Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Monument Number 1065112
Hob Uid: 1065112
Location : Essex Colchester Non Civil Parish
Grid Ref : TL9920024800
Summary : Excavation of a Roman cemetery in 1839 and 1971 uncovered two phases; 3rd century cremations overlain by 4th century inhuamtions. Lead and wood coffins, a tile burial and glass bottles used as cinerary urns were found. The earlier cemetery consisted of 65 graves, the later 620 graves.
More information : (TL 992248) Roman Burial Ground (R) (1) The Butt Road Cemetery: A Roman burial ground first noted in 1839 in the area between Beaconsfield Avenue and Burlington Road, centred mainly on Alexandria Road: TL 99202474, during building and gravel working. A large number of cremations in urns and glass bottles were found, also inhumations mostly in wooden coffins, but two were in lead coffins. Wire examined some 200 skeletons. There was also a tomb of tiles and a circular cist full of cremations in urns. Grave goods include coins mostly of Constantine, bracelets, iron spearheads and chisels, bronze and iron keysand brooches. Finds in Colchester Museum. Further inhumatoins were excavated in 1971. (2-3) TL 99292481 The Roman cemetery at Butt Road was excavated and two periods of burila were established. The earlier cemetery represented by 65 graves, aligned N-S, was 3rd century AD. Overlying this was a 4th century cemetery containing inhumations orientated with the feet to the E, of which 620 graves were examined. To the W the burials extended to within 1.0m of a building, probably a church or temple (TL 92 SE 100). (4-8)

Sources :

Source Number : 1
Source :
Source details : OS 1:2500 1969
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Source Number : 2
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Source details :
Page(s) : 256-7
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Vol(s) : no.20 - 1958

Source Number : 2a
Source :
Source details : Wire MSS
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Source Number : 3
Source :
Source details : (P Crummy)
Page(s) : 331
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Vol(s) : Mar-72

Source Number : 4
Source :
Source details : (SS Frere)
Page(s) : 407
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Vol(s) : Aug-77

Source Number : 5
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Source details : (R Goodburn)
Page(s) : 451
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Vol(s) : Sep-78

Source Number : 6
Source :
Source details : (R Goodburn)
Page(s) : 308
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Vol(s) : Oct-79

Source Number : 7
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Source details : (F O Grew)
Page(s) : 276-8
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Vol(s) : Nov-80

Source Number : 8
Source :
Source details : (C Crossan)
Page(s) : 241-2
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Vol(s) : Oct-78

Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Roman
Display Date :
Monument End Date : 399
Monument Start Date : 200
Monument Type : Inhumation Cemetery, Cist, Coffin, Tile Burial, Inhumation, Cremation, Cinerary Urn, Cremation Cemetery, Mixed Cemetery
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit, Find

Components and Objects:

Period : Roman
Component Monument Type : Inhumation Cemetery, Cist, Coffin, Tile Burial, Inhumation, Cremation, Cinerary Urn, Cremation Cemetery, Mixed Cemetery
Object Type : BRACELET, SPEAR, KEY (LOCKING), BROOCH, COIN, BOTTLE
Object Material : Lead, Wood, Glass

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : TL 92 SE 78
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1976-01-01
End Date : 1979-12-31

Historic England Research Records

Monument Number 1065112