Archaeological excavation and and monitoring was carried out by Pre-Construct Archaeology on land next to Park Road, Lexden, Colchester, CO3 3UP (TL 98097 24773). The archaeological work consisted of the stripping of two excavation areas (Area 1 and Area 2) and the monitoring of groundworks associated with the development. Two areas of the site were targeted for open area excavation and were located parallel to Park Road, on the northern side of the development area. Area 1 comprised 0.12ha and Area 2 0.12ha. Immediately north and south of Areas 1 and 2 topsoil and some subsoil was also removed in preparation for the development. The stripping (using a toothless ditching bucket) was monitored by an experienced archaeologist as part of the watching brief programme. The programme of archaeological work was commissioned by CgMs on behalf of Redrow Homes Eastern Ltd and in response to a planning condition attached to the construction of 31 new residential dwellings. The aim of the work was initially to characterise the archaeological potential of the site, and then to preserve by record any archaeological remains which would be damaged or destroyed by the new development. <1> This followed an archaeological evaluation in 2006 (ECC2906). The site is located on gently sloping ground, rising from an elevation of approximately 36.5m AOD in the west to 38.5m AOD in the east. The landscape beyond the excavation area rises to the south and slopes downwards towards the River Colne to the north. The ground had been truncated due to modern activities including the construction of a car park. The geological horizon was therefore recorded at a height of between 35.6m AOD and 36.3m AOD, overlain by mixed subsoil, modern ground disturbance and top soil, measuring an average depth of 0.62m. The excavations identified two possible early Roman cremation burials (203 and 206), a pit of probable medieval date (208) and a modern ditch (214) within Area 1 and a single modern pit (217) in Area 2. No other features were exposed during the monitoring phases. The western end of Area 1 was disturbed by a modern car park although there was no indication of any archaeological remains within this area. Modern disturbance was apparent within the eastern part of the site, where Area 1 was located. Here, a former car park had resulted in the truncation of the natural geological horizon.