Colchester Archaeological Trust

CAT Report 54: summary

An archaeological evaluation at the Garrison sports ground, Circular Road North, Colchester: January 2000
by Brooks, H (with contributions from Benfield, S; Wade, A; Cott, P.)

Date report completed: 19/01/2000
Location: Garrison, Colchester, Essex
Map reference(s): TL99542441
File size: 9580 kb
Project type: Evaluation, Geophysical survey
Significance of the results: *
Keywords: Roman cremation, medieval pottery, post-medieval pottery, ceramic building materials, human bone, geophysical survey

Summary. An archaeological evaluation by geophysical survey followed by three trial-trenches has revealed a Roman cremation burial, two medieval or post-medieval features, and several modern cuts, perhaps rugby-pitch drains. The level at which archaeologically significant deposits were found was only 350mm below modern ground-level, though there is reason to believe that in other areas it may be as little as 200mm. The presence of a single cremation burial in a sample of less than 1% of the proposed development area indicates that many more burials could survive here. They will undoubtedly be affected by the proposed development work.