Site Event/Activity record ECC2936 - Trial-trenched evaluation on Areas E and F at Colchester Garrison PFI site, Colchester

Location

Location Areas E and F, Colchester Garrison PFI site, Colchester
Grid reference Centred TL 9916 2317 (767m by 815m)
Map sheet TL92SE
County ESSEX
Non Parish Area COLCHESTER, COLCHESTER, ESSEX

Technique(s)

Organisation

Colchester Archaeological Trust Ltd

Date

May-June 2002

Map

Description

Ten trenches were excavated in Area E and 33 in Area F. The majority of the excavated archaeological contexts were modern or post-medieval in date (40%). The next largest group of features were of natural origin (31%) or undated (12%). <1> With regard to 'pre-modern’ archaeological features, there were four prehistoric features, and 35 Late Iron Age or Roman features. Together, these constituted 17% of all excavated features. The main findings are: • There were a few isolated, probably prehistoric pits, tentatively dated by single sherds of pottery (Trenches F7, F8, F18, F32). These confirm the results fromArea C, indicating that early prehistoric activity is not apparent on the site, with the earliest cultural activity represented by possible Bronze Age pits with burnt flints in Trenches F7 and F8, and by a Middle Bronze Age bucket urn fragment from Trench E2 (possibly from a disturbed burial). • Late Iron Age and Roman field-ditches excavated in Trenches F1-F4, F11-F12 and F27-F28 have been identified as features previously seen only as cropmarks. The Areas E/F evaluation has confirmed the existence of and provided possible dates for the rectilinear field-system previously seen as cropmarks east of Kirkee McMunn Barracks. • Further, the evidence from field-ditches excavated at Kirkee McMunn Barracks in 1994 supplemented by the 2002 evaluation material clarifies the dating of a field and trackway system originating in the Late Iron Age period and continuing in use in the early Roman period. • Late Iron Age or Roman settlement evidence is very limited, confined to a single Roman pit in each of Trenches E1 and F28, suggesting that Areas E and F are marginal to a principal local settlement focus. • There was widespread evidence for early 20th-century military training in the construction and use of trenches. Despite relatively good preservation from the area adjoining Kirkee McMunn Barracks, elsewhere there has been severe disturbance to archaeological strata. There are three principal identifiable causes: first, modern service-trenches (particularly Trench F25); second, recent trenches presumed to have been dug by the Army (Trenches F5, F33); and third, modern ploughing which has produced a homogeneous ploughsoil that has clearly truncated late prehistoric and Roman features. The character of the archaeological remains identified in Areas E and F are low density isolated prehistoric pits and a group of Late Iron Age and Roman linear ditches. Features generally contain few artefacts and have been heavily truncated.

Sources/Archives (1)

  • <1> Evaluation Report: Brooks, Howard (CAT). 2002. An archaeological evaluation by trial-trenching on Areas E and F at Colchester Garrison PFI site, Colchester, Essex. CAR report 203.

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Record last edited

Oct 14 2015 3:14PM

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.