Colchester Archaeological Trust

CAT Report 346: summary

A medieval cemetery at All Saints' church, Great Stanway, Essex (Colchester Zoo): September-October 2005
by Brooks, H (with contributions from Crummy, N; Winter, M.)

Date report completed: 11/11/2005
Location: Great Stanway, Essex
Map reference(s): TL9530722110
File size: 24030 kb
Project type: Watching brief
Significance of the results: *
Keywords: medieval, post-medieval, church, inhumation, human bone, coins, small finds

Summary. The ruins of All Saints' (the former parish church of Great Stanway) stand in the grounds of Colchester Zoo. An evaluation by Archaeological Solutions in January 2005 revealed fourteen medieval inhumation graves. Following a monitored topsoil strip, CAT excavated thirty-four medieval inhumation graves on the site of the proposed new orang-utan enclosure. The graves are probably late medieval, and the absence of coffins indicates a low status. Other features include two ditches, which may have been graveyard boundary ditches. The human remains are to be reburied on site.