The 2007 season ran between 28th of April and 30th of September, and we almost completed the area left open from 2006. It will be remembered as one of the most frustrating years ever, with soil conditions ranging from rock hard at the beginning to becoming a brim full lake after one day's torrential downpour. I am most grateful to all who were not dissuaded by the many occasions when we were rained off. The fully excavated 10m length of the prehistoric trackway was just over 2m wide, its level surface eroded into the underlying natural gravel. It ran parallel to the adjoining `Narrow Way' from which it was separated by Yy24 F2, a series of short interconnected hollows, parts of which were investigated last year. A similar boundary, Xx23 F2, on the other side of the track, was replaced by a continuous ditch or gully, Xx23 Fl, dug on a slightly different alignment. The whole appears to continue northwards, so crosses the full width of the later settlement.

Some of the stratified worked flint found in association with the track appears to be Neolithic in origin, so suggests that this landscape feature may be much older than was envisaged. Its age tends to be confirmed by what was considered to be an anomalous 4240-3726 BC carbon date of some animal bone (Frocester Vol. 1, p185), found some years ago in Trench A30 F4, a feature dug into the surface of the trackway.

Only one section was excavated across Ditch 36/38, and this clearly illustrated a major C2 redig (layer XI), through an undated primary silt deposit (XII). Gravel upcast had formed a bank on the S side that overlay the prehistoric land surface (IX), and was in turn covered by the RB occupation soil (III) that produced a mid C4 coin. Alternate lenses of sand and mud (VIII) suggested occasional flooding along the length of the ditch, which thereafter gradually filled up (V-VII). By C4 it was abandoned. and in part was levelled with stone and tile rubble (IV). Layers I & II are ploughsoils.

Structures 29 and 30 came to light during the closing days of the dig. The first consisted of the rectangular end of a shallow ash-filled sill-beam feature that overlay the prehistoric trackway, and had been burnt down. Its fill produced a piece of hypocaust tile and a rim sherd of an Oxford made mortarium, but no evidence of its purpose.

A one metre wide extension on the north edge of the excavation was necessary to clarify the evidence of part of Structure 30. This was based on a gravel spread that overlay the edge of the C4 fill of Ditch 36/38 and a mediaeval plough furrow, but was cut by a narrow dry-stone filled foundation. Two fragments of a clay pipe-stem and an iron nail indicate that the whole is part of a relatively modem structure, but nothing is known of its function.

The nearly complete light grey pottery vessel, illustrated full size on the cover page, is the only other small find worthy of record. It came from a C4 ditch fill, as did a fragment of a second one in 2006. Their real purpose is not known. I suspect they could have been pot lids, or even exotic candle snuffers.

With no knowledge of the secret preparations for an impromptu drinks celebration, I was surprised to see so many familiar faces assembling at the dig by teatime on Sunday 19th September. It was a very much appreciated gesture, my thanks to you all!