Co-operative Society’s store, Long Wyre Street, Colchester, Essex: archaeological evaluation, a preliminary report – December 1997

This is a preliminary report on the archaeological evaluation conducted inside the Co-operative Society’s store, Long Wyre Street, Colchester, during December 1997. The evaluation was commissioned by the Co-Operative via Stanley Bragg Architects, and was carried out by Colchester Archaeological Trust. All archaeological work was carried out according to a brief written by the Archaeological Officer of Colchester Borough Council. The importance of the site, which lies across insulae (blocks) 37 and 38a on the southern edge of the major walled Roman town of Colonia Claudia Victricensis is self-evident (for full discussion see final report). The evaluation consisted of five hand-dug test pits, all of which produced archaeological deposits of varying depths (predominantly Roman). See CAT Report 14 for the final report on the evaluation.