Colchester Archaeological Trust

CAT Report 373: summary

An archaeological excavation and watching brief at Colchester High School, 17 Wellesley Road, Colchester, Essex: February and May-June 2006
by Orr, K (with contributions from Benfield, S; Brooks, H; Crummy, N; Martingell, H)

Date report completed: 07/07/2006
Location: Lexden, Essex
Map reference(s): TL99012481
File size: 502 kb
Project type: Watching brief
Significance of the results: *
Keywords: Iron Age, Roman burial, prehistoric pottery, Roman pottery, inhumation, metalled surface, trackway/droveway, Roman pit, Roman ditch, Roman glass, animal bone, amphora, small finds, flint

Summary. An archaeological excavation of trenches for footings for a new extension to the High School was carried out in February 2006. A fairly high level of archaeological activity was recorded on the site, with several features inter-cutting each other. The evidence points to the site being an open area used for rubbish-disposal in the Roman period. No definite Roman burials were revealed. However, one feature may represent an inhumation burial and there were pots found in later deposits that may well have been disturbed out of earlier burials. Several patches of gravel may be metalling for a Roman trackway. A watching brief was subsequently carried out after the extension was built, but no further archaeological features were observed.