Site Event/Activity record ESF25132 - Deposit, Former Fire Station, Colchester Road, Ipswich, Suffolk

PROJECT DETAILS In June 2013 Archaeological Solutions Ltd (AS) carried out an archaeological evaluation at the Former Fire Station, Colchester Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP4 4SS (NGR TM 181 460). The evaluation was commissioned by Hopkins Homes Ltd and was undertaken in advance of the proposed construction of a residential development. The evaluation is required to comply with a planning requirement (Ipswich Borough Council) which requires a programme of archaeological work, based on advice from SCC AS-CT. Trenches 6 and 7 contained numerous early Roman (mid 1st - mid 2nd century) features comprising a very large sunken feature (F1008) that appeared to have a metalled base (L1011), gullies, ditches and pits. While the majority of archaeological features (20) were found in Trenches 6 and 7, a sparse number were located in Trench 1 (Ditch (F1006), Trench 2 (?Roman buried soil L1062) and Trench 3 (Pits F1053 and F1053). The remainder of the site contained features of post-medieval/modern date only, many of which were associated with the fire station complex. Sparse quantities of residual struck flint and burnt flint were found in Trenches 2 (F1008 and F2053), 6 (F1103, F1108 and F1110) and 7 (F1068, F1074, F1081 and F1083). The small number of flints have a diverse date range: a long blade of Palaeolithic or Mesolithic date. Mesolithic blade production on or close to the site is attested to by a core recovered as un-stratified material and micro-blades contained in Ditch F1068 and Gully F1108. The remaining debitage is of later Neolithic to early Bronze Age date. Project status: Complete Yes, Validated Yes Previous/Future Work: Previous No, Future Not known Associated Identifiers: Contracting Unit No. P5155 Sitecode IPS717 NMR No. 1578809 Project Type: Field evaluation Development Type: Rural residential Methods and Techniques: '''Targeted Trenches''', '''Sample Trenches''' Position in the Planning Process: Pre-application Reason for Investigation: Planning condition Site status: None Current Land use: Other 3 - Built over Monument Type(s)/Period(s): DITCHES, GULLYS AND PITS Roman Artefact Type(s)/Period(s): POTTERY Roman PROJECT LOCATION Area 1.20 Hectares Grid Reference: TM181460 Point Height 45.00 - 45.00 metres PROJECT CREATOR(S) Organisation: Archaeological Solutions Ltd Brief originator: Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service Conservation Team Design originator: Jon Murray Director/Manager: Jon Murray Supervisor: Gareth Barlow DIGITAL ARCHIVE Recipient: Suffolk County Archaeological Store Contents: 'Survey' Media: 'Images raster / digital photography', 'Survey', 'Text' PAPER ARCHIVE Recipient: Suffolk County Archaeological Store Contents: 'Survey' Media: 'Drawing', 'Plan', 'Report', 'Survey ', 'Photograph' PHYSICAL ARCHIVE Recipient: Suffolk County Archaeological Store Contents: 'Ceramics' BIBLIOGRAPHY Publication Type: Grey literature (unpublished document/manuscript) Title: Former Fire Station, Colchester Road, Ipswich, Suffolk Author(s)/Editor(s): Barlow, G Other Bibliographic Details: Archaeological Solutions Report No. 4311 Date: 2013 Issuer/Publisher: Archaeological Solutions Ltd Place of Issue or Publication: Bury St Edmunds