Colchester Archaeological Trust

CAT Report 292: summary

The Colchester Garrison PFI project, Colchester, Essex: a report on the 2003 excavation of Areas 2, 6, 10: August-November 2004
by Brooks, H; Masefield, R. (with contributions from Anderson, S; Benfield, S; Black, E; Bojko, A; Clogg, Dr. P; Crummy, N; Curl, J; Fryer, V; Martingell, H; Sealey, Dr. P.)

Date report completed: 05/05/2005
Location: Garrison, Colchester, Essex
Map reference(s): TL996244, TL99432342
File size: 25261 kb
Project type: Excavation
Significance of the results: * *
Keywords: Iron Age, enclosure, prehistoric enclosure, round-house, trackway/droveway, oppidum, prehistoric field ditches, cremation, ceramic building materials, radiocarbon, human bone

Summary. In Area 2, there was a Middle Iron Age enclosure with an internal roundhouse, at the centre of which was a pottery vessel (a placed deposit). A hollow way track led to the enclosure from the east. The enclosure was put out of use before a ditched droveway was constructed through it by the early Roman period. Area 6 was dominated by trackways and field boundaries associated with the oppidum field layout. Fringe activities from the adjacent Kirkee McMunn Barracks Roman farmstead (including burials) spilled out into this area. Area 10 contained Iron Age cremation burials and structures, and Late Iron Age/Roman trackways and field boundaries.