Colchester Archaeological Trust

CAT Report 504: summary

Stage 1b archaeological evaluation, Garrison Alienated Land Area K, Colchester Garrison, Colchester, Essex: February-March 2009
by Howard Brooks and Ben Holloway with Robert Masefield (RPS)

Date report completed: April 2009
Location: Garrison Alienated Land Area K, Colchester Garrison, Colchester, Essex
Map reference(s): TL 9894 2418 (c)
File size: 1,813 kb
Project type: Evaluation
Significance of the results: *
Keywords: Roman field ditch, Colchester Garrison

Summary. Colchester Garrison Alienated Land (GAL) Area K coincides with the northern part of Goojerat Barracks, situated to the north of Goojerat Road and to the east of Butt Road. This evaluation links the two previously-evaluated Areas at the former Cavalry Barracks (Area J2, to the north) and Goojerat Barracks (Area L/N, to the south). The principal remains revealed by the twelve evaluation trenches were the widespread remains of the barracks (constructed in 1900-1902, and rebuilt in the early 1970s). Significant archaeological features were very thinly distributed. Three undated features in T5 may have been Roman in date, mainly because one, a ditch, shared the orientation of a Roman field system found, for example, on GAL Area J2, to the north of Areas K1 and K2, and elsewhere. Only three sherds of pottery were found during this evaluation (two late Roman and one medieval), all of which were residual in later contexts. Other features included natural linears (probably of glacial origin), and tree-throw pits, of which some were natural, and some possibly due to the deliberate removal of tree stumps in connection with agricultural land clearance.