Colchester Archaeological Trust

CAT Report 478: summary

Investigation of Henry Laver's postulated route of the Roman road from Colchester to Mersea Island - 20th May 2008
by Ben Holloway

Date report completed: 20.06.08
Location: Abberton Reservoir, Abberton, Colchester, Essex
Map reference(s): TL59982191 (c)
File size: 174 kb
Project type: Evaluation
Significance of the results: neg
Keywords: -

Summary. A single trench was positioned to bisect the projected line of an existing track that is of suspected Roman origin. Two features were identified, ie a modern field-drain and a track. The track was 4m wide and formed of roughly compacted gravel and medium- to large-sized cobbles. Within the lower make-up of the track, crushed brick and salt-glazed pipe fragments were recorded. This would suggest that the track was constructed in the post-medieval/modern period and was possibly a farm-track. Finds that were recovered consisted of post-medieval and modern brick; none of this material was retained. No Roman material was recovered from the evaluation.