Excavation by G Hayman of SCAU for English Heritage and Hall Aggregates Ltd in advance of mineral extraction, following on from evaluation in 1992. Evidence of extensive occupation activity dating from the Bronze Age to the end of the Roman period was recorded. Features included ditches, pits and postholes, indicating distinct or reused settlement areas - at least one of which could be described as an enclosure. It is possible that the site was more or less continuously occupied throughout the first millennium BC to the end of the 4th century AD.

Drainage and remodelling works on one of the greens disturbed some 235 fragments of brick tesserae, a quantity of roofing and roller-stamped hypocaust tile and a few pottery sherds, recovered by T Mann and recorded by D W Williams. (289)

Excavation by D W Williams for SyAS in advance of mineral extraction revealed two concentrations of activity. One was a concentration of pits, three of which contained Late Neolithic grooved ware and, palaeo-environmental assessment revealed, hazelnut shells; one of these pits also contained over 30 flint scrapers. Other pits were packed with charcoal and cremated bone, and one contained a Bronze Age spiral ring. The surrounding areas produced a variety of flints from Late Mesolithic through to Middle Bronze Age date, and sherds of decorated Peterborough type bowls from the Neolithic.

Research excavation by S Dyer for SyAS of part of the Roman villa partially excavated in the 1870s. A total of five rooms were revealed, two of which were excavated to floor level. In one of these rooms the floor was found to be constructed of chalk mixed with crushed tile, the other was found to have a partially damaged mosaic, stylistically dating to the 4th century. Very little evidence was found to date the abandonment of the villa, although a layer of charcoal and ash, mixed with roofing tile, suggests that the building was eventually destroyed by fire. (296)

Excavation by R Poulton of SCAU for English Heritage on the site of the Roman temple, to establish how much damage was being caused following repeated disturbance by metal detectorists. An initial resistivity survey by the archaeometry branch of the Ancient Monuments Laboratory located the southern boundary of the temenos and part of the northern boundary. Excavation revealed that the upper levels of the temple site had been extensively disturbed in the past by previous excavators.

An evaluation by G Hayman of SCAU for SCC’s Resources Dept, of land proposed for redevelopment near the site of a known Roman villa, produced extensive remains of Roman date. Features recorded included walls, ditches, postholes and pits, and are thought to indicate the remains of ancillary buildings to the main villa (which was excavated in the 19th century).The pottery recovered was largely of 3rd and 4th century date, although significant quantities of material from the 1st and 2nd centuries AD (including coarsewares) indicate settlement from at least that date.

A watching brief by D Brooks for Bourne Hall Museum, on the digging of a grave, recovered Roman pottery, most of which was Alice Holt coarseware. Part of a probable wine strainer, imported from the continent, was also recovered. (303)

Excavation by G Hayman of SCAU for Fleetwood Developments Ltd, in advance of redevelopment, identified a number of features of Roman date including a large 1st-2nd century pit and a probable well of 3rd-4th century date. The quantity of Roman brick and tile recovered indicates a substantial building in the vicinity. The Roman features cut into a subsoil containing Bronze Age flints. Post-medieval features included a large pit, presumed to have been a well. (see report in SyAC 95, 281-295)

Evaluation by B Langton of the Cotswold Archaeological Trust for Wates Built Homes Ltd recorded a scatter of mainly Neolithic flints and a number of features of Bronze Age date on this former racecourse adjacent to the Thames. More detailed excavation of the site was subsequently undertaken by P Andrews for Wessex Archaeology, which identified multi-period activity on an area of higher land.

Evaluation by J Robertson of SCAU, for TAG McLaren Holdings Ltd, of the site for the new TAG McLaren HQ, revealed a general spread of features of prehistoric (both Mesolithic/Early Neolithic and Bronze Age), Roman and medieval date. The majority of the features were gulleys and ditches. No focus of activity was identified. It seems likely that the settlement(s) lay outside the evaluated area, possibly near Mizen’s Farm itself. (321)