A small excavation undertaken by Colchester Archaeological Trust in July 2016, in the garden of 19 St Clare Road (to the south of the existing dwelling), defined two Late Iron Age to early Roman ditches and two early Roman ditches were excavated, revealing an area of agricultural or settlement activity. Other features included a modern pit, two undated pits and three tree-throws.<1>

The archaeological remains were defined cut into the natural sands and gravels, 400-500mm below the current ground surface, below modern topsoil (L1, c 150-200mm thick) and subsoil (L2, c 250-300mm thick).

Small quantities of finds, primarily pottery and eight salt briquetage pieces dating to the Late Iron Age (LIA) and Roman period, were recovered from six features (F1, F4, F6, F8, F9 & F11). A sherd of residual earlier (EIA) pottery was also recovered from F11, and also a piece of worked flint (dated later prehistoric – Bronze Age/Early Iron Age). Of certain post-conquest date are two small, abraded pieces of lava quernstone from ditch F11 (17). Pieces of lava quern were also recovered from F1 during the evaluation. These and the briquetage indicate a domestic element to the occupation. A small sherd from a Roman glass vessel can also be fairly confidently dated to the post conquest period. A single, small pottery counter (SF1) of Roman date was also recovered from the fill of ditch F11.<2>

The report states (p.7), 'Although the small size of the finds assemblage should be stressed, the absence of imported pottery or probable non-local pottery, other than a small sherd in south Essex shell-tempered ware (F6 (11)) and also the absence of significant Roman cultural indicators, for example specialised vessels such as mortaria or any metal small finds (apart form one small sherd from a glass vessel) the status of the people associated with the site or the activities taking place here appears to be quite low.'

However, given the small size of the excavation, it is difficult to be certain about the status of the remains, but the remains do suggest a domestic element to occupation. Despite being located adjacent to the Lexden cemetery area (MCC7525), no burials were identified during the excavation and it appears that the possible inhumation burial recorded in the evaluation is actually an elongated pit.<1><2>

The work followed a trial-trenched evaluation in May 2016. The ditches (F1 and F4), pit (F3) and possible inhumation burial (F5) excavated during the evaluation were exposed again within the excavation area.<2>