Work progressed on the pipeline in the following two stages: 1. Topsoil stripping. A 10m wide easement was stripped of topsoil along the entire length of the pipeline, except in the cattle market area and across the Old Trent Dyke. Areas identified as potentially of archaeological significance were watched during the stripping and the spoil heaps were searched for artefacts. 2. Machine excavation of trench. A JCB was used to excavate the pipeline trench. This trench averaged 1m wide but, depending on ground conditions and engineering requirements, varied from c.1 to 4m deep. The trench was backfilled as soon as possible after pipe laying. (1) Grid ref for E end at Cattle Market. See E9132 for fieldwalking, E9133 for geophysical survey, E9134 for excavation.