Roman gravel layer, rubbish pits, field system and possible building remains, Holloway Road Heybridge (EHER 14650)

The evaluation work revealed that the site had not been extensively disturbed since Roman times with the exception of a single modern rubbish pit and some animal and vegetative intrusion.

1993. Trial trenching. A moderately thick deposit of gravel thought to be of Roman date sealed several Iron Age features (EHER 14649) in two of the three trenches. Artefactual finds were sparse and mainly restricted to sherds of pottery and fragments of fired clay and tile. <1> - <3> 1994. Watching brief. An archaeological watching brief was carried out during the excavation of strip footings for the new houses. It identified the presence of extensive Romano-British activity across the study area. The earliest activity consisted of a dispersed distribution of refuse pits within in the eastern half of the site which appear to date to the 1st century. Later linear ditches and gullies were noted running on several alignments, probably representing stock boundaries and drainage ditches to field systems, paddocks or similar agricultural enclosures. Where diagnostic sherds were present they suggest a 2nd to 3rd century date. Post holes recorded may indicate building remains. <4>