Site Event/Activity record ECC2799 - Excavations of late Iron Age and Roman features (including a Roman road), north of Gosbecks, Colchester, 1995-6

Location

Location Gosbecks Archaeological Park, Colchester
Grid reference Centred TL 97030 22877 (636m by 202m)
Map sheet TL92SE
County ESSEX
Civil Parish STANWAY, COLCHESTER, ESSEX

Technique(s)

Organisation

Colchester Archaeological Trust Ltd

Date

1995-1996

Map

Description

The excavations of 1995-96 (Sites A, B and C) were undertaken on three sites to the north of Gosbecks Archaeological Park. These investigated areas of Late Iron Age and Roman occupation and the Roman road. On Site A, the excavation of the Roman road produced evidence of four ditches in two pairs forming a central carriageway which was approximately 7m wide, with narrower tracks approximately 2m wide on each side of the central carriageway. None of the road surface itself survived. There were a few residual prehistoric finds on Sites B and C, mostly of Late Bronze Age-Early Iron Age date, although there was no evidence of any activity dating to the Middle Iron Age. The Late Iron Age and Roman occupation was located on two adjacent sites at the western end of Cunobelin Way, and finds indicate that the main phase of activity here corresponded with that at Sheepen. The earliest features were part of a large ditched enclosure and several smaller ditches of Late Iron Age-early Roman date. Some small pits or post holes and three ovens were associated with these features. In the early Roman period, a series of rectilinear ditched enclosures was established, bounded by a large ditch, with part of the enclosed area occupied by a large number of substantial pits. The finds from these features were predominantly of Neronian date, and a small number of military objects was recovered. Some of the finds suggest possible ritual activity. There were two, possibly three, timber buildings which are probably all of late Iron Age-early Roman date. A few finds from some of the features indicate continued activity after the Neronian period, but at a much reduced level. At some point in or after the early 2nd century, a wooden water-main was laid across the area and a ditched track or droveway was constructed which connected to the large boundary ditch. Several Roman burials, both cremations and inhumations, were focused around the large boundary ditch. One of the cremation burials was located in a small square ditched enclosure. The inhumation burials had all been provided with coffins and there were a few pottery grave goods, although almost no bone survived. All the inhumation burials lay beyond the large boundary ditch, and all but one were aligned along it. Although the burials are not well dated, one is of the mid 3rd-4th century, and all probably date from the late Roman period. Identifiable post-Roman activity was limited to a few post-medieval features, mostly ditches. <1>

Sources/Archives (1)

  • <1> EXCAV REPORT: Benfield, Stephen (CAT). 2008. Excavations of Late Iron Age and Roman features and a Roman road north of Gosbecks Archaeological Park, Colchester, Essex 1995-1996. CAT report 127.

Related Monuments/Buildings (27)

  • Possible Roman cremation burials, north of Gosbecks, Colchester (Element Group)
  • Post-medieval rectilinear trench, north of Gosbecks, Colchester (Element)
  • Roman boundary ditch CF16, north of Gosbecks, Colchester (Element)
  • Roman building, north of Gosbecks, Colchester (Monument)
  • Roman building, north of Gosbecks, Colchester (Monument)
  • Roman building?, north of Gosbecks, Colchester (Monument)
  • Roman coin of Antoninus Pius, north of Gosbecks, Colchester (Find Spot)
  • Roman coin of Faustina II, north of Gosbecks, Colchester (Find Spot)
  • Roman cremation burial, north of Gosbecks, Colchester (Element)
  • Roman cremation burial, north of Gosbecks, Colchester (Element)
  • Roman cremation burial, north of Gosbecks, Colchester (Element)
  • Roman ditched track/droveway, north of Gosbecks, Colchester (Element)
  • Roman figurine, north of Gosbecks, Colchester (Find Spot)
  • Roman inhumation burial CF100, north of Gosbecks, Colchester (Element)
  • Roman inhumation burial CF69, north of Gosbecks, Colchester (Element)
  • Roman inhumation burial CF75, north of Gosbecks, Colchester (Element)
  • Roman inhumation burial CF91, north of Gosbecks, Colchester (Element)
  • Roman inhumation burial CF96, north of Gosbecks, Colchester (Element)
  • Roman inhumation burial CF97, north of Gosbecks, Colchester (Element)
  • Roman inhumation burial CF99, north of Gosbecks, Colchester (Element)
  • Roman oven CF108, north of Gosbecks, Colchester (Element)
  • Roman oven CF78, north of Gosbecks, Colchester (Element)
  • Roman oven CF79, north of Gosbecks, Colchester (Element)
  • Roman pit/shaft, north of Gosbecks, Colchester (Element)
  • Roman pits, north of Gosbecks, Colchester (Element Group)
  • Roman water main, north of Gosbecks, Colchester (Element)
  • Section across Roman Road, Gosbecks, Colchester (Monument)

Record last edited

Oct 12 2015 4:27PM

Comments and Feedback

Do you have any more information about this record? Please feel free to comment with information and photographs, or ask any questions, using the "Disqus" tool below. Comments are moderated, and we aim to respond/publish as soon as possible.