Colchester Archaeological Trust

CAT Report 645: summary

Archaeological evaluation and excavation at land to the rear of 37-45 Clare Road, Braintree, Essex: March-May 2012
by Chris Lister (with contributions from -)

Date report completed: May 2012
Location: land to the rear of 37-45 Clare Road, Braintree, Essex
Map reference(s): TL 7515 2276 (c)
File size: 1,807 kb
Project type: Archaeological evaluation and excavation
Significance of the results: **
Keywords: Late Iron Age/Roman, track

Summary. Archaeological evaluation and excavation was carried out on land to the rear of 37-45 Clare Road, Braintree ahead of the construction of twelve new houses. The site is situated on the north slope of the valley of the River Brain at the open end of a triangular area formed by the main Roman roads of Stane Street (Rayne Road) and the Sudbury to Chelmsford route (London Road) which enclosed the Roman town at Braintree. Activity recorded on the site is from the Late Iron Age and Roman periods and consisted of pits and ditches. A significant feature was a hitherto unknown metalled track that potentially leads to the Roman town cutting through the area believed to be used for burials.