Trial excavations of the cropmarks (by detailed excavation) and apparently blank areas (by rapid excavation). All of the excavations were 3m wide and were stripped of topsoil by a 180 degree mechanical excavator, using a toothless ditching bucket. Three detailed excavations were focused on investigating the known cropmarks. In addition, two long, intermittent trenches were stripped of topsoil across the area apparently devoid of cropmarks. The third rapid excavation targeted any continuation of the linear cropmark feature to the NE of the proposed quarry area. See E9344 for fieldwalking / metal detector survey