Roman apsidal building and associated settlement activity at the Plextex site, Ickleton Road, Great Chesterford (EHER 45212)

An area of Roman settlement activity to the west of the Roman walled town.

2000-2001. Archaeological excavation and watching brief. Examination of aerial photos [possibly taken at the time of the excavation/watching brief] shows the area of the car park stripped down to the natural chalk and the outlines of a number of archaeological features are visible including what appears to be the apsidal end of a building, measuring approximately 9m by 11m, probably Roman in date. A number of large pit-like features may be post medieval quarrying. <1> Watching brief identified an area of settlement activity with evidence for both domestic and industrial activities. The settlement activity is thought to be enclosed by a boundary ditch and includes a structure, suggested by the post hole and house mouse bones. <2> See also <3> <4>. The aerial photographs referred to by <1> were taken at the time of the 'Millennium aerial photograp survey of the whole of Essex' during stripping of a new area for car parking to the north-east of the site. <5> Note: The building was first identified as a cropmark and is recorded in EHER 4940.