Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: a series of droveways of late Iron Age to Roman date crossed the site, several of which featured funnel-shaped entrances at one end and pinched-end entrances at the other, perhaps providing evidence for the controlled direction of movement of livestock.One of these droveways also appeared to mark a boundary line, turning a corner near a cremation burial, suggesting the latter was originally marked on the surface in some way.The edge of a contemporary enclosure, which contained evidence for occupation in the form of pits and a large quantity of artefacts in the backfill of its ditches, was partially uncovered near the end of another droveway.Other ditches appeared to mark field divisions.The medieval boundaries closely followed the same alignment as the earlier Iron Age and Roman droveways, boundaries and enclosures, which cannot wholly be explained as the result of topography, instead suggesting that later boundaries were influenced by much older relic features in the landscape.68 (2) Colchester, a) Cymbeline Meadows (TL 97668 26224): an archaeological evaluation (61 trialtrenches) was carried out in advance of a woodland and biodiversity project.The site lies in the late Iron Age oppidum of Camulodunum, and east of the Moat Farm Dyke.Evaluation at the site revealed at least two and possibly four Roman kilns, as well as associated spreads of kiln waste and quarry pits.Along with a kiln previously excavated to the north-east, these are thought to represent the remains of a kiln battery operated in the vicinity of the Sheepen industrial area and are of national significance.A second phase of activity, represented by the remains of at least one building along with numerous cut features, occurred here during the second and third centuries.Further remains only datable to the Roman period more broadly were uncovered, including the possible remains of a further building.A small number of features associated with agricultural activity at the site during the post-medieval and modern periods were also excavated.69 b) Hedge Drive (TL 97609 23092): an archaeological excavation was carried out in advance of the construction of three new properties.The projected route of the Colchester to Gosbecks Roman road was known to pass through the development site and the excavation area was positioned to uncover the location of the remains of the road as well as any other archaeological contexts.The excavation located the remains of the Roman road, which consisted of four ditches defining two narrow footways on either side of a wide central carriageway.The footways were c. 2.6 m wide and the central carriageway c. 7.6 m across.The roadside ditches were well defined at 0.71-1.01m wide and 0.29-0.33m deep.The road surface had not survived.70 c) Red Lion Yard (TL 99736 25142): archaeological test-pit excavations were carried out to relocate a Roman mosaic previously uncovered during the 1980s and record any damage or disturbance to its surface.In situ remains of the mosaic were successfully located and extensively recorded.It was clear that, despite having gently subsided under pressure from overlying medieval foundations, the mosaic was in sound condition.No additional damage to the mosaic was noted beyond what was already known.The overall extent of what has
Source: Britannia
Author: Natasha Harlow
Language: English
Subfield: Archeology
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,450
OpenAlex ID: W4407772196