] & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

Saxon Sussex: some problems and directions, by Barry Cunliffe, published 1 January 1978 in The South Saxons, edited by P. Brandon (pp.221-226, Chichester: Phillimore & Co. Ltd., ISBN-10: 0850332400 & ISBN-13: 9780850332407) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/501557] & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

Fishbourne: A Guide to the Site, by Barry Cunliffe, published 1983 (booklet) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 9006] & West Sussex Libraries

Fishbourne revisited: the site in its context, by Barry Cunliffe, published 1991 in Journal of Roman Archaeology (vol. 4, article, pp.160-169, Cambridge University Press)

The excavation of the Roman complex at Fishbourne near Chichester in southern England began in 1961. The excavation lasted for 8 seasons, and the results were published in 1971 (Cunliffe 1971). The coincidence of these dates appealed to the aniversary-conscious editor of this Jpornal, who suggested to the writer that 1991 would be an appropriate occasion to stand back to consider Fishbourne in the light of our greatly enhanced knowledge of the formative years of the province of Britannia.

Fishbourne Roman Palace, by Barry Cunliffe, published 1 June 1998 (160 pp., The History Press, ISBN-10: 0752414089 & ISBN-13: 9780752414089) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

Professor Barry Cunliffe's historic excavation of the site unfolds the history of the palace, its military beginnings, and its final destruction.

Facing the Palace, Fishbourne 1995-99. Fishbourne Revisited, by Barry Cunliffe, published 2003 in Sussex Archæological Collections (vol. 141, article, pp.1-5) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/500293] & S.A.S. library   View Online