A trial-trenched evaluation was undertaken in September 2016, relating to extensions to Colchester Holiday Park. Nine 20.0m-long x 1.80m wide trial-trenches were machine-excavated under archaeological supervision.<1>

Archaeological features were defined in all but two (T5 and T7) of the trenches. Roman ditches, pits and post-holes were excavated, interpreted as being associated with agriculture or settlement. However, large quantities of Roman ceramic building material were recorded and may suggest the presence of a structure with tiled roof and hypocaust somewhere nearby; 104 fragments (28,5kg) were excavated from ten features and subsoil L2. A small quantity of pottery (22 sherds weighing 544g) was recovered from the evaluation, from features F1 (T3), F10 (T8), F18 (T9), F19 (T9) & F20 (T2) and from soil layer L2 in T2 and T9. Most of the pottery is closely datable to the Late Iron Age (LIA) and Roman period. There were also four fragments of probable building stone, two of septaria, one greensand and one ragstone (2,1kg). A fragment of Mayen lava quern was recorded from ditch F1(2). In addition was a single later prehistoric retouched flint flake (L2) and piece of burnt flint (F10).