Following an archaeological evaluation in 1997, excavations were carried out by Colchester Archaeological Trust on the site of the Co-operative stores, 21-31 Long Wyre Street, during April and May 1998. The excavations were necessitated by the development of the site into new shop units.<1><2> Evidence for the following periods of activity was observed: Period I – c.AD 80-100 Several rows of small post-holes with associated sand and clay floors. Period II – early 2nd century AD Clay floors with occupation dirt on them (no contemporary walls were found). Period III – early to mid 2nd century AD A building with stone-filled wall-footing trenches and clay floors. Construction of street separating Insulas 37 and 38a. Period IV – mid to late 2nd century AD A substantial addition to the Period 3 building. A new pebble-in-mortar floor associated with two buried pots (ritual foundation deposits). Period V – late 2nd century AD An oven, fragments of walls, floor patches. Period VI – early-mid 3rd century AD A structure defined by slots and associated with a gravel surface. A third ritually deposited pot. Period VII – after AD 270 and later 3rd century A new house with deep, rubble-in-mortar foundations. Parts of nine(?) rooms coincide with the excavated area, but it was clearly a much larger structure. Some floors tessellated. Period VIII – late 3rd-early 4th century AD Demolition of the Period VII house. Period IX – early 4th century AD Various cuts into the demolition debris above (robbing activity?). Period X – medieval Robbing of Roman walls, followed by digging of rubbish-pits. Period XI – post-medieval Large-scale pit-digging along the southern edge of the site. Period XII – modern Walls, concrete stanchions (recent Co-operative Society’s building), pits. This followed an archaeologival evaluation in 1997.<3><4>