Trial trenched evaluation in 2007 revealed a number of prehistoric, Roman and post-medieval ditches, on three different alignments, and appear to represent fragments of three distinct landscapes.

The first field system was aligned WNW to ESE. Finds from its ditches date to Early Iron Age and Middle Iron Age. Taking the finds dates at a simple level, this would suggest a field system laid out initially in the Early Iron Age, continuing in use into the Middle Iron Age and probably beyond. This offers a contrast with the results of the 2003 excavation on Area 2, 1.5km to the north of Area S2 (south), where a Middle Iron Age round-house was the earliest element of the landscape (MCC2868).

The Iron Age landscape was overlaid by a second field system consisting of ditches aligned slightly west of N to S. Dated material from these ditches is Roman. This Roman, or possibly late Iron Age, realignment of the landscape is paralleled at the Garrison, for instance on Area 2 where the Middle Iron Age round-house was crossed by a Roman drove way aligned N to S (MCC2868). The report suggests there is good reason to associate this Roman-period reorganisation of the landscape with the early years of the oppidum of Camulodunum, one of the defensive lines of which (Berechurch Dyke) runs along the edge of Area S2 (south).<1>