Middle Iron Age post holes, possibly an agricultural or religious structure, at at 18-21 Orchard Street (Caesaromagus Site Z) (EHER 5833)

A small group of prehistoric post holes were found on the site of a Roman mansio (EHER 5835) and appear to form a structure. The structure may have had an agricultural or even religious purpose.

1973. Archaeological excavation. A small group of prehistoric post holes were found on this site. The fills contained flint-gritted pottery, dating to about the 4th century BC, charcoal and fragments of burnt clay, one with wattle impressions. The charcoal was identified "as oak from a mature timber". The post holes seemed to form a structure, most of which was beyond the excavation limits. The building seemed to have been destroyed by fire. It seemed to be isolated, on land not in contemporary use for agriculture. This location suggested two possible functions; agricultural or religious. The plan is comparable to the `temple' found at Heathrow. <1> Finds in Chelmsford Museum. <2> Excavation records also in Chelmsford Museum. <3> Site Assessment: Only part of the building was within the limits of the excavation. <1>