An archaeological strip, map and record excavation was carried out by Colchester Archaeological Trust in May 2091 at Colchester Zoo, Stanway in advance of the erection of a new admissions building. An area measuring 214.5m² was reduced through modern topsoil (L1, c.0.27-0.32m thick) and subsoil (L2, c.0.29-0.4m thick) onto natural sands and gravels (L3), encountered at a depth of 0.59-0.68m below current ground level. The area was shown to be heavily disturbed and the only feature encountered was a modern soakaway F1.<1>