Colchester Archaeological Trust

CAT Report 651: summary

Stane Street revealed: archaeological monitoring at 46 High Street, Great Dunmow, Essex: April 2012
by Ben Holloway and Howard Brooks (with contributions from -)

Date report completed: June 2012
Location: 46 High Street, Great Dunmow, Essex
Map reference(s): TL 6284 2174 (c)
File size: 2,775 kb
Project type: Archaeological monitoring
Significance of the results: **
Keywords: Roman, gravel surface, street

Summary. This site, a former car park on the south edge of High Street, is located in both the historic centre of Great Dunmow and also within the area of the Roman small town. Ten archaeological features were identified during monitoring of contractor’s excavation of footings trenches for six new buildings. The most significant were two areas of compacted gravel (which coincide precisely with the projected course of Roman Stane Street), and a ditch which may be an associated road-side ditch. Associated sherds of Roman pottery date the gravel to the 2nd century AD, possibly later. There were also five post-medieval pits, two post-medieval/modern wells (features cut into what were then the back plots of post-medieval properties on the New Street frontage), and fragments of modern foundations associated with the recentlydemolished council offices.