Collins, C. (2019). Archaeological Test Pit Excavations in West Mersea, Essex, 2006-2010. University of Cambridge: Access Cambridge Archaeology. https://doi.org/10.5284/1082177. Cite this using datacite

Title
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Title:		 Archaeological Test Pit Excavations in West Mersea, Essex, 2006-2010
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Series:		 Access Cambridge Archaeology unpublished report series
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accessca1-366395_1.pdf (8 MB) : Download
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DOI
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DOI
https://doi.org/10.5284/1082177
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Publication Type:		 Report (in Series)
Abstract
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Abstract:		 A total of 58 1m2 archaeological test pits were excavated from West Mersea, on Mersea Island along the Essex coast between 2006 and 2010. The excavations were run as part of their Higher Education Field Academy (HEFA) by Access Cambridge Archaeology (ACA) out of the Department of Archaeology at the University of Cambridge and were undertaken by 191 school pupils from 14 local secondary schools. The test pitting in West Mersea revealed a range of activity dating from the later prehistoric period through to the modern day, both supporting what has already been found on the island as well as providing new archaeological evidence. The nature of the test pits allows excavations in otherwise inaccessible places for the normal methods of commercial archaeological investigation, and it showed that some earlier phases of occupation in West Mersea still exist under the present settlement, despite the widespread level of disturbances and modern development. Evidence for both Late Bronze Age and Iron Age activity were found on the island through the test pitting, the latter focused more around the coast and likely relating to the start of the salt-making industry that would have also continued through the Roman period. The start of West Mersea as we see it today may have been during the Middle Anglo Saxon period and there are three references to Mersea Island in the Domesday Book, after which settlement expanded. Any settlement does not seem to have been too greatly affected by the Black Death as noted through the relatively stable pottery levels recorded during the excavations. From the post medieval onward the settlement expanded into the thriving fishing village that is still seen today.
Author
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Author:		 C Collins
Publisher
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Publisher:		 Access Cambridge Archaeology
Other Person/Org
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Other Person/Org:		 Historic England (OASIS Reviewer)
Colchester Borough Council (OASIS Reviewer)
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Year of Publication:		 2019
Locations
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Locations:
Site: West Mersea Big Dig
County: Essex
District: Colchester
Parish: WEST MERSEA
Country: England
Grid Reference: 600900, 212500 (Easting, Northing)
Subjects / Periods
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Subjects / Periods:
LATER PREHISTORIC (Historic England Periods) BURNT STONE (Find)
UNCERTAIN (Historic England Periods) OYSTER SHELL (Object England)
BRONZE AGE (Historic England Periods) SHERD (Object England)
EARLY MEDIEVAL (Historic England Periods) SHERD (Object England)
IRON AGE (Historic England Periods) SHERD (Object England)
MEDIEVAL (Historic England Periods) SHERD (Object England)
20TH CENTURY (Historic England Periods) SHERD (Object England)
POST MEDIEVAL (Historic England Periods) SHERD (Object England)
ROMAN (Historic England Periods) SHERD (Object England)
UNCERTAIN (Historic England Periods) SHARK TEETH (Find)
LATER PREHISTORIC (Historic England Periods) WORKED FLINT (Find)
IRON AGE (Historic England Periods) SETTLEMENT (Monument Type England)
LATER PREHISTORIC (Historic England Periods) SETTLEMENT (Monument Type England)
ROMAN (Historic England Periods) SETTLEMENT (Monument Type England)
MEDIEVAL (Historic England Periods) TOWN (Monument Type England)
TEST PIT (Event)
Identifiers
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Identifiers:
OASIS Id: accessca1-366395
Note
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Note:		 A4, gre-report style, to be printed double sided, 173 pages
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Created Date
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Created Date:		 22 Oct 2020