An archaeological evaluation by trial-trenching on land to the rear of 46 High Street, Great Dunmow, Essex – December 2011

Three evaluation trenches excavated to the rear of 46 High Street, Great Dunmow, Essex have shown that Roman archaeological features survive beneath the car-park of the former Uttlesford District Council offices. Large pits, linear features and small pits/post-holes containing Roman finds were cut into the natural. Most of the Roman pottery sherds date to the early Roman period (mid 1st-early 2nd century), with some sherds dating to the mid Roman period (mid 2nd-mid 3rd century). No Anglo-Saxon, medieval or post-medieval features were identified. The Roman features were overlaid by a thick layer of silty-clay topsoil up to 0.7m deep. The series of small pits/post-holes appears to be the remains of a Roman building which fronted onto Stane Street. The large Roman pits appear to relate to an open area to the rear of this building. The low number of post-Roman finds and features identified during the evaluation suggests little activity during these periods, although the site was within the built-up area of the medieval town. It is likely, therefore, that the evaluation site is located in an open area of gardens, yards or paddocks to the rear of properties which fronted onto the High Street and/or New Street.