Colchester Archaeological Trust

CAT Report 372: summary

An archaeological evaluation at the Central Clinic, High Street, Colchester, Essex: May 2006
by Brooks, H (with contributions from Benfield, S; Curl, J.)

Date report completed: 06/06/2006
Location: Colchester town centre, Essex
Map reference(s): TM00022532
File size: 1808 kb
Project type: Evaluation
Significance of the results: *
Keywords: Roman building, Roman pottery, Roman street, metalled surface, Scheduled Ancient Monument, Colchester castle, tessellated pavement, mortar floor, post-medieval, small finds, animal bone

Summary. The site lies in Insulas 23 and 24 of the Roman town. Its north-western half coincides with Scheduled Ancient Monument Colchester Castle and Upper Castle Park (Essex SAM 1). The north-south-running gravel street separating Insulas 23 and 24 was well preserved on the north side of the site, but heavily truncated on the south side. As was expected in the Roman town, there were Roman structures on either side of the street (presumably town-houses). The remains of these included three wall lines, patches of tessellated and mortar floors, and areas of gravelling (yards or paths). Over most of the site, the highest significant archaeological horizon was a layer of Roman clay which is probably the debris resulting from the demolition of the Roman buildings. The Roman remains were heavily truncated by post-medieval and modern pits and service trenches, especially on the south side of the present clinic buildings.