Evaluation by M Dover of SCAU prior to an application for residential development. A large number of features were revealed, including ditches, gullies, postholes, pits, wall foundations and robber trenches, most appearing to date from the late 1st/early 2nd century Romano-British period. Some Iron Age artefacts and features were also identified, suggesting that the settlement had earlier origins. It is unclear as to the exact nature of the site, although the evidence to date is consistent with the activities involved in the construction and operation of a small farmstead.

Continuing monitoring and excavation by G Hayman of SCAU in the area located to the south of previous work undertaken during the previous three years. This phase of the work revealed a wealth of features from the prehistoric through to the Roman. One of the most significant discoveries was a group of post holes, indicating the position of a roundhouse of probable Bronze Age origin. A number of pits and water holes were found in the same vicinity, and with the exception of one water hole of late Neolithic date, are probably of Bronze Age origin.

Continuing monitoring by P Jones of SCAU during groundworks associated with the redevelopment of the former Memorial Gardens. The groundworks were largely superficial, except for deep excavation required for the installation of three water tanks.

Watching brief by J Robertson of SCAU during construction of an extension to the public house. The depth and narrowness of the foundation trenches made it impossible to do more than record the rough sequence of deposits, but the recovery of unstratified finds (largely pottery of Roman and Medieval date) from the spoil does confirm that the site lies within the town ‘island’.

Excavation by G Hayman of SCAU prior to the construction of an extension. The earliest material encountered was a few small fragments of Roman brick and pottery. This was thought to be residual in origin, although its presence continues to support the supposition that a site of this date exists somewhere in the town. Late Saxon and early Norman material was also found in a reworked agricultural horizon. No evidence for activity between the 4th and 10th centuries was found, which is consistent with evidence from other sites nearby.

Note on trenching by D Williams in 2001 which revealed Roman tiles associated with the Doods Farm tile industry operating around cAD140-230. The trenching also recovered three small prehistoric flints. (358)

Evaluation and excavation by P Boyer of PCA prior to residential development. Extensive horizontal truncation, probably dating to the establishment of the barracks during World War II, was found across the majority of the site. However, a Roman enclosure dating to the mid/late 1st century AD was revealed, which probably formed part of a wider agricultural landscape. Later 17th and 18th century agricultural features were also identified in the same area, which appeared to have escaped the truncation evident across the rest of the site.

Evaluation by A Holmes of OA in an area proposed for the construction of sports pitches. Possible prehistoric hearth pits and a ditch, together with a Medieval boundary ditch probably associated with the Royal Deer Park, and evidence for a Post-Medieval trackway were encountered, although the general density of features was low. No evidence for a postulated Roman road running through the site was seen, although a band of natural gravel was seen in the approximate location, which likely accounts for previously recorded geophysical anomalies across the area.

Remedial excavations by D Graham of SyAS on behalf of EH following a series of overnight raids by treasure hunters on the site of the Romano-Celtic temple. The illegal activity was found to have destroyed a length of the ambulatory wall, and had damaged associated archaeological levels. (361)

Excavation by J J Chapman and S Dyer for SAFG in advance of redevelopment revealed a late Roman ditch and levelled surface.