A pre-determination trial-trenched evaluation of land to the south and north of Axial Way was carried out by Archaeological Services Durham University (86 trenches across an area of 22.4ha.); only a very limited sample was carried on the eastern half of the site (rugby club pitches).<1> The report states 11 fire pits were located, some containing dateable pottery, although the trench descriptions record 15 pits, all in different trenches, containing charcoal-rich fills: T10 (F1004)), T22 (F2203), T24 (F2408), T26 (F2604), T37 (F3709), T47 (F4706), F54 (F5404), T57 (F5603), T59 (F5909), T60 (F6003), T68 (F6803), T74 (F7403), T80 (F8003), T81 (F8103) and T85 (F8508). The fire pits contained charcoal rich deposits with evidence of scorching to the pit sides. Late Iron Age pottery was recovered from one of these pits, with abraded pottery recovered from two further pits. 37 sherds (145g), all from the same vessel (a shouldered jar with an everted rim and lid seat), were from context 2407 (fill of pit F2408 in T24), both hand-recovered and from the palaeoenvironmental sample. Five sherds from the palaeoenvironmental samples from fire pit contexts 1002 (upper fill of F1004 in T10] and 2603 (fill of F2604 in T26) were too small and abraded to be dated, though their coarse fabrics also suggest a prehistoric date. Two possible Roman glass sherds were recovered from fire pit context 1002 (upper fill of F1004 in T10). Postholes were recorded in three trenches. In T85, a posthole fill (8501 of F8502) was of a similar consistency as that within the fire pits, containing a high percentage of charcoal. No dating evidence was recovered from the postholes. Ditches corresponding to features identified on aerial photographs were recorded in Plot 10. These ditches align with field boundaries shown on historic Ordnance Survey maps of the site. Pottery and ceramic building material recovered from them indicates that they are post-medieval. Two post-medieval ditches were recorded in Plot 11, one of which corresponds to a former field boundary. A ditch excavated in Plot 11, T85, produced a sherd of Iron Age pottery (fill 8504 of ditch F8506). Two further ditches were recorded, one in Plot 10 and one in Plot 11, that produced no dating material. One of the ditches was filled with a similar charcoal-rich material to the fire pits (ditch F5903 in T59). These features do not correspond to known historic boundaries. Modern ground disturbance was recorded in eight trenches, with the remains of a brick surface or road recorded in a further eight trenches. In T10 (Plot 9, on the north side of Axial Way) the topsoil had been removed and a layer of weed-proof fabric placed directly on top of the glacial clay: beneath this survived the remains of the best-preserved fire pit (F1004) excavated during this phase of work. Palaeoenvironmental assessment was carried out on 18 bulk samples, taken from a range of features comprising fire pits, pits, ditches and postholes. Assessment of the fire pit samples indicates they typically contained large quantities of charcoal, which potentially is exclusively oak stemwood remains, and includes sapwood and heartwood. There was no evidence of domestic food waste and few signs of kindling material. Charred small calibre oak root wood and soil fungus resting bodies, perhaps imply the burning of woodland turf or earth. The assessment suggests this is consistent with charcoal production taking place, although not conclusive. Two post-medieval clay tobacco pipe stem fragments were recovered from field boundary context 2505 in T25 and ditch fill 3703 in T37. In addition to the Iron Age pottery, six sherds of 19th century pottery were recovered. 17 fragments of ceramic building material were hand recovered or came from palaeoenvironmental samples in six ditch fill. Only three of these pieces - all small, undiagnostic fragments - could be given a Roman date, two from context 3904 in T39 and one from 8602 in T86. The remaining pieces are roof tile and brick fragments of late medieval or post-medieval date. Four copper alloy or copper alloy/iron artefacts were hand-recovered from three contexts, all either undateable or of 19th/20th century date. In addition, a range of metal-detected finds was recovered from the site, and all dateable finds were found to be of post-medieval to 19th/20th century date.