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Colchester: the Roman Fortress and the Development of the Colonia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 November 2011

Philip Crummy
Philip Crummy
Affiliation:
c/o The Castle Museum, Colchester
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Extract

Recent archaeological work in Colchester has shed considerable light on the origin and growth of the Roman town. The excavations at Balkerne Lane have yielded a series of six periods which can be related to changes in Colchester's street-plan and defences. This article is not a comprehensive interim report on all recent work but instead presents the results which have a direct bearing on Roman Colchester's development. Particular emphasis has been placed on the evidence relating to the site of the legionary fortress and its apparent re-use as the basis for the new colonia. Descriptions of research on the Balkerne Gate and of the section across the defences at Lion Walk have been included as they are central to any study of the development of Roman Colchester's street-plan. It must be stressed that the conclusions presented here are provisional, pending the definitive excavation reports, which will be based on a fuller assessment of the evidence recovered than is yet possible. This applies particularly to the sequence of occupation and defences at Balkerne Lane. A description and discussion of the evidence relating to the end of Roman Colchester and its relationship to the Saxon town will be dealt with elsewhere.

Type
Articles
Information
Britannia , Volume 8 , November 1977 , pp. 65 - 105
Copyright
Copyright © Philip Crummy 1977. Exclusive Licence to Publish: The Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies

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References

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