Three test pit locations were set out by the groundwork contractor and all excavated by hand. The attending archaeologist was present during all test pit excavation. Each test pit measured 1m by 1m and was excavated to an average depth of 0.5m. In July 2025 Oxford Archaeology undertook a watching brief on the excavation of three test pits in the basement of the Ruskin School of Art, 74 High Street, Oxford. The three test pits all revealed a similar sequence comprising two levelling layers beneath the current floor surface. No archaeological features were identified and no finds were recovered. The results indicate that there is at least 0.5m of material of relatively recent date beneath the basement floors, in the areas investigated
G Thacker (Wed,) studied this question.