Over a 10 week period in late summer 2002 we were joined in Field Z by AC Archaeology. From October until December, then later in the summer of 2003, the Bestwall volunteers continued the work. More details and photographs of the 2003 Field Z activities will be added soon.

• Week 1 saw the excavation of one of the many kilns
  
• Week 2 seven kilns were excavated
  
• Week 3 Rare forms of pottery are being found
  
• Week 4 Early Bronze Age beaker pottery suggests presence of prehistoric features beneath the Roman levels
  
• Week 5 The excavation of kilns has stopped for the moment and we are concentrating on the Roman ditches and pits
  
• Week 6 Although torrential rain was a setback the archaeological work progressed well
  
• Week 7 Excavation of the remaining kilns began. There were some surprises with multi-chambered structures, they all appeared to be late Roman.
  
• Week 8 Now we are beginning to do the scientific analysis
  
• Week 9 On our own now and still the finds continue with a Neolithic stone axe
  
• Weeks 10-15 Excavation continues, weather permitting, otherwise there is a huge backlog of finds washing and marking to do
  
• Week 16 Torrential rain and rising groundwater levels bring this year's excavations to a halt. Work will continue next season.