Colchester Archaeological Trust

CAT Report 244: summary

An archaeological watching brief on a gas-pipeline trench along Culver Street West, Colchester, Essex: May-July 2003
by Crummy, P; Orr, K; Pooley, L; Weller, K. (with contributions from Benfield, S; Brooks, H; Crummy, N.)

Date report completed: 10/10/2003
Location: Colchester town centre
Map reference(s): TL99622515
File size: 646 kb
Project type: Watching brief
Significance of the results: *
Keywords: Roman building, ceramic building materials, inhumation, radiocarbon, human bone, small finds, post-medieval, glass, Holy Trinity church

Summary. An archaeological watching brief was carried out along the road line of Culver Street West during trenching for the installation of a new gas pipeline. Most of the route of the trench proved to be cut through ground which had already been disturbed by earlier service-trenches. However, there were some significant discoveries. Two Roman foundations were unrobbed, thus suggesting that Culver Street pre-dated the period when robbing for building materials was commonplace, ie the late 11th and 12th centuries. Also the presence of an inhumation under the north end of Trinity Street suggests that the cemetery of Trinity church was reduced in size to create the street. It is hoped that the inhumation can be radiocarbon-dated to provide dating evidence for this event.