Archaeological monitoring and recording at DSG (Defence...

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Archaeological monitoring and recording at DSG (Defence Support Group), Flagstaff Road, Colchester, Essex, CO2 7SR October 2017 by Laura Pooley figures by Laura Pooley and Sarah Carter fieldwork by Nigel Rayner commissioned by Rob Masefield of RPS Group Plc on behalf of RMPA Services Plc NGR: TL 99570 24554 (centre) Planning reference: n/a CAT project ref.: 17/10f Colchester Museum accession code COLEM: 2017.150 CHER ref: ECC4109 OASIS reference: colchest3-301283 Colchester Archaeological Trust Roman Circus House Roman Circus Walk, Colchester, Essex CO2 7GZ tel.: 01206 501785 email: [email protected] CAT Report 1197 November 2017

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Page 1: Archaeological monitoring and recording at DSG (Defence ...cat.essex.ac.uk/reports/CAT-report-1197.pdfArchaeological monitoring and recording was carried out at DSG (Defence Support

Archaeological monitoring and recording at DSG (Defence Support Group), Flagstaff

Road, Colchester, Essex, CO2 7SR

October 2017

by Laura Pooley figures by Laura Pooley and Sarah Carter

fieldwork by Nigel Rayner

commissioned by Rob Masefield of RPS Group Plc on behalf of RMPA Services Plc

NGR: TL 99570 24554 (centre)

Planning reference: n/aCAT project ref.: 17/10f

Colchester Museum accession code COLEM: 2017.150CHER ref: ECC4109

OASIS reference: colchest3-301283

Colchester Archaeological TrustRoman Circus HouseRoman Circus Walk, Colchester, Essex CO2 7GZ

tel.: 01206 501785

email: [email protected] CAT Report 1197 November 2017

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Contents

1 Summary 12 Introduction 1 3 Archaeological background 14 Aims 15 Results 26 Finds 27 Conclusion 28 Acknowledgements 29 References 210 Abbreviations and glossary 211 Contents of archive 312 Archive deposition 3

Figures after p3

OASIS Summary

List of photographs and figures

Cover: general site shot

Fig 1 Site locationFig 2 Results

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CAT Report 1197: Archaeological monitoring and recording at DSG, Flagstaff Road, Colchester, Essex – October 2017

1 SummaryArchaeological monitoring and recording was carried out at DSG (Defence Support Group), Flagstaff Road, Colchester, during groundworks to cap off a water main. Despite being located within the Colchester Roman Circus scheduled area, there was no impact on the monument as all groundworks were confined to the backfill of the water main trench.

2 Introduction (Fig 1)

This report presents the results of archaeological monitoring and recording at ABRO, Flagstaff Road, Colchester, Essex, which was carried out on the 23rd October 2017. The work was commissioned and consultancy managed by Rob Masefield of RPS Group Plc on behalf of RMPA Services Plc, and was undertaken by Colchester Archaeological Trust (CAT).

As the development site lies within the Colchester Circus Scheduled Monument (English Heritage National Monument No. 35614), Deborah Priddy of Historic England required that continuous archaeological monitoring and recording be carried out on all groundworks.

All fieldwork and reporting was done in accordance with English Heritage’s Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MoRPHE) (English Heritage 2006), and with Standards for field archaeology in the East of England (EAA 14 and 24). This report mirrors standards and practices contained in the Institute for Archaeologists’ Standard and guidance for archaeological watching briefs (CIfA 2014a) and Standard and guidance for the collection, documentation, conservation and research of archaeological materials (CIfA 2014b).

3 Archaeological backgroundThe following archaeological background draws on the major published sources for Colchester archaeology, and also on the Colchester Historic Environment Record (CHER) and the Essex Historic Environment Record (EHER).

The site is located within the Colchester Circus Scheduled Monument, an internationally important stone-built monumental Roman circus discovered in 2004. The circus is currently unique in Britain and has been investigated over multiple archaeological sites (CAT Report 412). Specifically, the site is located within the circus racetrack.

The circus was approximately 450m in length and 70m wide with a central barrier (spina). Elements identified to date include the stands, known as the 'cavea', with internal and external walls, entrances on the north and south caveas, a racetrack dirt surface, a segment of the semi-circular end of the circus, eight starting gates, and elements of the 'spina' including fragments of a turning post at the western end, a monument base in the centre of the spina at the modern cross roads of Flagstaff/ Circular Road East with Napier Road/Circular Road North, and tank-like pits or cisterns within the east and west ends of the spina. A metalled trackway has also identified around the circus.

The circus appears to have been pulled down in the late Roman period, with rubble spreads to the exterior of the outer wall observed in excavations.

4 AimsArchaeological monitoring and recording was undertaken to ensure that groundworks did not impact on the remains of the Roman circus scheduled monument.

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CAT Report 1197: Archaeological monitoring and recording at DSG, Flagstaff Road, Colchester, Essex – October 2017

5 ResultsA short length of trench was excavated measuring 1.2m long, 0.6m wide and 0.7m deep. All excavations were carried out through the backfilled trench (a dark yellow/brown sandy-loam with crush) directly onto the water main.

6 FindsThere were no archaeological finds.

7 ConclusionDespite being located within the Colchester Roman Circus scheduled monument, groundworks did not impact on the monument as all were carried out through the backfilled trench of the water main.

8 AcknowledgementsCAT thanks Rob Masefield of RPS Group Plc on behalf of RMPA Services Plc for commissioning and funding the work. The project was managed by C Lister and carried out by N Rayner. Figures were prepared by S Carter and L Pooley. The projectwas monitored for the Historic England by Deborah Priddy.

9 ReferencesNote: all CAT reports, except for DBAs, are available online in PDF format at http://cat.essex.ac.uk

CAT Report 412

2011 Report on the archaeological investigations carried out on Areas C1, C2, E, J1, O, Q and S1 of the Alienated Land, Colchester Garrison, including the Time Team trenches and the Alienated Land watching brief: May 2004-January 2005

CIfA 2014a Standard and Guidance for an archaeological watching briefCIfA 2014b Standard and guidance for the creation, compilation, transfer and

deposition of archaeological archivesCIfA 2014c Standard and guidance for the collection, documentation, conservation

and research of archaeological materialsDCLG 2012 National Planning Policy FrameworkEnglishHeritage

2006 Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MoRPHE)

Gurney, D 2003 Standards for field archaeology in the East of England. East Anglian Archaeology Occasional Papers 14 (EAA 14).

Medlycott, M 2011 Research and archaeology revisited: A revised framework for the East of England. East Anglian Archaeology Occasional Papers 24 (EAA 24)

10 Abbreviations and glossaryCAT Colchester Archaeological TrustCHER Colchester Historic Environment RecordCIfA Chartered Institute for Archaeologistscontext specific location of finds on an archaeological sitefeature (F) an identifiable thing like a pit, a wall, a drain: can contain ‘contexts’layer (L) distinct or distinguishable deposit (layer) of materialmodern period from c AD 1800 to the presentnatural geological deposit undisturbed by human activityNGR National Grid ReferenceOASIS Online AccesS to the Index of Archaeological InvestigationS,

http://oasis.ac.uk/pages/wiki/Main Roman the period from AD 43 to c AD 410wsi written scheme of investigation

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CAT Report 1197: Archaeological monitoring and recording at DSG, Flagstaff Road, Colchester, Essex – October 2017

11 Contents of archiveFinds: n/aPaper and digital record

One A4 document wallet containing: The report (CAT Report 1197)

CBCPS evaluation brief, CAT written scheme of investigation Original site record (feature and layer sheets, finds record, plans) Site digital photos and log, architectural plans, attendance register, risk assessment

12 Archive depositionThe paper and digital archive is currently held by the Colchester Archaeological Trust atRoman Circus House, Roman Circus Walk, Colchester, Essex, CO2 7GZ, but will be permanently deposited with Colchester Museum under accession code COLEM: 2017.150.

© Colchester Archaeological Trust 2017

Distribution listRob Masefield of RPS Group Plc RMPA Services PlcDeborah Priddy, Historic EnglandJess Tipper, Colchester Borough CouncilEssex Historic Environment Record

Colchester Archaeological TrustRoman Circus House,Roman Circus Walk, Colchester, Essex, CO2 7GZ

tel.: 01206 501785email: [email protected]

Checked by: Philip CrummyDate: 17/11/2017

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ESSEX

Chelmsford

Colchester

Fig 1 Site location

Roman Circus cavea wall

Circular Road North

© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Licence number 100039294.

Spina

site location

DSG

Roman Circus cavea wall

0 50 m

Circula

r Roa

d Nor

th

Le Cateau Road

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E599560N224558

E599561N224557

Roman Circus cavea wall

service trench

© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Licence number 100039294.

Fig 2 Results

Le Cateau Road

0 5 m

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Essex Historic Environment Record/Essex Archaeology and History

Summary sheet

Address: Archaeological monitoring and recording at DSG (Defence Support Group), Flagstaff Road, Colchester, Essex, CO2 7SR

Parish: Colchester District: Colchester

NGR: TL 99570 24554 (centre) Site code: CAT project ref.: 17/10fCHER ref: ECC4109OASIS ref: colchest3-301283

Type of work: Monitoring and recording

Site director/group: Colchester Archaeological Trust

Date of work: 23rd October 2017

Size of area investigated: 0.72m²

Location of curating museum: Colchester museumaccession code COLEM: 2017.150

Funding source: Owner

Further seasons anticipated? Not known

Related CHER/SAM number:Roman Circus SAM no.35614

Final report: CAT Report 1197

Periods represented: modern

Summary of fieldwork results: Archaeological monitoring and recording was carried out at DSG (Defence SupportGroup), Flagstaff Road, Colchester, during groundworks to cap off a water main.Despite being located within the Colchester Roman Circus scheduled area, therewas no impact on the monument as all groundworks were confined to the backfill ofthe water main trench.

Previous summaries/reports: None

CBC monitor: Jess Tipper

Keywords: - Significance: -

Author of summary: Laura Pooley

Date of summary: November 2017

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