Sheepen Farm pre-Roman and early Roman settlement and industrial complex, its existence known since the mid C19. The first large scale excavation was by the Colchester Excavation Committee in 1930-9 along the route of the proposed Colchester by-pass. Further excavation undertaken by Dunnett in 1970 prior to scarping of land to create a school playing field. Proven that the Iron Age settlement was protected to the east by the Sheepen Dyke and the floruit is dated to the first two-thirds of the C1 AD after more humble beginnings in the Iron Age or possibly Bronze Age. Settlement continued unbroken from the Belgic into the Roman period. The area contained several important industrial complexes including pottery kilns and a mint of Cunobelin was discovered in the most recent excavations at Sheepen. <1> oppidum occupied from the mid C1 BC although Sheepen can be dated from the C10 BC. <2> Other refs. <3> <4> <5> See also refernces for individual sites.

Site Assessment = Scheduled Ancient Monument though partially built over by ECC school and playing fields. <1>