Roman coins, pottery and human remains from the gardens of Carmen Street, Great Chesterford (EHER 4961)

A mixed finds assemblage was recovered from the gardens of houses between Newmarket Road (A11) and Carmen Street (North). These included two coins of Constantinian and one each of Tetricus and Hadrian. There were also human remains (a jaw and a leg bone) and a lot of pottery, described as coming from within black fills, possibly pits or ditches. It is not entirely clear under what circumstances the finds were recovered, but it appears to be that A.E. Collins recorded them whilst performing watching briefs in 1968 and 1978 on Carmen Street.

Finds from houses between the A11 and Carmen Street (north). Comprising 20 houses with gardens, a number of coins have been found. The coins comprise: two Constantinian; one Tetricus; and 1 Hadrian. During sewerage work were found: a human jaw, leg bones, and much pottery, from black 'fillings' (possibly ditches or pits). Houses 1 and 2 were particularly rich. Skeletons of 1st-2nd century date were excavated on the opposite side of A11 (<1>, EHER 13857). The fort ditch could pass through here. Also a small portion of the 4th century town wall and ditch (EHER 4915). <2> <3> Site Assessment: At minimum planning applications should allow observation. <2> <3> 1968 and 1978. Watching briefs. Five features were recorded during watching briefs on the laying of sewage pipes and power cables, see EHER 83361. At the same time a record was made of finds from the gardens of the houses between Newmarket Road and Carmen Street. These included two coins of Constantinian and one each of Tetricus and Hadrian. There were also human remains (a jaw and a leg bone) and a lot of pottery, from black fills; the gardens of No. 1 and 2 (at the northern end of the group) were particularly rich in this. On the opposite side of Newmarket Road, a skeleton of 1st- to 2nd-century date was apparently found (EHER 13857); its precise location is not recorded. <4>