Colchester Archaeological Trust

CAT Report 424: summary

An archaeological excavation on the Abbey Field car-park, Circular Road North, Colchester, Essex: April-May 2007
by Brooks, H. Holloway, B. Masefield, R (with contributions from Benfield, S. Boghi, F. Crummy, N. Curl, J.)

Date report completed: October 2007
Location: Garrison, Colchester, Essex
Map reference(s): TL99372427 (centre)
File size: 1,758 kb
Project type: Excavation
Significance of the results:
Keywords: Roman wall foundation, Roman masonry, gravel surface, roman Cremation, oppidum, trackway/droveway

Summary. This site lies within the oppidum of Camulodunum. An area of land measuring approximately 28m by 56m was excavated on the site of the new car park on the south-western side of the Colchester Garrison athletics track, Circular Road North, Colchester, Essex at the Abbey Field. The principal discovery was a double-ditched Roman track or droveway heading north-south. Between the track or droveway ditches were a number of patches of gravel, which may be the remnants of a more extensive metalled surface. To the east of the east ditch of the track or droveway were five urned and two unurned Roman cremation burials. Four recent and presumably Army related pits were left unexcavated due to ordnance risk. A large area of recent disturbance along the southern edge of the site was also left unexcavated. A number of excavations or evaluations have taken place in the vicinity as part of the Garrison Alienated Land project, including an evaluation on this site in 2006. This report also includes a brief report on a negative watching brief which was held on the digging of a cable trench along the north side of the Garrison athletics track.