Monument record MCC4940 - Turner Rise, Colchester: Former British Rail Car Park Site.

Summary

Trial trenching followed by a watching brief revealed evidence of a Roman Cemetary area. Civil War seige ditches possibly located.

Location

Grid reference Centred TL 9943 2644 (219m by 114m)
Map sheet TL92NE
Civil Parish MYLAND, COLCHESTER, ESSEX

Map

Type and Period (3)

Full Description

Trial trenching follwed by a watching brief revealed sporadic evidence of a Roman cemetary area, including an inhumed cremation burial, an undated east- west inhumation grave - like feature and an unstratified Roman pot, as well as scatters of Roman Finds.<1>
The grave- like feature was uncovered in trench 4. It's size and orientation suggests that it may be a truncated inhumation burial, although no bones or grave- goods were present. The other four trenches revealed only post- medieval or modern levels.<1>
The watching brief was maintained on site until June1996. Two Roman grey vessels were recovered during the watching brief; one (unstratified) did not contain bone but probably derived from a burial, the other was in situ and contained cremated bone. The inhumed cremation is of broad C1- C3 date and probably belonged (Togeather with earlier urns found in the 1840's; see PRN 11799) to a widespread cemetary area.<1> The finds from the site, togeather with the detailed site records, will be archived with Colchester Museums.<2><3>

The evaluation trenches demonstrated that, despite extensive modern disturbance, significant archaeological remains such as Roman burials may well be present, albeit sporadically within the development area.<1>
Post medieval ditches associated with Colchester seige 1648.<4>

Sources/Archives (3)

  • <1> Evaluation Report: Shimmin, D.. 1996. Archaeological evaluation trenches and watching brief at Turner Rise, Colchester.
  • <2> EXCAV REPORT: Shimmin, D. 1996. CM 96.8.
  • <3> Artifact: unknown. unknown. CM 96.8. N/A.

Finds (1)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (2)

Record last edited

Sep 13 2016 9:57AM

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