Excavation 1970. Although it was known from earlier work that occupation has existed on the Hillyfields from c.2500 BC the current excavations have revealed no finds earlier than the Beaker period. Fine pottery of this date c.2000-1800 BC have been found scattered in later rubbish pits over the main area of the excavation. The chronological gap in the archaeological record until the late Bronze Age is represented by the fragment of a bronze mould. <1> Late Bronze Age bronzes have been found scattered on Sheepen Hill. They are fragmentary and like the pottery (late bronze age - early iron age) much scattered. There are at least 6 fragments of bronze implements (presumed to be at Colchester Castle Mus) of which the types represented are; smallish socketed spearhead, socketed axe, and fragments from the middle of a sword blade (probably of Carps Tongue type). All possibly belong to the later C8. <2> Finds from commercial excavation in 1971 include a barbed and tanged arrowhead probably of early bronze age date. Some of the worked flint from the 1970 excavation may be of Bronze Age date. <3>