Mersea Barrow, Barrow Hill Farm, East Mersea Road, West Mersea, Essex, CO5 8SL July & September 2014 & July 2016
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Archaeological watching briefs at Mersea Barrow, Barrow Hill Farm, East Mersea Road, West Mersea, Essex, CO5 8SL July & September 2014 & July 2016 report prepared by Donald Shimmin on behalf of Colchester Borough Council NGR: TM 0228 1434 CAT project refs: 14/07h & 16/06n Colchester and Ipswich Museums accession codes: COLEM 2014.73 & 2016.66 UAD ref: ECC3806 Colchester Archaeological Trust Roman Circus House, Roman Circus Walk, Colchester, Essex CO2 7GZ tel.: 01206 501785 email: [email protected] CAT Report 992 September 2016 CAT Report 992: Archaeological watching briefs at Mersea Barrow, Barrow Hill Farm, East Mersea Road, West Mersea, Essex, CO5 8SL: July & September 2014 & July 2016 Contents 1 Summary 1 2 Introduction 1 3 Archaeological background 1 4 Aims 2 5 Methods 2 6 Results 3 7 Finds 4 7.1 Introduction 4 7.2 The worked stone 4 8 Discussion 4 9 Abbreviations and glossary 5 10 References 5 11 Acknowledgements 6 12 Archive deposition 6 13 Appendices 7 Appendix 1: contents of archive 7 Appendix 2: list of finds by context 7 Figures after p 8 Appended documents: Written Scheme of Investigation OASIS project entries EHER summary sheet List of figures and photographs Fig 1 Site location plan Fig 2 Site plan Photo 1 Mersea Barrow, viewed from the south-east front cover Photo 2 Stripped area for access path, viewed from the east 3 CAT Report 992: Archaeological watching briefs at Mersea Barrow, Barrow Hill Farm, East Mersea Road, West Mersea, Essex, CO5 8SL: July & September 2014 & July 2016 1 Summary Archaeological watching briefs took place at Mersea Barrow in 2014 and 2016 during works to improve visitor access and amenities. No significant archaeological deposits were uncovered, although a small quantity of Roman roof tile fragments was recovered from the modern topsoil on the eastern side of the barrow. The form of the tegulae lends support to a recent redating of the burial and the barrow to the mid-2nd century, rather than the later 1st century as put forward by Warren following the 1912 excavation. 2 Introduction (Fig 1) 2.1 Archaeological watching briefs were carried out at Mersea Barrow, Barrow Hill Farm, East Mersea Road, West Mersea, Essex, CO5 8SL, during works to improve visitor access and amenities. The watching briefs were commissioned by Philip Wise on behalf of Colchester Borough Council (CBC), and were undertaken by Colchester Archaeological Trust (CAT) in July and September 2014 and in July 2016. 2.2 Mersea Barrow is located on the north side of Mersea Island, immediately to the north of East Mersea Road, close to the junction with Dawes Lane. The barrow is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument (Scheduled Monument No: SM 32425; NHLE no. 1019019). The works fell partly within the SAM area, and Scheduled Monument Consent was obtained. Mersea Barrow lies on relatively elevated ground overlooking the Pyefleet Channel and is situated approximately 800 m south-east of the southern end of the Strood. The modern ground level at the foot of the barrow is at approximately 20 m AOD. 2.3 The improvement works included: the laying of an electricity supply cable for lighting within the barrow; the resurfacing of the access path leading up to the entrance into the barrow, on its eastern side; and the installation of an interpretation panel a short distance to the east of the barrow. The works were centred on NGR TM 0228 1434. The relevant planning application number for these works is 101371. 2.4 For the installation of the interpretation panel, a Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) was produced by CAT in June 2016 (WSI 2016; appended below). This WSI outlined the excavation and recording methods used, and also set out proposals for post- excavation work, the production of a report, an archive and (if necessary) publication texts. It followed a brief written by Colchester Borough Council’s Archaeological Advisor (CBCAA) in June 2016 (CBC 2016). 2.5 This report follows the standards set out in Colchester Borough Council’s Guidelines on standards and practices for archaeological fieldwork in the Borough of Colchester (CIMS 2008a), and also those in the Institute for Archaeologists’ Standard and guidance for an archaeological watching brief (CIfA 2014a) and Standard and guidance for the collection, documentation, conservation and research of archaeological materials (CIfA 2014b). The guidance contained in English Heritage’s Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MoRPHE 2006), and in the documents Research and archaeology: a framework for the Eastern Counties 1. Resource assessment (EAA 3), Research and archaeology: a framework for the Eastern Counties 2. Research agenda and strategy (EAA 8), Standards for field archaeology in the East of England (EAA 14), and Research and archaeology revisited: a revised framework for the Eastern Counties. Research agenda and strategy (EAA 24), was also followed. 3 Archaeological background (Figs 1-2) 3.1 Mersea Barrow was excavated in 1912 (Warren 1913). The excavation consisted of a trench dug from the eastern side of the barrow into its centre, where a larger central shaft was opened out. A Roman cremation burial was located near the centre of the barrow. It lay within a chamber constructed of Roman roof tiles (tegulae) set in mortar. The chamber contained a lead casket inside which was a glass urn containing the cremated human remains. In 1912 the barrow survived approximately 33.5 m in diameter and 6.9 m high. No trace was discovered in 1912 of a ditch around the 1 CAT Report 992: Archaeological watching briefs at Mersea Barrow, Barrow Hill Farm, East Mersea Road, West Mersea, Essex, CO5 8SL: July & September 2014 & July 2016 barrow. The 1912 excavation trench was subsequently roofed over and concreted to form a tunnel to allow visitors access to the burial chamber from the eastern side of the barrow. 3.2 The burial was dated in the original site report to the late 1st century (Warren 1913, 138). The date of the burial and barrow was subsequently reassessed by Hull to AD 100-120 (VCHE 3, 160). More recently, it has been suggested that a mid-2nd century date is more likely for the construction of the barrow (Benfield and Black 2014, 67 & 72). 3.3 The cremated human remains were re-examined in 2012-3 by Jacqueline McKinley of Wessex Archaeology (McKinley 2014). The bone came from a male aged between 35 and 45. There is evidence of spinal lesions and excessive bony growths, indicating that he suffered from diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH). This is a disease of the joints that today is found mainly in men over 50. The presence was also detected of exotic items, including pine resin and frankincense (Brettell et al 2014). These were probably added to the bone after cremation, and suggest an elaborate funerary ritual. 3.4 Other Roman remains known on Mersea Island include a possible villa, or more likely a cluster of buildings, in the vicinity of West Mersea church, approximately 2.3 km to the south-west of Mersea Barrow (Crummy 2001, 71-2). About 140 m to the east of these Roman remains, an unusual circular mausoleum and a Roman cremation burial, both of probable 2nd century date, have been recorded (Howlett 2012, 57-60). The burial was set in a tile cist and consisted of a glass urn, with a lead lid, housing the bones of a child. A ceramic lamp was also recovered. There is an unconfirmed report that two Roman rings and fragments of a tessellated pavement were found fairly close to the Mersea Barrow in nearby Bower Hall Lane (unpublished letter to D.T-D Clarke dated 28.8.1980 from Mrs J W M Read; Howlett 2012, 66 & 76). 4 Aims The aims of the watching briefs were to record the depth and extent of any archaeological remains uncovered during the improvement works, and to assess the date and significance of these remains. 5 Methods (Fig 2) 5.1 Initially, a shallow trench was hand-dug by the contractors, Bowling Garrard, on 30th July 2014 to house an electricity cable to supply lighting to the entrance tunnel and burial chamber. The trench extended for approximately 5.65 m, from the gravelled track and vehicle turning area on the eastern side of the barrow, to the timber revetment baulk on the northern side of the entrance into the barrow. The trench was roughly 150 mm wide and 300 mm deep. Further east, the electricity cable had already been laid under the track, which lies outside the SAM. 5.2 Subsequently, an area was stripped by hand by the contractors, NCC Ltd and Lings, on 4th September 2014, in advance of the resurfacing of the access path on the eastern side of the barrow. The stripped area extended for approximately 6.5 m east- west, from the gravelled track to the eastern ends of the timber baulks at the entrance to the barrow. The stripped area was dug roughly 150-200 mm deep, and was approximately 1.3 m wide at its eastern end, widening out to 1.9 m at its western end. It extended across the cable trench that had been dug previously. Many roots, and some possible animal disturbance, were encountered during the trenching and stripping. 5.3 An interpretation panel was installed by the contractors, Whitnell, on the eastern side of the barrow on 22nd July 2016. It is located outside the SAM, on a grass verge adjacent to the gravelled track. The panel was mounted on a lectern with a single post. The posthole for it was dug approximately 400 mm square and 500 mm deep.