Site Event/Activity record ECC2919 - Watching brief at Firstsite, Colchester, 2010-11

Location

Location Firstsite, Lewis Gardens, High Street, Colchester
Grid reference Centred TM 00066 25179 (124m by 30m)
Map sheet TM02NW
County ESSEX
Non Parish Area COLCHESTER, COLCHESTER, ESSEX

Technique(s)

Organisation

Colchester Archaeological Trust Ltd

Date

December 2010 - March 2011

Map

Description

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Colchester Archaeological Trust during the installation of services and landscaping works associated with Firstsite. Roman remains were encountered between 0.45m and 1.10m below modern ground-level and two medieval/post-medieval wells were uncovered just below the surface.<1> Archaeological remains identified during the 2006-8 archaeological investigations at Firstsite (ECC2920; CAT Report 477 <2>) were encountered again in the 2010-11 watching brief. A gravel surface was identified in a position coinciding with the expected line of the east-west Roman street on the southern edge of Insulas 31 and 32. A wall foundation was also recorded in an area where a Roman building had been previously identified (CAT Building 215). A red tessellated floor was identified in section in the northern access road to firstsite. The floor is believed to be previously unknown and is from a Roman building (CAT Building 220), perhaps a townhouse. Two medieval/post-medieval wells were also uncovered during the groundworks. A stone-lined well was uncovered in the back garden of 15 Queen Street and a brick-lined well was recorded in the northern access road to firstsite. The brick-lined well had been constructed in the back yard of a property which once fronted onto the High Street.

Sources/Archives (2)

  • <1> Watching Brief Report: Wightman, Adam (CAT). 2012. A watching brief at firstsite, Lewis Gardens, High Street, Colchester, Essex December 2010-March 2011. CAT report 599.
  • <2> Watching Brief Report: Brooks, H., with Orr, K. and Clarke, W.. 2011. Roman houses and streets in Insulas 31/32 of Roman Colchester: excavations in advance of the construction of the Visual Arts Facility, East Hill, Colchester, Essex November 2006-December 2007 and June 2008. CAT Report 477.

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Record last edited

Jun 28 2017 12:13PM

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