The mechanical stripping of each excavation area was undertaken under close archaeological supervision using a tracked mechanical 360� excavator fitted with a toothless ditching bucket. Thereafter all further investigation was undertaken by hand. The supervision of the mechanical stripping of the topsoil was combined with metal detecting. Following the site strip the features were demarcated with canes to ensure the features remained visible and were subject to base planning using a Leica TCR805 Reflectorless Total Station EDM. Once the plan was complete a review meeting was held with SCC AS-CT and Phoenix Consulting Archaeology to agree a strategy for the excavation. Further review meetings were undertaken as the excavation progressed. Archaeological investigations have been carried out on the site since 1990 when an initial phase of aerial photo assessment (Merrony 1990), fieldwalking, metal-detecting and geophysical survey was undertaken (Symonds 1990). More recently the aerial photographic survey was updated (Palmer 2002) and a full trial trench evaluation has been conducted (Boulter 2002). Excavation has revealed multi-period occupation of this small part of the Gipping valley. The data recovered during excavation provides the basis for a detailed study of the way that this riverine landscape was utilised over a prolonged period. The earliest evidence for human occupation of the area consisted of possible Mesolithic struck flint mainly present as residual or unstratified material. More significant evidence of human utilisation of this landscape occurred in the early Neolithic, in the form of a small group of cut features. A small number of late Neolithic and early Bronze Age features attest to continued occupation of this landscape, albeit on a possibly seasonal or episodic basis. Only a single feature of Iron Age date was identified during excavation. Evidence for Roman activity was limited to features which indicated that the site formed part of the undeveloped, possibly agricultural, hinterland of the Roman settlement of Combretovium. Evidence from Excavation Phases 1 and 2 appeared to consist of activity at the periphery of the Roman settlement. Extensive dispersed Anglo-Saxon activity was recorded with eight SFBs, complemented by a further 4 recorded during the previous excavation phases, several associated features and an unusual figure-of-eight ditch arrangement. Several undated posthole structures may be associated with this activity. Subse...