Element record MCC2821 - Roman? ditches, Abbey Field car park, Circular Road North, Colchester

Summary

Roman? ditches recorded during evaluation in advance of a new car park in 2006.

Location

Grid reference Centred TL 99312 24277 (12m by 16m)
Map sheet TL92SE
County ESSEX
Non Parish Area COLCHESTER, COLCHESTER, ESSEX

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

Two of the ditches from Trench 1 (F2, aligned E to W, and F10) consist of shallow and narrow ditches of a type seen widely across the garrison area and appear to represent field boundary systems from the Iron Age or more likely the Roman period. These ditches have V-shaped profiles and contain silty mid-brown fill, with little in the way of dateable material. These ditches are interpreted as field boundary ditches that relate to the division of land into agricultural packages initially in the Iron Age oppidum of Camulodunum and then often re-used and adjusted to define the Roman agricultural landscape. In some instances, these field boundaries continued in general use into the medieval and post-medieval periods.<1>

Sources/Archives (1)

  • <1> Evaluation Report: Holloway, Ben (CAT). 2006. An archaeological evaluation for a new car park on the Abbey Field, south of Circular Road North, Colchester, Essex, March 2006. CAT Report 358, pp.4 & 7.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (2)

Record last edited

Dec 19 2016 3:34PM

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.