Phase 1a trial-trenched evaluation by Colchester Archaeological Trust (commissioned by RPS) was undertaken across the site of the Arena Leisure Centre, prior to its closure and subsequent demolition. Phase 1a of the evaluation consisted of 362 square metres of trenching (201m in length and 1.8m in width) across accessible areas of the site, constrained by the current site use; the total area of the evaluation in this stage was 70m square metres less than that specified in the WSI (432m square metres). All potential burials encountered were only excavated to an extent whereby it could be ascertained they were likely to be burials. Numerous features of archaeological interest were encountered, including eleven Roman assumed inhumations and a collection of Roman field boundaries and pits. Also identified was a selection of post-medieval pits and ditches. Of particular interest is the recovery of a copper-alloy neck ring and two associated human molars from an assumed inhumation in ditch F2. Five features were identified in T1: two pits (F45 and F46), and three ditches (F39, F40 and F47). Four features were undated, ie the shallow ditches F39 (800mm wide, 150mm deep) and F47 (600mm wide, 150mm deep) and the small pits F45 (880mm wide, 240mm deep) and F46 (810mm wide, 190mm deep). The only feature which could be dated is the ditch F40 (900mm wide,140mm deep) which produced a fragment of Roman tegula. Eight features were identified in T2, four pits (F35, F36, F38 and F41), two ditches (F37 and F43), one natural feature (F42) and a posthole (F44). Two features were undated ie the ditch F43 and the posthole F44. The ditch F37 (1.2m wide, 500mm deep) and the pit F41 (1.7m wide, 410mm deep) both contained assemblages of Roman finds and are likely to be of that date. In particular 32 sherds of 2nd- to 3rd-century pottery were recovered along with Roman CBM from F37 whilst 3 sherds of similarly dated pottery derived from pit F41. Pit F38 (800mm wide, 100mm deep) also contained a Roman find assemblage but, due to the flecks of coal or coke observed in the fill of the feature, is likely to be post-medieval. Likewise, features F35 (1.1m wide, 400mm deep) and F36 (1.2m wide, 140mm deep) both contained Roman finds, but also pieces of peg tile, so were assigned a postmedieval date. One partially excavated feature was identified in T4, an assumed inhumation (F48, 1m wide, 290mm deep). The associated finds comprised 3 Roman pot sherds including a 2nd- to 3rd- century sherd, in addition to CBM and a probable coffin nail. Four features were identified in T5: one assumed inhumation (F31, 1.2m wide), the trench for a modern service run (F32), one natural feature (F33), and the end of a possible ring gully (F34, 500mm wide, 160mm deep). The inhumation was only partially excavated. As soon its shape was ascertained in plan and a sampling of finds were recovered the remainder of it was left undug to await a later stage of excavation, as specified in the WSI (RPS 2015). Finds from the grave included horse teeth, pieces of Roman CBM and 3 Roman pot sherds of mid 1st-, 2nd- or 3rd-century date. Four features were identified in T6: one small pit (F27, 500mm wide, 220mm deep), one assumed inhumation (F28, 600mm wide, 180mm deep), and two ditches aligned north/south (F29, 770mm wide, 170mm deep and F30, 1.1m wide, 340mm deep). The assumed inhumation had straight sidesand a flat base, but no finds were recovered. The two ditches appear to be contemporary, and the westernmost one, F30, lines up with F4 in T10 (Fig 4). This suggests a Roman date for these ditches, although no datable finds were recovered. Six features were identified in T7: one ditch aligned north/south (F22, 1.2m wide, 610mm deep), one small posthole, possibly for a grave marker (F21, 450mm wide, 200mm deep) and four assumed inhumations (F17-F20). The ditch (F22) appears to run north/south, but its break of slope suggests it could be starting to turn to the west. The confines of the trench made it difficult to be entirely certain. Four features were identified in T8: two post-medieval ditches (F23, 1m wide, 380mm deep and F25, 1.8m wide), one assumed inhumation (F24, 900mm wide) and one natural feature (F26). The larger of the two post-medieval ditches (F25) was not bottomed due to time restraints, but appeared to be of substantial size. Four features were encountered in T9: a Roman ditch (F14, 1m wide, 140mm deep), an undated ditch (F16, 900mm wide, 220mm deep), a posthole (F15, 400mm wide, 160mm deep), and a spread of greensand (F10). Six features were identified in T10: two modern postholes (F11 and F12), the terminus of an undated ditch (F3, 900mm wide, 190mm deep) and three Roman ditches (F1, 600mm wide, 270mm deep, F2, 1.1m wide, 250mm deep and F4, 1.45m wide, 450mm deep), one of which (F1) containedthe burial F13, and another which contained human remains and a copper alloy neck ring (Plate V). Five features were identified in T11: three natural features (F5, F6 and F9), and two modern features (F7 and F8).