Colchester Archaeological Trust

CAT Report 699: summary

An archaeological trial-trenching evaluation at St Helena School, Sheepen Road, Colchester, Essex - April 2013
by Ben Holloway and Howard Brooks (with contributions from S Benfield, N Crummy)

Date report completed: June 2013
Location: St Helena School, Sheepen Road, Colchester, Essex
Map reference(s): TL 8836 5850 (c)
File size: 1,160 kb
Project type: Archaeological evaluation by trial-trenching
Significance of the results: */**
Keywords: Roman, temple, precinct, gravel surface, coin hoard

Summary. St Helena School lies within the oppidum of Camulodunum and the Later Iron Age and Roman trading depot at Sheepen. The site of the proposed new building lies 20m north-west of a Romano-Celtic temple and within its precinct. An evaluation by four trial-trenches revealed three Roman pits, a compacted gravel layer (surface), and a dump of ceramic building material. One of the pits contained a group of five, low-denomination Roman coins dated to c AD 43-64. These are from a hoard or purse group possibly deposited at the time of the Boudican revolt, pre-dating the construction of the temple in the late 1st or early 2nd century.