Watching brief by R Cowie of MoLAS following evaluation and excavation of part of the site last year. The excavation had been located in the area where the evaluation had revealed that features were concentrated. The work identified at least three pits of possible Neolithic date, three Bronze Age ditches representing part of a co-axial field system including the corner of an enclosure, two water-holes likely to be contemporaneous with the enclosure, and a Roman pit.

Continuing excavation by G Hayman of SCAU south of those areas excavated in previous years revealed further features of Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman date. The Bronze Age features consisted mostly of ditches belonging to a co-axial field system that developed during the Late Bronze Age, but also included one large pit and a small pit or posthole. The field system has been traced across all areas of the quarry that have been examined since work began in 1999 and extends for an unknown distance beyond it.

Geophysical survey by A Bartlett of BCC, with a supplementary evaluation by P Jones of SCAU, in order to test the potential effectiveness of geophysical survey over the site. A number of magnetic anomalies were detected, although no corresponding archaeological features were revealed, suggesting that full geophysical survey of the site would not be productive. Subsequent evaluation involving the excavation of 464 trenches by A Taylor of TVAS in advance of possible mineral extraction revealed a wide range of finds and deposits.

Evaluation by E Eastbury of MoLAS prior to redevelopment found that most of the site had suffered severe truncation of any potential deposits during the construction of the existing buildings. A small area was found to contain a deep feature, containing stratified material dating from the Late Neolithic to Roman periods. Owing to the large size of the feature, its extent or exact nature could not be verified. A subsequent watching brief on the area where the feature was presumed to continue provided no further information.

Ongoing research excavation by P Harp of Plateau continued to recover later prehistoric artefacts. In the 2003 season, approximately 100 pieces of struck flint and ten sherds of late prehistoric pottery were recovered from just beneath the plough-soil. An additional test pit was excavated as part of the Time Team `Big Dig’; finds consisted mainly of Bronze Age struck flint, one sherd of Bronze Age pottery, one rim sherd of Late Roman pottery and three fragments of medieval roof tile

Watching brief by R Lambert of SCAU during the excavation of service and drainage trenches relating to the construction of a new toilet block. No features were revealed, but a small quantity of human bone, likely to be relatively recent, was collected. A few stray finds, including a flint flake likely to be of Neolithic or Bronze Age date, and clay pipe, were retrieved from the spoil.

A field survey, watching brief and excavation by J Perry of SutAS was undertaken in advance of sand extraction and close to a prehistoric and Roman site previously excavated by D Williams. The field survey and watching brief revealed quantities of Neolithic and Bronze Age struck flint, burnt flint and some Mesolithic struck flint. A small quantity of Bronze Age, Roman and medieval pottery was also recovered. These finds were spread over the whole field though there was a concentration of finds, particularly Bronze Age, at the highest point.

Evaluation by J Stevenson of ASE in advance of residential redevelopment involved the excavation of eight trenches. One revealed an undated tree bole; a second, two pits/postholes and a gully all of probable prehistoric date, and a grave of probable Anglo-Saxon date excavated in the 19th or early 20th century; a third, four small pits, three of prehistoric date, and one of Early/mid-Iron Age date, and two very large pits of later Iron Age date thought to be used for grain storage.

Fieldwalking by G Rapson of SyAS following ploughing of the field revealed Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age flint, and prehistoric, Roman and post-medieval pottery.