Archaeological excavation and monitoring was undertaken in advance of the construction of a park and ride site immediately north of the A12. Trial-trenching evaluation (26 trenches) identified the presence of remains at three locations within the 5.38ha development area. Two were subsequently investigated in open excavation areas and the third monitored during its topsoil strip for the creation of a construction works compound (0.91ha in total). A single worked flint, a fragmented but finely made fabricator of probable Late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age date, was found. The most significant discovery was that of a wide scatter of 30 pits that exhibited in situ burning and charcoal-rich fills. Only two contained datable artefacts -substantial portions of jars of 1st century AD date. Two different charcoal taxa samples from one undated pit were radiocarbon dated, producing results of Cal. 50BC-AD65 and 170BC-AD5. Broad contemporaneity with the pottery-dated examples is probable, and a broadly 1st century AD date straddling the Roman conquest likely for the pit group as a whole. These pits were scattered across the excavation and monitoring areas, with no patterning or associated remains evident. However, similarly burnt pits were previously recorded to the south of the A12 on the route of the Colchester Northern Approach Road. It is conjectured that these were part of the same extensive scatter of such features and that collectively they extend across an area in excess of 70ha. Their function is undetermined, but firepits/hearth at casual encampments or some heathland exploitation activity is suggested. Parts of the post-medieval field enclosure system, some elements of which survived as late as the 19th century, were also encountered.<1>