Excavation by J McKinley of WA of a site on the High Street frontage, and of the former British Gas site, both as part of the Central Trading Estate redevelopment. Limited evidence of Bronze Age activity was observed at both sites, including flood defence measures and probable agricultural activity. The major phase of occupation was in the early Romano-British period, where domestic activity, including an in situ tessellated floor surface and associated wall lines indicative of a substantial structure, and small scale industrial activity was concentrated in the area of the High Street site.

Watching brief carried out by M Dover of SCAU on stripping of area in advance of mineral extraction. Ditches, probably belonging to a field system, were traced in several locations. Pottery recovered was of later Bronze Age date, and in one area was of a sufficient quantity to suggest a settlement site in the near vicinity. Further work is planned.

Continuing monitoring work by J Stevenson of SCAU in an area located immediately to the south of previous work undertaken in 1999 and 2000. The more securely dated features include: a Neolithic pit containing a complete Ebbsfleet bowl; several mid--Late Bronze Age pits; a small Iron Age pit containing nothing but a complete triangular loomweight; three sides of an enclosure of prehistoric date; the right-angled corner of a Roman enclosure, leading towards an area of concentrated Roman activity identified previously, and some middle Saxon pits.

Evaluation and subsequent excavation by T Carew of PCA in advance of the construction of a new prison. A palaeochannel, probably dating to the late glacial to early post-glacial period, cut through the centre of the excavated area. A probable early Mesolithic flint blade was recovered from near the channel, although it was found in a later context. The earliest of the cut features was a pit with a probable placed deposit of early Neolithic flintwork. This was adjacent to a middle to Late Neolithic ring ditch, interpreted as either a hengiform monument or a barrow.

Evaluation by J Robertson of SCAU in advance of redevelopment revealed no features, but the discovery of an unstratified Bronze Age flint thumbnail scraper points to evidence of prehistoric activity in the vicinity

Evaluation by M Dover of SCAU in advance of commercial and residential redevelopment. A single undated linear feature, likely to be prehistoric, was revealed, although generally the site had undergone large-scale truncation in the past. A subsequent excavation revealed gullies and ditches belonging to settlement enclosures, a number of pits, and a large waterhole. Pottery, including large parts of individual vessels, as well as loomweights and other finds dating to the Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age transition were recovered.

Watching brief and subsequent excavation by J Robertson of SCAU of an Early Bronze Age ring ditch, probably originally surrounding a barrow. Two inhumations were found at the base of the ditch, and Neolithic flintwork, Roman ditches, and Saxon pits were also discovered. (355)

Continuing excavation and fieldwalking by Plateau recovered further finds of worked flint of Lower Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age date, while pottery dating to the Bronze Age, Iron Age, Romano-British, Saxon, medieval and post-medieval periods was also found. A large Neolithic or Bronze Age leaf-shaped arrowhead and a probable Bronze Age pendant were among the finds. Features on the site included a probable late Roman farmstead enclosure, and a Mesolithic tree-throw pit shelter with rubbish pit.

Survey undertaken under the direction of C Currie of CKCA, as part of the Community Archaeology Project for SCC and SyAS, to assess whether the study area was suitable for designation as an ASHLV. Both documentary research and fieldwork added greatly to existing knowledge of the area, and highlighted the presence of a range of archaeological remains dating from the Palaeolithic through to the Second World War.