Archaeological evaluation at the new Innovation Centre, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex, CO4 3SQ:February 2016

An archaeological trial-trenching evaluation was carried out at the University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester in advance of the construction of an Innovation Centre with associated infrastructure. The site was located in a field to the south-east of the junction between Boundary Road and Nesfield Road. This site had not previously been investigated but archaeological work in and around the University has revealed Bronze Age barrows, a Roman road, burials and domestic activity, and medieval pottery scatters.
A cluster of medieval features, layers and finds were identified in evaluation trenches T1-T3 and T7. Ditches, pits, post-holes and patches of charcoal/burnt daub may all be associated with domestic/light industrial activity on the site. No significant archaeological horizons were identified in any of the other trenches (T4-T6 and T8- T14), aside from one field boundary ditch (T10) and two undated pits (T9 and T13).