Between January and March 2011 five targeted open area excavations were carried out by Oxford Archaeology East in advance of the construction of a water pipeline by Essex and Suffolk Water. <1> 550m The site extended north to south across undulating countryside - two trenches (A & B), 550m in total length x 4m wide. Topsoil was stripped to a depth of 0.3m from which Neolithic pottery was recovered. No subsoil was present within Trench B; however in Trench A subsoil ranged from 0.1m thick on higher ground, rising to a thickness of 0.6m where the ground sloped down towards the stream. Colluvium was observed on the valley side to a maximum depth of 1.2m. Archaeological features were observed to be concentrated on the higher ground, cut into the sand and gravel natural. Two adjacent ditches running north-east to south-west, following the contours of the ground, were excavated. Although undated it was thought these features were likely to have been prehistoric. There were also two post-medieval ditches, modern tree throws and undated ditches, pits and postholes.