During excavations at Sheepen in 1970 an early Roman ditch was discovered. The ditch was orientated east-west and had a wide, V-shaped profile cut 1.2m deep into the natural gravel. In its base there was a flat-based slot 0.4m deep and 0.8m wide, 'giving it every appearance of a military ditch'. No trace of a bank was found. Excavation to the west and south failed to pick up any further trace of the ditch suggesting that it turned north. To the east a trench located the ditch running towards the modern road. The precise date of the ditch is uncertain but it is likely that it dates from before the Boudican revolt.<1>