Site Event/Activity record ECC2682 - Assessment of archaeological excavations in Areas 2, 6 and 10, Colchester Garrison PFI Project, Colchester, 2003

Location

Location Colchester Garrison, Colchester
Grid reference Centred TL 99279 23132 (837m by 758m)
Map sheet TL92SE
County ESSEX
Non Parish Area COLCHESTER, COLCHESTER, ESSEX

Technique(s)

Organisation

Colchester Archaeological Trust Ltd

Date

2003

Map

Description

This is an Assessment Report on excavations carried out by Colchester Archaeological Trust in association with RPS Planning and Environment on behalf of RMPA and the MoD in 2003 on Areas 2, 6 and 10 ahead of the New Garrison, Colchester Garrison.<1> The Area 2 remains included an impressive Middle Iron Age enclosure with an internal round house. A pottery vessel at the centre of the round house was certainly a placed deposit, if not actually a burial. A hollow way track led to the enclosure from the east. The enclosure was put out of use before a ditched drove way was constructed through it by the early Roman period. Area 6 was dominated by trackways and field boundaries associated with the oppidum field layout. Fringe activities from the adjacent Kirkee and McMunn villa site (including burials) spilled out into this area. Area 10 contained Iron Age cremation burials and structures, and Late Iron Age/Roman trackways and field boundaries. The most important finds group were the Iron Age pottery (especially where associated with the Area 2 enclosure), later Iron Age and Roman pottery, Roman small finds (including dated brooches and nails from the burials), and prehistoric flints. There were also a group of Roman tile, and smaller collections of animal and human (cremated) bone, and post-medieval glass. The excavations were all within the oppidum territory as defined by the Dyke system. In that respect, they have a direct bearing on the internal organisation of the oppidum and its landscape. Clear evidence for co-axial ditched landscape in place at least by the 1st century AD within Area 6 was supplemented by the results from Areas 2 and 10. A single military feature was exposed and excavated comprising a previously known WWII tank trap crossing Area 10. <1> Previous stages of archaeological work consisted of background study (Desk-Based Assessment), field walking survey, geophysical survey, and Stage 1 Trial Trenching undertaken in 2002. The excavations described here are Stage 2 of the ongoing archaeological project. The excavation areas were Area 2 (south of Ypres Road), Area 6 (north of Earlswood Way) and Area 10 (south and east of the Driving School of Berechurch Road).

Sources/Archives (1)

  • --- EXCAV REPORT: Colchester Archaeological Trust Ltd.. 2004. Colchester Garrison PFI Project. Stage 2 Archaeological Excavation Assessment Report Part 1: text and figures. CAT Report 269.

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Parent/preceding Site Events/Activities (1)

  • Evaluation of Garrison Redevelopment Project, Colchester, 2006 (Ref: ECC2659)

Record last edited

Mar 21 2016 8:52AM

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