BRIEF FOR AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION:
117-123, GOSBECKS ROAD,
COLCHESTER,
ESSEX.
COLCHESTER BOROUGH COUNCIL
PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
NOVEMBER 2012
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1. Introduction.
This Brief for an archaeological evaluation has been prepared by the Archaeological Officer of
Colchester Borough Council. The proposed development is located within an area of definite
archaeological potential, and the Brief is designed to locate, identify and assess the quality of any
surviving archaeological. This information will then enable an informed decision to be taken on the
requirements, if any, of further archaeological evaluation and possibly full excavation. This follows the
guidelines provided for in National Planning Policy Framework: (DCLG 2012).
2. Site Location and Description.
The redevelopment site of 2.185 acres is situated south of Colchester town centre adjacent but on the
north side of Gosbecks Road, and comprises office and store buildings occupied by Colchester Borough
Homes and Lay & Wheelers wine merchants, (Fig.1). The site is centred at NGR TL97527 22848.
Concrete hard standing used as car parking covers a significant part of the redevelopment area.
3. Planning Background.
An application will be forthcoming for the erection of a new building of 1,915 sq m on the west side of
the site predominately on the footprint of the 2 existing office buildings. Existing car parking areas will
remain in situ as will the office building with its car park on the south-eastern part of the site also.
Outbuildings to the rear (north), of the redevelopment site will be removed and the area incorporated
into the car park.
4. Archaeological Background.
The site is located adjacent to, but outside, of the scheduled ancient monument area of Gosbecks Iron
Age & Romano-British site, (SAM No.57). Excavations following evaluation in 1994 south of
Gosbecks Road and north of Cunobelin Way on the housing estate opposite the redevelopment site
revealed various features of the prehistoric and Roman landscape. A full discussion of Gosbecks will be
found in Hawkes & Crummy, (1995). A Roman road running north-south from Colchester to Gosbecks
is recorded some 85m west of the site in question.
5. Requirement for Work.
The proposed evaluation is being undertaken to establish the extent, character and date of any
archaeological deposits that may be present. It is proposed that two trenches each 10m long and a
minimum of 1.5m in width are machine excavated using a toothless bucket within the area of the
proposed footprint of the new building which will be to the west side of the redevelopment area, as
indicated on Fig.2. The trench positions may be relocated to avoid any service runs, ease machine
access, etc.
It may not be necessary to excavate to the natural but there must be sufficient excavation to determine if
any archaeological deposits survive.
Manual cleaning and examination of features will be necessary.
Details of the proposed environmental sampling strategy and subsequent analysis shall be provided.
A metal detector shall be used to examine spoil heaps and finds recovered.
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6. General Methodology.
The archaeological contractor must be familiar with and follow the Guidelines on Standards and
Practices for Archaeological Fieldwork in the Borough of Colchester (1999: Revised 2008), and the
Guidelines on the Preparation and Transfer of Archaeological Archives to Colchester & Ipswich
Museums (1996. Revised 2008). (Copies available from Colchester Borough Planning).
The archaeological contractor will be expected to follow the Code of Conduct of the Institute of Field
Archaeologists.
All of the latest Health and Safety guidelines must be followed on site.
The IFA’s Standards and Guidance for Archaeological Field Evaluation (1994: Revised 1999) shall be
used for additional guidance in the production of the archaeological specification, the content of the
report, and the general execution of the project.
The archaeological contractor is expected to follow the Code of Conduct of the Institute of Field
Archaeologists.
7. Archive Deposition.
It is a policy of Colchester Borough Council that the integrity of the site archive be maintained (i.e. all
finds and records should be properly curated by a single organisation), with the archive available for
public consultation. To achieve this desired aim it is assumed that the full archive will be deposited in
Colchester Museums unless otherwise agreed in advance. (A full copy of the archive shall in any case
be deposited).
Arrangements for long-term storage and deposition of the archive, including
all artefacts, must be agreed with the landowner and the recipient museum
prior to the commencement of fieldwork.
The full archive shall be deposited with Colchester Museums within six months of the completion of the
report, and in accordance with the Guidelines on the Preparation and Transfer of Archaeological
Archives to Colchester & Ipswich Museums (1996: Revised 2008).
Further guidance on the deposition of the archive will be found in Archaeological Archives: A guide to
best practice in creation, compilation, transfer and curation. (Brown, 2007).
A copy of the report shall be supplied to the Essex Heritage and Environment Record (EHER) on
completion, and an EHER summary sheet submitted within four weeks of work finishing on site, (copy
attached).
At the start of work an OASIS online record will be initiated and key fields completed on Details,
Location and Creators forms.
8. References.
Brown, D. 2007. Archaeological Archives. A guide to best practice in creation, compilation, transfer
and curation. Archaeological Archives Forum and IFA.
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Colchester Borough Council. 1999. Revised 2008. Guidelines on Standards and Practices for
Archaeological Fieldwork in the Borough of Colchester.
Colchester Borough Council. 1996. Revised 2008. Guidelines on the Preparation and Transfer of
Archaeological Archives to Colchester & Ipswich Museums.
Hawke, C.F.C &.Crummy, P. 1995. Camulodunum 11. CAR Report 11.
9. Contractors Specification.
Archaeological contractors shall forward a project specification to Colchester Borough Council’s
Archaeological Officer for validation before submitting costed proposals to the agency (client)
commissioning the work. The specification shall include a trench layout plan.
Brief written by:
Martin Winter MIFA
Major Project Planning Team,
Colchester Borough Council,
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Rowan House,
33, Sheepen Road,
Colchester,
Essex,
C03 3WG.
Tel: (01206) 508781
E-mail: martin.winter@colchester.gov.uk
Brief written: 30/11/2012
This Brief is valid for six months only from the date above. After this period the author should be
contacted.
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