Element record MCC2801 - Late Roman inhumation, 47 Butt Road, Colchester

Summary

One of three late Roman inhumation burials, recorded during a small excavation to the rear of 47 Butt Road in 1998.

Location

Grid reference TL 99277 24770 (point)
Map sheet TL92SE
County ESSEX
Non Parish Area COLCHESTER, COLCHESTER, ESSEX

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

Only the western end of Grave 3, that of a young adult female, fell within the site area, and this was considerably deeper than the other burials, with just over 1.0m of the grave shaft surviving. As with Grave 2 the burial had been provided with a coffin constructed using iron nails, and the position of the south side of this appeared to be indicated by a change in soil colour. The body was supine, and preservation of the bone appeared to be better than in either of the other two graves as, together with the long bones of the upper arms and the skull, several rib bones were also present. The skull, which had suffered damage from exposure to the acid soil, was resting at an angle tilted slightly onto its left side, while to its immediate right and extending slightly beneath it were four interlocked copper-alloy armlets which can be dated to the late 4th century.<1>

Sources/Archives (1)

  • <1> Excavation archive: Benfield, Stephen (CAT). 1998. An excavation at 47 Butt Road, Colchester March 1998. CAT Report 58.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Record last edited

Dec 19 2016 12:56PM

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