Wessex Archaeology

Kingsborough Manor Development,

Eastchurch, Isle of Sheppey, Kent
Watching Briefs, Evaluation,
and Phase 1, Stage 2 Excavation

Assessment Report and Proposals for

Post-Excavation Analyses and Publication

Ref: 46792.2 August 2002

KINGSBOROUGH MANOR DEVELOPMENT, EASTCHURCH
ISLE OF SHEPPEY, KENT

Watching Briefs, Evaluation

and Phase 1, Stage 2 Archaeological Excavation

Assessment Report on the Results of the Excavation including

proposals for Post-Excavation Analyses and Publication

Prepared on behalf of
Jones Homes (Southern) Ltd
3 White Oak Square
Swanley
Kent
BR8 7AG

by
Wessex Archaeology
Portway House
Old Sarum Park
Salisbury
SP4 6EB

Report reference: 46792.2

August 2002

© The Trust for Wessex Archaeology Limited 2002 all rights reserved
The Trust for Wessex Archaeology Limited is a Registered Charity No. 287786
 Contents

Summary
Acknowledgements
PART A: PROJECT BACKGROUND AND RESULTS..........................................1
1 INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................1
1.1 Project Background ...................................................................................1
1.2 The Site........................................................................................................2
1.3 Archaeological Background ......................................................................2
1.4 Aims of the Archaeological Work (Phase 1, Stage 2 excavation) ..........3
2 METHODOLOGY ..............................................................................................4
2.1 Introduction................................................................................................4
2.2 Watching Brief and Trenches 41-44.........................................................4
2.3 Phase 1 Stage 2 Excavation and Trenches 45-49.....................................4
2.4 The Archive ................................................................................................5
3 THE STRUCTURAL EVIDENCE ....................................................................5
3.1 Introduction................................................................................................5
3.2 Natural deposits and soil sequence ...........................................................6
3.3 Watching brief and Evaluation Trenches 41-44......................................6
3.4 Archaeological Sequence ...........................................................................7
4 FINDS ASSESSMENT......................................................................................14
4.1 Introduction..............................................................................................14
4.2 Pottery .......................................................................................................15
4.3 Fired Clay and Ceramic Objects ............................................................18
4.4 Stone ..........................................................................................................18
4.5 Worked and Burnt Flint..........................................................................18
4.6 Metalwork and metalworking debris.....................................................19
4.7 Human bone..............................................................................................19
4.8 Other finds ................................................................................................20
4.9 Animal Bone .............................................................................................20
5 ENVIRONMENTAL EVIDENCE...................................................................20
5.1 Aims...........................................................................................................20
5.2 Samples taken and palaeo-environmental evidence .............................20
5.3 Sample Processing Methods....................................................................21
5.4 Assessment Results: the data ..................................................................21
PART B: PROPOSALS FOR POST-EXCAVATION ANALYSES AND
DISSEMINATION......................................................................................................30
6 STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL.....................................................................30
6.1 Overview of Structural Evidence............................................................30
6.2 Finds ..........................................................................................................30
6.3 Environmental remains ...........................................................................31
7 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES...............................................................................34
7.1 Aims...........................................................................................................34
7.2 Objectives..................................................................................................34
8 METHOD STATEMENT.................................................................................34
8.1 Strategy .....................................................................................................34
8.2 Archaeological Background ....................................................................35
8.3 Site records and archive stabilisation.....................................................35
8.4 Finds ..........................................................................................................35

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 8.5 Proposals for Palaeo-environmental remains........................................36
9 TASK LIST, RESOURCES AND PROGRAMME .......................................37
9.1 Task List....................................................................................................37
9.2 Personnel...................................................................................................38
9.3 Programme ...............................................................................................38
10 PUBLICATION AND DISSEMINATION .....................................................39
10.1 Monograph ...............................................................................................39
11 STORAGE AND CURATION .........................................................................39
11.1 Museum.....................................................................................................39
11.2 Conservation.............................................................................................39
11.3 Storage.......................................................................................................39
11.4 Discard Policy...........................................................................................39
11.5 Archive preparation.................................................................................40
11.6 Copyright ..................................................................................................40
11.7 Security Copy ...........................................................................................40
12 REFERENCES ..................................................................................................40

Appendices
Appendix 1: Site archive
Appendix 2: Publication synopsis

List of Figures
Fig.1 – Site location
Fig.2 – Site plan
Fig.3 – Phase 1, Stage 2 excavation: all features phase plan

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 Summary

Wessex Archaeology has carried out a programme of archaeological work on land

north-east of Kingsborough Farm, Eastchurch, Isle of Sheppey, Kent, commissioned
by Jones Homes (Southern) Ltd, in advance of the Kingsborough Manor development.
This assessment report presents the results of the work, which comprised evaluation,
excavation and watching brief monitoring, and includes proposals for post-excavation
analyses and publication of the results.

The site (NGR 5978 1722) comprised a total area of c. 8 hectares north-east of
Kingsborough Farm, which lies 2km south-east of Minster and c. 1.25km north-west
of Eastchurch. The site was a sub-rectangular block of land approximately 415m long
and 180m wide and occupied an elevated position on the Isle of Sheppey, close to the
southern edge of a ridge extending east-west along the island. The site has
commanding views to the north and east and to the south over the River Swale and the
north Kent coast.

The archaeological work extended discoveries made on the site by Archaeology

South-East in an initial evaluation and an excavation (Phase 1, Stage 1 excavation).
This identified a large Early Neolithic (4000 – 3000 BC) Causewayed Enclosure in
the southern part of the site. Only the second to be recorded in Kent (the other is in
Ramsgate), this discovery is of regional and national archaeological importance. The
excavation also revealed part of the circuit of a Late Bronze Age (1100 – 700 BC)
enclosure north of the Causewayed enclosure, containing cremation or pyre refuse pits
and post-holes, and Roman period features including a rectilinear enclosure, post-
holes and two cremations. Medieval ditches and undated features were also recorded.

Subsequent evaluation, watching brief monitoring and excavation (Phase 1 Stage 2

excavation) by Wessex Archaeology revisited a part of the Causewayed Enclosure,
for detailed environmental samples, and revealed more of the Late Bronze Age
enclosure revealed by Archaeology South East. Three other Late Bronze Age
enclosures were found. The sub-square and northern-most of these appeared to be
associated with a small cemetery comprising un-urned cremation pits or pyre debris
pits. A limited range structural features appeared to be associated with the enclosures.
These included four-post ‘granary’ structures and at least three fence lines. Pits
associated with the enclosures contained finds possibly indicative of ‘structured
deposition’, perhaps of ritual significance.

Later features include Middle-Late Iron Age (400 BC – AD 43) and Late Iron
Age/Roman (100 BC – AD 410) ditches possibly representing drove-ways or
boundaries. These suggest the site underwent change in the later prehistoric period,
from predominantly settlement and ritual use to agricultural use. Later Saxon (AD 410
– 1066) and Medieval (1066 – 1499) features, interpreted as field boundaries point to
the agricultural use of this part of the Isle of Sheppey in those periods.

The archaeological work has brought to light regionally and nationally important
evidence for Neolithic and Late Bronze Age monuments on the site, as well as locally
significant evidence of later use of the site, altogether previously absent from the
archaeological record of the island. It is proposed that the results of the work form the

iii
subject of a joint programme of post-excavation analysis and publication by
Archaeology South-East and Wessex Archaeology.

iv
 Acknowledgements

Wessex Archaeology is grateful to Jones Homes (Southern) Ltd for commissioning

the work and to their Technical Director, John Siddaway for his invaluable assistance.
The advice and collaborative role of Lis Dyson (Kent County Council) is also
acknowledged. Thanks are also due to Paul Faiers and Mick Bowles (P.D. Faiers Ltd)
who supplied the mechanical excavator and dumpers during the work and who carried
out the machine-stripping of the site.

The project was managed on behalf of Wessex Archaeology by Paul McCulloch. The
fieldwork was directed by Chris Ellis (Project Officer) with the assistance of Nick
Wells (Project Supervisor). The excavation team worked through some atrocious
weather to finish the work within the allotted time and Susan Clelland, Fiona
Edwards, Chris Penney, Mark Peters, Dan Bashford, Chris Richardson and Phil
Chevasse are thanked for all their effort.

This report was compiled by Chris Ellis with contributions from Lorraine Mepham
(finds), Michael J. Allen and Sarah Wyles (environmental analyses), Pippa Smith
(animal bone), Jacqueline McKinley (human bone), Phil Harding (worked flint). The
illustrations were prepared by Linda Coleman.

v
 KINGSBOROUGH MANOR DEVELOPMENT, EASTCHURCH
ISLE OF SHEPPEY, KENT

Watching Briefs, Evaluation and

Phase 1, Stage 2 Archaeological Excavation

Assessment Report on the Results of the Excavation including

proposals for Post-Excavation Analyses and Publication jointly by
Wessex Archaeology and Archaeology South-East

PART A: PROJECT BACKGROUND AND RESULTS

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Project Background

1.1.1 Wessex Archaeology carried out a programme of archaeological work on

land north-east of Kingsborough Farm, Eastchurch, Isle of Sheppey, Kent, in
July1999, Jan-April 2000, and June 2001 (Figure 1). The work was
commissioned by Jones Homes (Southern) Ltd, in advance of the
Kingsborough Manor housing development (Phase 1). This report presents
an assessment of the results of the work (Part A), which comprised
evaluation, excavation and watching brief monitoring, and includes proposals
for a programme of post-excavation analyses leading to a full publication of
the results, as well as a description of the resources required to complete the
programme (Part B).

1.1.2 The work was carried out as a condition of planning permission for the
development granted by Swale District Council and pursuant to a
specification issued by the Heritage Conservation Group of Kent County
Council.

1.1.3 Archaeological work was initially carried out on the proposed development
area (hereafter referred to as the Site- Figure 2) by Archaeology South-East
(ASE). The work included an evaluation (ASE 1999) of the Site achieving a
2% sample in 40 trenches (numbered 1-40) and an area excavation of the
southern extent of the Site, the ‘Phase 1, Stage 1 excavation’ (ASE 2000).

1.1.4 Wessex Archaeology subsequently undertook additional evaluation,

comprising four trenches (numbered 41-44), and watching brief monitoring.
This was followed by a second area excavation, the ‘Phase 1, Stage 2
excavation’, in the northern extent of the Site, and additional trenching
(numbered 45-49).

1
1.2 The Site

1.2.1 The Site is located to the immediate north-east of Kingsborough Farm, 2km
south-east of Minster and c. 1.25km to the north-west of the village of
Eastchurch, Isle of Sheppey (NGR 5978 1722). The Site area, was an
irregular block of land, measured approximately 415m north-south and 180m
east-west. It occupied an elevated position on the Isle of Sheppey, close to
the southern edge of a ridge extending east-west along the island, with
commanding views to the north and east, and to the south over the River
Swale and the north Kent coast.

1.2.2 The Site lay generally at c. 70m above Ordnance Datum (aOD) and sloped
down gradually to the south and east toward the B2008 Eastchurch Road.
The underlying natural geology is complex and is comprised of Bagshot
Sands, Claygate Beds and Head Gravel (British Geological Survey 1:50,000
Series, Sheet 273).

1.3 Archaeological Background

1.3.1 Before 1999, there had been no systematic survey of the archaeology of the
Isle of Sheppey. A small number of surface scatters of prehistoric and Roman
pottery have been recorded in the vicinity of the Site (ASE 2000,1) and an
unpublished excavation, c. 500m to the south of the Site at Norwood Manor,
revealed Bronze Age/Iron Age and early Medieval features. Metal detector
finds in the area include a Bronze Age axe fragment and coins of Late Iron
Age and Medieval date.

1.3.2 The archaeological evaluation of the Site by ASE in March 1999 consisted of
40 evaluation trenches, comprising a 2% sample (by area) of the Site (Figure
2). Ten of the trenches contained archaeological features provisionally dated
to the Late Bronze Age (1100 – 700 BC) and Roman (AD 43 – 410) periods.

1.3.3 Due to time constraints a second stage of evaluation was not undertaken and
site investigations moved to the ‘Phase 1, Stage 1 excavation’. The
excavation by ASE comprised a c. 1.8 ha area of land in the southern extent
of the Site. A number of important archaeological features were recorded
dating from the Neolithic to Medieval periods and are summarised below.

1.3.4 The earliest dated feature was an enclosure formed by three circuits of
discontinuous ditches recognised as forming in plan c. 25% of an Early
Neolithic (4000 – 3000 BC) Causewayed Enclosure. This represents only the
second Causewayed Enclosure to be recorded in Kent, the other being at
Ramsgate (Dyson, Shand and Stevens 2000).

1.3.5 North of the Causewayed Enclosure part of large enclosure was identified.
The enclosure ditch contained Late Bronze Age (1100 – 700 BC) pottery and
residual sherds of Middle Bronze Age pottery (1500 – 1100 BC). A small
number of features were recorded within the enclosure including pits and
postholes. At least five un-urned cremation pits and five possible pyre refuse

2
 pits were recorded (ASE 2000, 8). One of the cremation pits contained Late
Bronze Age/Early Iron Age pottery (1000 – 400 BC) and this may tentatively
be taken to date the others.

1.3.6 The heavily truncated remains of a Roman period sub-square enclosure with
an internal division was recorded overlying the north-eastern extent of the
Causewayed Enclosure. The Roman enclosure was c. 43m square and
comprised an ‘internal’ enclosed area of c. 28m by c. 14m. Pottery of 2nd
Century AD date predominated the Roman pottery assemblage from the
excavation.

1.3.7 Two Roman urned cremation burials were recorded cutting the upper fills of
the Causewayed Enclosure outer ditch circuit. The finds assemblages from
both cremation burials consisted of pottery and glass vessels of 2nd Century
AD date.

1.3.8 Two short sections of linear features were recorded in the southern and
northern extents of the excavation area, which were dated to the Roman
period.

1.3.9 Medieval (1066 – 1499 AD) features included a probable droveway and field
boundary ditches which overlaid the Causewayed Enclosure and Late Bronze
Age enclosure in the north-western extent of the excavation area. A small
number of pits were also recorded within the Late Bronze Age enclosure,
containing pottery dated to the 13th – 14th Centuries. A large ‘cess-pit’ was
recorded which contained Medieval pottery and animal bone as well as
residual Late Bronze Age pottery.

1.3.10 A number of ‘undated’ features were recorded, which included a putative

roundhouse structure and four-post structure in the south-west of the
excavation area. These are probably Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age in date
although dating remains problematic. In addition a number of small pits and
postholes were found for which no dating evidence was recovered.

1.4 Aims of the Archaeological Work (Phase 1, Stage 2 excavation)

1.4.1 Following the Phase 1, Stage 2 excavation by ASE, and watching brief
monitoring and additional evaluation work carried out by Wessex
Archaeology, an excavation of the Phase 1, Stage 2 development area was
agreed, aimed at the remaining archaeological potential. For this, a Project
Specification was issued by the Heritage Conservation Group of Kent
County Council in December 1999. This set out the requirements of the
excavation within the agreed area (Figure 2). The broad objectives of the
Phase 1, Stage 2 excavation were to advance the knowledge of:

x prehistoric settlement structure and practice

x prehistoric ritual and funerary practice
x prehistoric environment and landscape
x prehistoric exchange and economic strategies

3
1.4.2 In particular, the objectives of the excavation were to:

x Clarify the character, nature, date, and extent of the Late Bronze Age
enclosure (partially investigated in the Phase 1, Stage 1 excavation),
including analysis of the spatial organisation of activities inside and
outside the enclosure through examination of the distribution of
features and artefactual and environmental assemblages

x Determine the spatial organisation, character, nature, date, and extent

of the un-urned cremation cemetery (found in evaluation trenches in
the northern part of the Phase 1 development area)

x Determine the character and nature of the cultural landscape to the

north of the Neolithic causewayed enclosure

x Advance knowledge of the nature of the environment preceding,

contemporary with, and post-dating the Neolithic causewayed
enclosure and the later Bronze Age enclosure.

2 METHODOLOGY

2.1 Introduction

2.1.1 The methodology of the work was set out in detail within the Project
Specification prepared by the Heritage Conservation Group of Kent County
Council and is not repeated here in full.

2.2 Watching Brief and Trenches 41-44

2.2.1 In July 1999 Wessex Archaeology began a watching brief and evaluation
programme of the Phase 1, Stage 2 area of the Site, immediately north of the
Phase 1, Stage 1 excavation (Figure 2). This was intended to provide more
detailed information concerning the remaining potential of the Site. The work
included a watching brief during groundwork for new roads, landscaped
ponds and the cutting of a gas main to the west of the Site. The roads were
machine stripped under archaeological supervision and provided an
indication of the remaining potential within the Phase 1, Stage 2 area. Four
evaluation trenches (Trenches 41-44) were also targeted on specific areas of
interest during these works, in consultation with the Heritage Conservation
Group of Kent County Council.

2.3 Phase 1 Stage 2 Excavation and Trenches 45-49

2.3.1 The Phase 1, Stage 2 excavation was initially divided into two areas, Area A
and B, separated by a tree line, and was completed between January and
April 2000 (Figure 2). Concurrently, an additional five trenches were
excavated. Trench 45 was targeted to provide a hand-excavated section of

4
 one of the Causewayed Enclosure ditches and to enable a suite of palaeo-
environmental samples to be taken from it. Trenches 46-49 were positioned
to assess the archaeological potential of the area of so-called ‘community
woodland’ planting area north of the Phase 1, Stage 2 excavation. A third
area of excavation, Area B1, was completed in July 2001 and recorded the
full extent of a sub-rectangular enclosure largely revealed in the northern
extent of Area A.

2.3.2 The excavation areas (and concurrent additional trenching) were stripped,
using a mechanical excavator with a toothless ditching bucket, under
continual archaeological supervision. Machining was stopped at the natural
geology or archaeological features (whichever was encountered sooner). All
features were marked with spray paint and their extents surveyed in using
electronic surveying instruments utilising ‘real world’ Ordnance Survey grid
co-ordinates. Continual monitoring of the machine-stripped surface was
undertaken to observe ‘weathering out’ of additional features. Additional
features observed in this way were surveyed and added to the plan of the
excavation area.

2.3.3 All cremation-related features, whether un-urned cremation burials or pyre

dump pits were 100% excavated and sampled.

2.3.4 Feature intersections were investigated to determine stratigraphic

relationships. However, it was agreed with the Heritage Conservation Group
of Kent County Council that, due to resource constraints, stratigraphic
relationships would not be further investigated where these were clearly
visible in plan. All linear feature terminals were excavated as well as isolated
feature sections. In addition, after all hand-excavated sections had been
completed, artefact samples were rapidly taken at c. 5m intervals along linear
features to obtain dating evidence.

2.4 The Archive

2.4.1 The artefacts and accompanying documentary records from the excavation
have been compiled into a stable, fully cross-referenced and indexed archive
in accordance with Appendix 6 of Management of Archaeological Projects
(English Heritage 1991). The archive is currently stored at the offices of
Wessex Archaeology, Old Sarum, Salisbury, Wiltshire, under the project
code 46792. The content of the archive is listed in Appendix 1 of this
document.

3 THE STRUCTURAL EVIDENCE

3.1 Introduction

3.1.1 The text below summarises the significant evidence obtained from all work
carried out by Wessex Archaeology, including information on the natural
deposits encountered (Figures 3). The artefactual assemblage from the

5
 excavation, including human bone, is assessed in Section 4, and the
environmental evidence assessment in Section 5 of this report.

3.2 Natural deposits and soil sequence

3.2.1 The ‘natural’ drift geological deposits, typically Bagshot Beds, Claygate
Beds, clay and Head gravel (British Geological Survey Sheet 273), were
sealed below subsoil, or otherwise lay directly under the topsoil. The
deposits were characterised by a mid orange/brown clay with sparse to
moderate natural gravel patches and contained abundant pale grey clay
mottles and sparse mineral staining. The deposits also contained numerous
irregular, east-west aligned patches of natural gravel in a slightly darker
orange/brown clay matrix, which probably represent periglacial features
naturally silted. All archaeological features cut these deposits. A large
number of natural anomalies (Figure 3) also penetrated the natural deposits
at least some of which were tree-throws and animal burrows. There were also
discrete patches of fine silts probably derived from the natural clay.

3.2.2 In Area A and B a discontinuous subsoil deposit was recorded, which was
stratigraphically below the topsoil and sealed archaeological features where it
was present, except for two small pits in Area B, which cut into it. This
deposit was c. 0.20m thick and comprised pale greyish-brown silty clay with
frequent small to medium rounded, sub-rounded and sub-angular gravel. The
deposit had some iron and other mineral staining and was recorded in large
shallow depressions in the underlying natural geology. These depressions, or
coombes, occurred in the north-west of Area B and the west and north-east of
Area A and were aligned with the general slope of the prevailing topography
of the Site.

3.2.3 The topsoil was characterised by a c. 0.30m thick deposit of greyish-brown

silty clay with common, small to medium sub-angular gravel inclusions. This
deposit was homogenous and of uniform thickness over all three areas of the
excavation.

3.3 Watching brief and Evaluation Trenches 41-44

3.3.1 A number of features were recorded during the watching brief on the new
road lines and in the evaluation trenches, including ditches, gullies, pits and
postholes (Figure 2). More of Late Bronze Age enclosure found by ASE was
recorded in Trenches 41 and 44, and within Road 1. An undated cremation-
related deposit was recorded in a small pit in the east end of Trench 42,
which may be Late Bronze Age in date. A cremation-related cluster of Late
Bronze Age features was recorded in the northern extent of the Road 4. Two
ditches and two pits all undated were recorded along the route of the gas
main. Of these, ditch 109 (Figure 2) was closest to the Phase 1 Stage 2
development area.

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3.4 Archaeological Sequence
Neolithic (4000 – 2400 BC)
3.4.1 Trench 45 was positioned within the area of the previous ASE excavation
and targeted to intersect with the Causewayed Enclosure (Figure 2). A 1.0m
long section (457) was hand-excavated across one of the inner ditch
segments. The ditch was 2.76m wide and 1.14m deep with steep, slightly
convex sides and a flat base, as previously recorded (ASE 2001, Figure 6).
The filling sequence suggests the deposits were slightly more against the
inner, south-west side of the ditch. The deposits comprised re-deposited
natural clay or dark grey clay with relatively common artefacts. The fills
contained predominantly Early Neolithic pottery, quernstone fragments,
worked flint (including retouched tools), fired clay and sparse to moderate
charcoal in places. A number of Late Bronze Age pottery sherds from a
cordoned vessel were recovered from fills 2258 and 2259 (Object Nos 1531,
1536). Their presence appears to suggest that the ditch remained at least
partially open for a considerable period of time, or that it was re-cut in the
Late Bronze Age, evidence for which was not otherwise recorded.

3.4.2 In Area A, a small pit containing Early Neolithic pottery (4000 – 3000 BC)
was found within the later Late Bronze Age enclosure 2245 (Figure 3). This
was the only feature datable to the Neolithic period found in the Stage 2
excavation

Late Bronze Age (1100 – 700 BC)

3.4.3 Four settlement enclosures (2242, 2278, 2245 and 2268) of Late Bronze Age
date were recorded on the Site. These are described below, from the largest
and southern-most to the northern-most (Figure 3).

Enclosure 2242
3.4.4 This was identified in the Phase 1, Stage 1 excavation (ASE 2000) as well as
within the Road 1 watching brief and in evaluation Trenches 41 and 44. It
was examined further in the Phase 1, Stage 2 excavation and it is estimated
that approximately half of the enclosure has been investigated in all. Based
on the recorded and postulated extent of the enclosure, its diameter was c.
130m. No entrance opening was revealed, but this may lie in the portion of
the enclosure unseen to the north and west of the Site. The other Late Bronze
Age enclosures on the Site had entrances on their north-west sides.

3.4.5 The enclosure ditch varied from was 2.85 to 5.05m wide (generally 4-5m)
and was 0.80m to 1.60m deep (generally 1.20m to 1.60m). It had a ‘U-
shaped’ profile with steep, concave sides and a shallow, concave base. The
southern-most section investigated was markedly different, having a flat-
bottomed profile and was only 0.80m deep. This compared well with the
sections recorded by ASE (ASE 2000, Figure 7).

7
3.4.6 The filling sequence recorded in excavated sections of the ditch was fairly
consistent, containing primary and secondary fills. Finds included worked
flint and pottery. The primary fills were characterised by pale grey or pale to
mid orange/brown silts and clayey silts with rare gravel inclusions. This
material probably derived from erosion of topsoil/subsoil horizons at, or soon
after, the time the ditch was formed, and from weathering of the natural clay
sides of the ditch. The total depth of these deposits was generally 0.20m to
0.30m.

3.4.7 The secondary fills were characterised by pale to mid orange/brown clays
and silty clays with sparse to moderate gravel inclusions. These deposits
filled the remaining profile of the large enclosure ditch and were slightly
more prevalent on the ‘inside’ edge of the ditch, but were not consistent
enough between excavated sections to suggest they represented the remnants
of an inner bank to the enclosure. It is likely these were derived from the
weathering of the ditch sides and also from activity within the enclosure
during its use.

3.4.8 A re-cut was recorded, running along the outer edge of the primary enclosure
ditch, in the three northern-most recorded sections. This was far less
substantial, ‘U-shaped’ with moderate, concave sides and a shallow to
moderate, concave base. It measured 1.78m to 2.40m wide and 0.50m to
0.56m deep. Its outer edge was coincident with the outer edge of the earlier
enclosure ditch. The fills were characterised by light to mid grey silty clay
and mid orange/brown clayey silts and silty clays with sparse to moderate
gravel inclusions. Finds included burnt flint, charcoal and pottery. A second
possible re-cut was recorded in the southernmost of the three sections that
showed any re-cut. This second re-cut was insubstantial, and was only 1.25m
wide and 0.28m deep, with a flat-bottomed ‘U-shaped’ profile.

3.4.9 A few small pits and natural features were recorded within the west side of
the enclosure, which could as easily be associated with the later, smaller
enclosure in the same area (2278, below). The finds from these features
included Late Bronze Age pottery, burnt flint and stone, and fragments of
fired clay tablet(s) (Obj. No. 1502) usually assigned to the Late Bronze Age.

Enclosure 2278
3.4.10 This postulated enclosure was represented by two portions of curving ditch,
suggesting an ovate shape discernible in plan. The eastern portion was
recorded in section, cut into, thereby post-dating, enclosure ditch 2242. The
western portion had a terminal, possibly representing an opening to the
north-west side of this enclosure. The extent of this enclosure measured c.
60m long (north-south) and c. 51m wide (east-west).

3.4.11 The ditch measured 0.98m to 2.10m wide (generally 1.50m to 2.0m), 0.28 to
0.70m deep (generally 0.40 to 0.70m), and had a ‘U-shaped’ profile and a
concave base. The possible opening to the north-west was at least c. 5m
wide. However, this could not be verified as this area lay beneath an extant
hedge. Finds from the enclosure ditch included Late Bronze Age pottery and

8
 burnt flint as well as a small number of intrusive Roman, Saxon and
Medieval potsherds on the western side.

3.4.12 This enclosure may have had a second phase. Ditch 2624 appears to have
closed the possible opening and otherwise appeared to follow its course.
Ditch 2624 cut into the inner edge of the ditch 2278 and was ‘U-shaped’,
1.20m to 1.30m wide and 0.25m to 0.44m deep, with moderate, concave
sides and a shallow to moderate, concave base. Finds included Late Bronze
Age pottery.

Enclosure 2245
3.4.13 Eastward of enclosure 2242, the northern and western extents of a possibly
ovate enclosure were identified. It was represented by two ditches, which
possibly enclosed an area 50m north-south by 40m wide east-west. Their
opposed terminals indicated an opening to the west. The northern ditch
curved and also terminated at its southern end, indicating possibly a second
opening.

3.4.14 The ditches were between 1.30m and 2.02m wide (generally 1.85m to
2.02m), and were 0.38m to 1.05m deep, and had moderate to steep, concave
profiles and shallow to moderate, concave bases. The terminals tended to be
shallower, being only 0.38m to 0.55m deep. The filling sequence was fairly
consistently pale yellowish-brown silty clays with rare inclusions, rarely
containing pottery and charcoal flecks. Rarely, the filling sequences included
pale grey clays, which may be indicative of originally slightly organic
deposits. The deposits overall were generally symmetrical deposited, giving
no indications of a bank, either internal or external.

3.4.15 A group of three large pits (2443) were recorded on the north side of the
entrance, which would have constricted the width of the enclosure entrance
to only c.3.5m. The pits were all oval, aligned on their long axes and were
unevenly spaced, but very similar in size and profile. The pits were
consistently 1.0m to 1.30m long, 0.84m to 1.05m wide and 0.40 to 0.50m
deep. Each had a moderate to steep, concave upper element and a smaller
diameter, steep-sided lower element c. 0.20m deep and c. 0.25m diameter at
the base, which may be interpreted as a post setting. The sections did not
illustrate a ‘post-pipe’ or packing material still in situ but their common
alignment and location directly in the entrance would suggest that they were
an integral part of the enclosure entrance and were probably post-pits.

3.4.16 The pits contained relatively common finds of worked and burnt flint, Late
Bronze Age pottery, bone, charcoal, quernstone fragments and clay lumps.
Quernstone fragments were particularly common in the middle pit (2434)
and two near-complete pottery vessels were recovered from the northernmost
pit (2439), some of which dated to the Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age.
These finds appear to derive from domestic activity and may have been
selected and deposited deliberately.

9
3.4.17 Two postholes of similar dimensions were recorded within the southern
terminal of the enclosure entrance, which had been cut when the terminal
was fully-silted up. They may be related to the possible ‘post-pits’ 2443 and
could represent a later phase of adjustment to the enclosure entrance. A
single, possible four-post structure (2248) was recorded just inside the
western entrance area of the enclosure, although it was very small in size
(only c. 1.30m by c. 1.20m). The postholes were fairly similar in size and
depth, being sub-circular, 0.37m to 0.60m in diameter and 0.18m to 0.21m
deep, with moderate to steep concave sides and moderate concave bases. The
excavated sections showed no evidence of post-pipes or packing. The fills
contained Late Bronze Age pottery, worked and burnt flint, and charcoal.

3.4.18 A line of at least 10 postholes (2372) was recorded to the south-east of

enclosure 2245. This possible fence was aligned east-west and was c. 12m
long. The postholes were similar in size and depth being generally 0.35m to
0.45m in diameter and 0.15 to 0.30m deep, with varying concave sides and
bases. The single fills of each posthole, predominantly derived from the
natural clay, contained rare sherds of Late Bronze Age pottery. The spatial
proximity to enclosure 2245 might suggest the features were related.

Enclosure 2268
3.4.19 This northernmost enclosure was sub-square in plan, aligned north-
west/south-east and had fairly regular, straight sides and regular rounded
corners. Only the west side was slightly curvilinear in plan. A c. 7m wide
strip of ground across the enclosure interior and ditch circuit could not be
investigated due to an extant tree line. A number of natural anomalies and
postholes were recorded within the enclosure which, included at least three
four-post structures (2263, 2264, 2265) and two possible fence lines (2706,
3425).

3.4.20 The enclosure was c. 49m long and 45m wide with an opening c.4.50m wide
in the centre of its north-west side. It was cut by Late Iron Age/Roman period
ditches 2256 and 2257 and the possibly Middle/Late Iron Age ditch 3641.
The enclosure ditch had a ‘U-shaped’ profile with steep, concave sides and a
shallow to moderate, concave base. It ranged in size, being 0.70m to 1.60m
wide (generally 1.0m to 1.40m) and 0.30m to 0.68m deep (generally 0.40m
to 0.50m). The filling sequence comprised primary fills of pale to mid grey
clays, silty clays and silts with lighter secondary fills tending to be comprised
of pale to mid orange/brown clays and clay silts. The darker primary fills
may have contained higher organic content, perhaps representing waste from
the enclosure interior, hence their darker colour and the relative
predominance of artefacts, including Late Bronze Age pottery, worked and
burnt flint, fired clay and charcoal. Pottery of the Late Iron Age/Roman
period was found in the upper fills of the enclosure ditch, precisely where it
was cut by ditches 2256 and 2257, indicating a possible date for these
features.

3.4.21 Three four-post structures (2263, 2264, 2265) were recorded in the south-
eastern part of the enclosure. These were very similar in size, being 2.20m to

10
 2.40m square, with postholes generally sub-circular/oval, c. 0.25m to 0.50m
in diameter and 0.15m to 0.30m deep. The postholes of 2264 had a slightly
larger diameter (0.60m to 0.80m) but were as heavily truncated as the rest of
the postholes making up the four-post structures. None of the postholes of
these structures illustrated post-pipes or contained in-situ packing. They all
contained Late Bronze Age pottery, burnt stones and flint and charcoal.

3.4.22 The two possible fence lines (2706, 3425) were recorded within the south-
eastern part of enclosure 2268. Group 2706 consisted of a c. 5m long line of
five postholes aligned east-west, to the immediate south-west of four-post
structure Group 2264. The postholes were regularly spaced, at least every
0.60m to 0.80m apart, and formed a very straight line. They were generally
circular or sub-circular in shape, with shallow to moderate concave sides and
shallow concave/flat bases, and measured 0.27m to 0.40m in diameter and
0.07m to 0.25m deep. There was no indication of any packing or of post-
pipes. The fills contained only one piece of burnt flint and rare sherds of Late
Bronze Age pottery.

3.4.23 Group 3425 consisted of an irregular, north-south line of seven postholes,

which were irregularly spaced at intervals of between 0.40m and 0.80m over
a distance of c. 8.25m. The postholes were sub-circular/circular in plan with
moderate to near-vertical concave/flat sides and flat bases. They were
between 0.27m and 0.41m in diameter (generally c. 0.40m) and 0.08m to
0.20m in diameter. No evidence of packing material or post-pipes was
recorded within the cuts. The predominantly single fills of the postholes
contained a single piece of burnt flint and rare Late Bronze Age pottery.

3.4.24 A line of three large pits (3433) was recorded to the immediate south-east of
enclosure Group 2268 and aligned with the south-eastern side of the
enclosure. The enclosure’s long axis ran exactly through the central pit of
this group and the centre of the north-west enclosure entrance. The pits were
sub-circular/oval in shape with steep, flat sides and a flat base, and were
between 0.92m and 1.30m in diameter, and between 0.35m and 0.48m deep.
The fills contained Late Bronze Age pottery, worked flint and charcoal. None
of the pit sections contained post-pipes or in-situ packing remnants to
suggest that they held upright posts at some time. The alignment and location
of these pits appears to suggest they are integral to the enclosure lay-out.

Cremation related features and pits

3.4.25 To the north-east of enclosure 2268 a cluster of at least 29 ‘cremation-
related’ features were recorded consisting of a discrete concentration of 26
un-urned cremation burials and/or pits containing pyre debris (together 2269)
and three related outlying features to the south-east. The features were badly
preserved, plough damaged and affected by bioturbation. A number of
natural hollows were recorded in the area of the cemetery, which contained
material identical to that filling the cremation-related features. Plough marks
were recorded across the main part of the concentration leading to a
spreading of material and fragmentation of the discrete pit cuts in places. A

11
 few sherds of stratified Late Bronze Age pottery were recovered from a few
of the features suggesting the whole group were probably of this date.

3.4.26 The small pits were generally sub-circular in plan, being generally 0.25m to
0.40m in extent and 0.15m to 0.20m deep and had moderate to steep, flat and
concave sides and flat or slightly concave bases. The fills were characterised
by black or greyish-black coarse silts or clayey silts with abundant charcoal
and burnt bone fragments (dimensionally between 10mm and 30mm). The
charcoal and the burnt bone fragments were generally evenly distributed
throughout the fills. In a few features a primary fill of re-deposited natural
clay was recorded, which may derive from the partial collapse of the sides
before use or weathering of the sides of the pits.

3.4.27 A number of discrete, charcoal-rich, small pits (2038, 2040, 2042, 2046,
3000) were recorded in Area B, some of which contained Late Bronze Age
pottery. These were located in the eastern part of the area, where a
cremation-related feature was recorded in the east end of evaluation Tr.42.
They were generally circular, between 0.20m and 0.50m in diameter and
only 0.04m to 0.15m in depth, with dark to very dark greyish-brown fills.
Two small possible hearth features (2002, 2611) in the west of Area B
contained fired clay and were charcoal-rich. Most of these discrete features
are probably Late Bronze Age in date and either represent settlement activity
within the large enclosure 2242, or possible cremation-related activities
immediately outside the enclosure. This latter possibility would be consistent
with enclosure 2268, which appeared to have its own discrete area of
cremation related deposits 2269. Another possible cremation-related feature
(2111) was recorded in the south-east of the Site, to the south-east of
enclosure 2245.

3.4.28 A large pit (2489) was recorded c. 35m north-east of enclosure 2245. The pit
was an elongated, irregular oval feature (partially within the base of a natural
depression in the natural topography of the Site. It measured 4.50m by 1.0m
in extent and was 1.21m deep, with steep/near-vertical, irregular, concave
sides and a shallow, concave base. The fills were characterised by
redeposited natural orange/brown clays and pale grey/greyish-brown silty
clays and sands (which contained the most artefacts). Finds included pottery,
including at least two partial vessels, and rare charcoal. The feature may be
interpreted as a quarry, possibly for clay.

Iron Age (700 BC – AD 43)

3.4.29 Ditch 3641 (in Area B1) was c. 35m long, and parallel with ditches 2256 and
2257 recorded 16m to the east (see below). It may be dated to the
Early/Middle Iron Age, on ceramic evidence, and appears to represent a
significant change in the Site’s development in transgressing the enclosure
group 2268. It may represent land division, or may relate to the postulated
drove-ways represented by 2256 and 2257.

12
 Roman (AD 43 – 410)
3.4.30 A number of linear ditches of Roman date were recorded during the
excavations, which possibly represent tracks, drove-ways or field boundaries.
These ran north-south or northwest-southeast, between higher ground to the
north and lower ground to the south.

3.4.31 The largest ditches, 2256 and 2257, were in the north part of the Site and
were c.18m apart. Indirect evidence for their broadly Roman date may be
suggested by the presence of Late Iron Age/Roman pottery in the upper fills
of enclosure ditch 2268, which they were cut through. They were parallel for
most of their recorded c. 115m length, but appeared to converge at their
southernmost recorded extent. The ditches had moderate to steep, concave
sides with shallow concave or flat bases and were between 0.44m and 1.73m
wide (generally 0.60 to 0.80m) and were between 0.13m to 0.45m deep
(generally 0.20 to 0.40m). The fills were predominantly re-deposited natural
silty clay or clay material, rarely with greyish mottling and contained Roman
pottery (as well as residual pottery of Early Neolithic and Late Bronze Age
date), worked and burnt flint, non-local stone, fired clay and charcoal.

3.4.32 A c. 52m length of parallel ditches (2266 and 2267) was recorded in the
north-eastern corner of the Site. They were recorded c.7m apart and aligned
north-west/south-east and bisected the cremation-related feature cluster
(2269). The ditches were 0.70m to 1.60m wide (generally greater than 1.0m)
and were 0.06 to 0.44m deep (generally greater than c. 0.30m), with shallow
to moderate concave sides and a shallow concave or flat base. The fills
generally comprised re-deposited natural clay and contained possibly
residual pottery of Late Bronze Age date and burnt flint. Another c. 8m long
section of a east-west running ditch (3643), recorded in the south-east corner
of Area B1, may be dated to this period. Its alignment, almost perpendicular
to drove-way ditches 2256 and 2257, may represent further evidence of the
imposition of land divisions at this time, possibly in a rectilinear pattern.

Saxon (410 – 1066)

3.4.33 A north-south and east-west aligned group of small ditches (2246, 2247,
2255, 2259) was recorded in the middle of the Site. It appeared to form a
rectilinear pattern. The ditches were characterised by shallow, concave sides
and bases, ranging in width from 0.30m to 1.50m (generally 0.40 to 1.0m)
and in depth from 0.15m to 0.40m (generally 0.30 to 0.40m). The fills were
predominantly pale to mid orange/brown silty clays and contained Saxon
pottery, burnt flint and rarely fired clay, bone, shell and charcoal).

3.4.34 Two small pits, 2848 and 2293, in Area A contained very small amounts of
Saxon pottery and may date to this period.

Medieval (1066 – 1499)

3.4.35 The alignment of the Saxon ditches appears to have been continued in later
ditches 2251 and 2252 to the north. These were east-west aligned and had
moderate concave sides and a concave base. They measured 0.90m to 1.91m

13
 wide (generally wider than 1.0m) and 0.23m to 0.35m deep. The fills
comprised re-deposited natural and contained Medieval pottery and rarely,
burnt flint, ceramic building material and charcoal. Ditch 2251 was recut.

3.4.36 A large pit (3006) was recorded in the south-west of the Site. It was 5.0m
long by 4.40m wide (aligned north-east/south-west) and 0.36m deep, with
very shallow sides and base. The fills were characterised by mid-grey silty
clays containing pottery, oyster shell, ceramic building material, an iron
object and charcoal.

Post-Medieval/Modern (1500 – present)

3.4.37 A series of shallow linear ditches (2609, 2276, 2277) east-northeast/west-
south-west aligned, was recorded in the south of Area B. These had shallow,
‘U-shaped’ profiles 0.84m to 1.60m wide (generally wider than 1.0m) and
0.25m to 0.34m deep. The fills comprised re-deposited natural orange/brown
silty clays with rare pottery of prehistoric and Post-medieval (after 1500 AD)
date. These features probably represent a precursor to the existing tree-line
boundary that divided Areas A and B.

3.4.38 Regular rectilinear gullies (2254, 2260, 2340) running either north-east to
south-west or north-west to south-east in Area A probably represent field
drains.

Ditches of uncertain date

3.4.39 A pair of north-west/south-east aligned, parallel ditches (2243 and 2244)
c.8.50m apart were recorded in the southern part of the Site, which cut
enclosure ditch 2242. They were recorded over a length of c. 84m. The
ditches generally had moderate to steep, concave sides and a slightly concave
or flat base and were 0.30m to 0.85m wide and 0.12 to 0.25m deep. The
predominantly re-deposited natural clayey fills contained rare finds and the
date of the features remains uncertain. However, pottery of Late Bronze Age
and possibly Saxon date, along with worked and burnt flint, and charcoal,
was recovered.

3.4.40 Two undated linear gully/ditch features (2055 and 2056) were recorded in the
west of Area B cut into enclosure ditch 2242. They were aligned north-south
and characterised by moderate to steep ‘U-shaped’ profiles filled with
redeposited natural deposits. The gullies were generally 0.50m to 1.0m wide
and 0.10m to 0.30m deep.

4 FINDS ASSESSMENT

4.1 Introduction

4.1.1 This section considers the finds from both evaluation and excavation carried
out by Wessex Archaeology on the Site, and also considers artefacts
retrieved from soil samples. All finds have been cleaned (with the exception

14
 of metalwork) and quantified by material type within each context. Totals by
material type are presented in Table 1.

Table 1: Finds totals by material type

Material type Number Weight (g)
Animal Bone 194+ 2306
Burnt Flint - 23,918
Ceramic Building 23 1137
Material
Clay Pipe 2 2
Fired Clay 118 791
Worked Flint 152 1226
Glass 10 211
Human Bone 40 36
Pottery 3222 23,710
Early prehistoric 224 1785
Later prehistoric 2642 19,014
LIA/Romano-British 166 937
Saxon 85 526
Medieval 81 385
Post-medieval 14 1041
Undated 10 22
Marine Shell 67+ 964
Slag 38 241
Stone 8 2735
Worked 4 2042
Burnt 4 693
Metal 31 -
Iron 29 -
Copper alloy 2 -
Human Bone
Cremated - 1567
Inhumed (unstratified) 40 36

4.2 Pottery

4.2.1 Pottery provides the primary dating evidence for the Site, but its potential
value in this respect is somewhat limited by the predominance within the
assemblage of long-lived ware types, and by the relative scarcity of
diagnostic material. It is apparent, however, that the majority of the
assemblage is of later prehistoric date (Late Bronze Age and later), with
smaller quantities of earlier prehistoric, Romano-British, Saxon, medieval
and Post-medieval material. Ten sherds (all small body sherds in heavily
leached calcareous fabrics) remain undated, although the likelihood is that
they are medieval. The breakdown of the pottery assemblage by
chronological period and ware group is given in Table 2.

15
 Table 2: Pottery totals by ware group
DATE RANGE Number Weight (g)
Early Neolithic 223 1773
Flint-tempered 181 1619
Sandy 42 154
Early Bronze Age 1 12
Late Bronze Age/Iron Age 2642 19,014
Flint-tempered 2562 18,423
Grog-tempered 39 220
Sandy 41 371
Late Iron Age/Romano-British 166 937
Glauconitic sandy 82 393
Sandy 62 287
Calcareous 15 199
Grog-tempered 6 53
Flint-tempered 1 5
Saxon 85 526
Medieval 81 385
Calcareous 4 34
Sandy 77 351
Post-medieval 14 1041
Undated 10 22
TOTAL 3222 23,710

Early prehistoric
4.2.2 A small number of sherds, mostly in flint-tempered fabrics but with some
sandy wares, have been identified as Early Neolithic, with varying degrees of
confidence. Clearly identifiable vessel forms and decorated sherds are
present within the group(s) of sherds from the Causewayed Enclosure ditch
457 and ditch 2863. These groups include sherds in markedly coarse flint-
tempered fabrics, which are relatively distinctive, but also in finer flint-
tempered fabrics, which are indistinguishable by eye from the later
prehistoric wares. Sherds from layer 2842 and pit 3024 have been more
tentatively identified as Early Neolithic on the basis of the similarity of fabric
types (all very coarsely flint-tempered) and provenance and there is a
possibility that further Neolithic sherds remain unidentified within the later
prehistoric assemblage.

4.2.3 One grog-tempered sherd from ditch 2627 (enclosure 2242) has been
provisionally dated as Early Bronze Age on fabric grounds alone – this sherd
is otherwise completely undiagnostic, and cannot be attributed to a ceramic
tradition.

Later Prehistoric
4.2.4 A large proportion of the assemblage has at this stage been broadly dated as
later prehistoric. The majority of this material is in flint-tempered fabrics in a
varying range of coarseness, and including better sorted fabrics which could

16
 be defined as 'finewares'; some of these fabrics also contain some grog/clay
pellet inclusions, and there are a few grog-tempered sherds, mostly
containing sparse flint inclusions as well. There are also a few sandy sherds.
Diagnostic material is relatively scarce, despite the occurrence of several
deposits containing partial vessels with reconstructable profiles (e.g.
postholes 2434 and 2439, ditches 2480, 2642 and 3615: some of these are
from the lower parts of vessels only), but recognisable vessel forms include
coarseware jars with hooked or everted rims (e.g. ditch 2404, scoop 3022),
one vessel with a lug handle (cremation-related deposit 2239) and two jars in
fineware fabrics with applied neck cordons (posthole 2439, causewayed
enclosure ditch 457). One particularly large group of 518 sherds, including
rims from several different vessels, came from feature 3022.

4.2.5 The vessel forms present here suggest a date range of Late Bronze Age to
Early Iron Age, but it must be pointed out that such flint-tempered, grog-
tempered and sandy fabrics have a long currency in east Kent, virtually
throughout the 1st millennium BC, and it is possible that some of this
assemblage is later in date (see Macpherson-Grant 1991). Equally, some
sherds from the coarser end of the spectrum (e.g. from postholes 2371, 2290)
could fall within the range of the Deverel-Rimbury ceramic tradition of the
Middle Bronze Age. No identifiable vessel forms, however, have been
recognised either pre-dating the Late Bronze Age or post-dating the Early
Iron Age, and a hiatus in the ceramic sequence is suggested during the
Middle Iron Age.

Late Iron Age/Romano-British

4.2.6 A small group of sherds in a distinctive glauconitic sandy fabric derive from
handmade vessels in a native Late Iron Age tradition. These occur almost
exclusively associated with flint-tempered fabrics as described above,
suggesting that the latter wares were still in use at this period. Calcareous and
grog-tempered fabrics are also characteristic of the Late Iron Age, and there
are diagnostic bead-rimmed vessel forms (surface finds) although there is no
sign here of the distinctive grog-tempered ‘Belgic’ wheelthrown forms of the
immediate pre-conquest period.

4.2.7 More ‘Romanised’ wheelthrown wares are present in small quantities; these
include sandy greywares and oxidised wares, none of which are closely
datable within the Roman period.

Saxon
4.2.8 A total of 84 sherds, all in organic-tempered fabrics, has been dated as
Early/Middle Saxon, although there is some uncertainty over some sandy
wares containing sparse organic inclusions, here considered to be more
characteristic of the later prehistoric period (specifically, the Early Iron Age).
Diagnostic material is limited to one or two rims, but this is insufficient to
date the assemblage more closely. The largest group (39 sherds) came from
ditch fill 2309, part of 2247

17
 Medieval
4.2.9 Medieval wares consist mainly of sandy fabrics (with a potential source at
Tyler Hill, Canterbury), and a few calcareous, probably shelly wares. There
are two bowl rims and one jar rim; the date range is likely to be later 12th to
early 14th century.

Post-medieval
4.2.10 Fourteen sherds are post-medieval in date, including coarse redwares,
stoneware and industrial wares.

4.3 Fired Clay and Ceramic Objects

4.3.1 Fragments of perforated clay tablet have been identified from two contexts.
In both bases the tablets are in a heavily organic-tempered fabric. Such
tablets are relatively common finds on sites of Late Bronze Age date in the
lower Thames Valley.

4.3.2 The remainder of the assemblage comprises small, featureless ceramic

fragments, probably structural in origin, from hearth linings or from
upstanding structures. The date of this material is unknown, but on the
grounds of associated pottery the majority at least is likely to be of later
prehistoric date.

4.3.3 This includes fragments of bricks and tiles. Several fragments of Romano-
British date can be identified (ditches 2252, 2808, 2843); the remainder
consists of fragments of medieval or post-medieval roof tile, one of which is
glazed.

4.4 Stone

4.4.1 Worked stone comprises two lava quern fragments (pit 2848 and ditch group
2252 respectively), one greensand quern fragment (posthole 2434) and a
(possibly worked) rounded chalk lump (layer 2241).

4.5 Worked and Burnt Flint

4.5.1 The small lithic assemblage is chronologically mixed. Potentially the earliest
piece is a heavily rolled, possible Palaeolithic flake, found unstratified in
Area B. A crude attempt at a bifacially worked piece, also unstratified, could
in fact be a modern artefact. From the subsoil (context 2213) came a
relatively long blade; this could potentially be a Late Glacial or Upper
Holocene artefact, but is not sufficiently diagnostic, and could equally be of
later (perhaps early Neolithic) date.

4.5.2 Groups of Neolithic flint can be identified from the fills of the causewayed
enclosure ditch (457) – these include a broken arrowhead (probably a leaf
form), a serrate, at least two retouched pieces, and a multi-platform core.
Bullhead flint occurs in these contexts, and other pieces of Bullhead flint

18
 from other contexts, including at least one retouched piece (ditch 3032), may
be of similar date.

4.5.3 The majority of the lithic assemblage, however, is likely to be largely of

Bronze Age date – this consists of flake and core material, with no
identifiable tools or utilised pieces and therefore little which is
chronologically distinctive. Raw material consists of locally available gravel
flint. Condition varies from relatively fresh to edge damaged; a few pieces
are patinated and two pieces are burnt.

4.5.4 Burnt, unworked flint was also recovered in some quantity. This material
type is intrinsically undatable but is frequently associated with prehistoric
activity. In this instance most of the burnt flint appears to derive from
contexts of later prehistoric date, but with no noticeable concentrations.

4.6 Metalwork and metalworking debris

4.6.1 Nails make up the majority of the iron assemblage; there is also one patten
base from a post-medieval ditch (boundary ditch group 2609), and a possible
ploughshare from a ditch containing medieval pottery (2846). Other objects
are unidentifiable, as are all of the copper alloy objects.

4.6.2 A few pieces of metalworking slag were also recovered, from seven contexts,
of which six appear, on the basis of associated pottery, to be of later
prehistoric date (Late Bronze Age or later).

4.7 Human bone

4.7.1 Cremated human bone was recovered from 26 features, which were
identified on site as being cremation-related. The majority of these (23)
formed a cluster in the north-eastern corner of the site (group 2269). These
features are essentially undated, although are assumed to be later prehistoric
– a few contained sherds of pottery of Late Bronze Age or later date,
although there is no evidence that any of the features represent urned
cremations. All of the bone is in very poor condition, and has been heavily
fragmented, probably due to post-depositional processes; much disturbance
by ploughing and animal burrowing was noted. Most features contained only
small quantities of bone – weights per feature range from 1 – 309 grammes,
with only three features producing more than 100 grammes. Again this may
be largely due to post-depositional truncation.

4.7.2 There is no suggestion at this stage that any of the cremation-related deposits
contained the remains of more than one individual. The bone from 18 of
these deposits was identifiable as ?immature (2), ?young adult (1),
subadult/adult (4) or adult (11) – quantities from the remaining deposits were
too small, and the bone too fragmentary for age to be assessed.

4.7.3 In addition, fragments of a human femur, in very poor condition, were

recovered as surface finds.

19
4.8 Other finds

4.8.1 Other finds comprise a few clay pipe fragments, and a few pieces of bottle
glass, all of post-medieval date.

4.9 Animal Bone

4.9.1 A small collection of animal and fish bones was recovered from 13 contexts,
ranging in date from later prehistoric to post-medieval (no bone was
recovered from the Neolithic causewayed enclosure). The majority of the
bone is in poor condition with a high degree of fragmentation and
weathering. The exceptions to this are two post-medieval contexts (ditches
2805 and 2846) which yielded well-preserved bones. The absence of small
species, with the exception of the fish bones, may be a product of poor
survival rather than a true picture of the animals exploited at the time. The
fish bones that were retrieved (pits 113 and 115) came from species with
robust skeletons (cod and ray) and their survival is not surprising in this
context.

4.9.2 The majority of the bones came from later prehistoric contexts (Late Bronze
Age or later). However, because of the small number of bones, which could
be identified very little, can be said about the exploitation of animals and fish
at the site.

5 ENVIRONMENTAL EVIDENCE

5.1 Aims

5.1.1 Sampling was undertaken to determine the preservation and diversity of

charred and land snail remains. From this data their potential for analysis to
contribute to the understanding of the site, the nature of the landscape and
farming economy, and the nature of defined activities and is assessed.

5.2 Samples taken and palaeo-environmental evidence

5.2.1 A series of 145 bulk samples of between 0.75 and 30 litres was processed
from a range of feature types for the recovery and assessment of charred
plant remains and charcoals. Four further samples were processed for
charcoal and artefacts.

5.2.2 A monolith was taken from the Neolithic ditch 457 along with 21 mollusc
samples. Another two mollusc samples were taken from two Late Bronze
Age ditches.

20
 Table 3: Bulk samples by phase
Phase no of bulk samples Artefact samples total vol
no vol (L) No vol (L) vol (L)
Neolithic 8 240 0 0 240
Late Bronze Age 113 1292.25 4 30 1322.25
Late Iron Age / Romano-British 5 119 0 0 119
Saxon 4 117 0 0 117
Medieval 2 57 0 0 57
Undated 13 250 0 0 250
Total 145 2075.25 4 30 2105.25

5.3 Sample Processing Methods

5.3.1 The bulk samples for charred and charcoal remains were processed by
standard flotation methods; the flot was retained on a 0.5mm mesh and the
residues fractionated into 5.6mm/4mm, 2mm and 1mm fractions and dried.
The coarse fractions (>5.6 mm/4mm) were sorted, weighed and discarded.

5.3.2 The flots were scanned under a x10 - x30 stereo-binocular microscope and
presence of charred remains quantified (Table 4), to record the preservation
and nature of the charred plant and charcoal remains and assess their
potential.

5.3.3 The snail samples, of between 1000g and 2000g, were processed by standard
methods (Evans 1972) for land snails.

5.4 Assessment Results: the data

Charred plant remains
5.4.1 The flots varied in size (average flot size for a 10 litre sample is 60
millilitres) with between five and 90% rooty material and low to high
numbers of uncharred weed seeds, which can be indicative of stratigraphic
movement.

5.4.2 The eight samples from the Neolithic Causewayed enclosure all contained
charred grain fragments, in large quantities in four samples and low numbers
of charred weed seeds, including hazelnut fragments, were observed in seven
samples. Small amounts of charred chaff fragments were retrieved from two
samples. Molluscs were present in two samples.

5.4.3 The 70 samples from Late Bronze Age cremations produced charred grain
fragments in 47 samples, in high numbers in two samples, a few charred
chaff fragments in three samples and charred weed seeds, including hazelnut
fragments in 56 samples. Molluscs were present in two samples.

5.4.4 The 10 samples from Late Bronze Age pits all contained charred grain
fragments, in large quantities in four of them. A few charred chaff fragments

21
 were recorded in four samples and low numbers of charred weed seeds,
including hazelnut fragments, in eight samples.

5.4.5 The 17 samples from Late Bronze Age postholes all produced charred grain
fragments, in high numbers in 11 of them. Charred chaff fragments were
recorded in 13 samples, in large amounts in six of them and charred weed
seeds were observed in 16 samples, in large quantities in two samples.
Charred pea/bean fragments were retrieved in high numbers from four
samples. Molluscs were present in two samples.

5.4.6 The 16 samples from Late Bronze Age Enclosures and other ditches all
contained charred grain fragments, in large quantities from nine of them.
Charred chaff fragments were recorded in 10 samples, in a high number in
one of them, and a few charred weed seeds, including hazelnut fragments,
were observed in eight of them.

5.4.7 The five samples from Late Iron Age / Romano-British ditches produced
large amounts of charred grain fragments. A large quantity of charred chaff
fragments was recorded from a single sample. Low numbers of charred weed
seeds were observed in four samples.

5.4.8 The four samples from Saxon ditches all contained high numbers of charred
grain fragments and small quantities of charred weed seeds.

5.4.9 The two samples from medieval ditches produced large amounts of charred
grain fragments and low numbers of charred weed seeds. A few charred chaff
fragments were observed in a single sample.

5.4.10 The 13 samples from undated features contained charred grain fragments in
11 samples, in high numbers in six of them. Charred chaff fragments were
recorded in five samples, in large amounts in two of them and small
quantities of charred weed seeds were observed in eight samples.

Charcoal
5.4.11 Charcoal was noted from the flots of the bulk samples and is recorded in
Table 4. Charcoal fragments of greater than 5.6 mm were retrieved in large
quantities from 26 of the Late Bronze Age cremation samples, from four of
the Late Bronze Age pit samples, from two of the Late Bronze Age posthole
samples, from one of the Late Iron Age/ Romano-British samples, from all
four Saxon samples, from one of the medieval samples and from seven of the
undated samples. The charcoal was mainly large wood fragments.

Pollen
5.4.12 Two monoliths were taken for pollen assessment. The first (monolith 1006)
c. 0.6m long from was from shallow inter-cut ditches 2616 and 2613. The
lower fills contained many voids and significant sediment displacement was
noticed in the monolith. Major vertical voids (root holes and earthworm
burrows) up to 0.7mm diameter penetrated the entire sequence and were

22
 filled with dark brown humic top soil material. It was considered that pollen
preservation in the mixed, loose deposits would be poor (Scaife pers.
comm.), and that there was a high risk of significant contamination from
modern soil mixed throughout the soil. No sub-samples were examined for
pollen.

5.4.13 The second monolith (monolith 1116) was taken through the Neolithic
causewayed ditch fills adjacent to the column of contiguous samples for land
snails. No snails were present excepting relatively high levels of modern
intrusive burrowing species (Table 5), and similarly relatively high levels of
modern intrusive uncharred weed seeds were also seen (Table 4).

Land snails
5.4.14 The flots were rapidly assessed by scanning under a x10 - x 30 stereo-
binocular microscope to provide some information about shell preservation
and species representation. The numbers of shells and the presence of
taxonomic groups were quasi quantified (Table 5).

5.4.15 A column of 21 contiguous samples through the fills of the Neolithic

Causewayed enclosure ditch produced no shells (Table 5), excepting
Ceciloides acicula, which is a modern burrowing species and thus palaeo-
ecologically insignificant.

5.4.16 Spot samples were taken from two inter-cutting Bronze Age ditches. Only
Ceciloides acicula was present (Table 5).

5.4.17 Land snails were present in low numbers in a few of the flots from bulk
samples (Table 4).

23
Table 4: Assessment of the charred plant remains and charcoal
Flot Residue
Feature type/ Context Sample size flot size Grain Chaff Weed seeds Charcoal Other Charcoal analysis
No litres ml uncharre charred >5.6mm >5.6mm
d
Neolithic
Causewayed Enclosure
80
457 458 1104 30 60 B - a - C - - P
30
457 459 1105 30 20 B - a Ch C moll-t (C) - P C
60
457 2526 1106 30 30 A C c C C moll-t (C) - P
85
457 2527 1107 30 50 B - a C - - - P
15
457 2528 1108 30 30 A - A C C - - P
25
457 2530 1109 30 25 A - B Ch C - - P C
20
457 2531 1110 30 5 B - A Ch C - - P C
15
457 2532 1112 30 30 A C C C C - - P C
Late Bronze Age
Cremation group 2269
10
2119 2690 1102 10 250 - - A C A* Burnt bone -
60
2121 2688 1100 3 30 B - A C C - - P
60
2121 2689 1101 1.5 15 - - C C C - -
10
2122 2686 1095 3 200 - - A C A* - - C
15
2122 2687 1096 3 125 C - C C A - -
25
2123 2682 1091 1 40 C - B - C - -
50
2123 2683 1092 1 30 C - A C - - -
40
2125 2684 1093 7 150 C - A C A* - -
10
2125 2685 1094 8 250 C - A C A* - - C
30
2126 2679 1089 5 140 C - A C A Burnt bone -
30
2126 2680 1090 6 125 - - A C A Burnt bone -
40
2127 2677 1087 5 125 - - A C A Burnt bone -
25
2127 2678 1088 5 100 - - A C C Burnt bone -
60
2128 2675 1084 1 10 C - B C C Burnt bone -
25
2128 2676 1085 1 30 - - C C - Burnt bone -
7
2129 2197 1083 15 350 C - A C A* Burnt bone -
5
2129 2198 1086 20 500 C - A C A* Burnt bone - C
15
2131 2192 1077 8 150 C - A C C Burnt bone -
40
2131 2193 1078 7 100 C - A C A Burnt bone -
35
2132 2194 1079 3 40 C - B C C - -
30
2132 2195 1080 5 60 - - A B C - -
5
2133 2187 1071 5 250 C - A B A Burnt bone -
10
2133 2189 1073 6 250 C - A B A Burnt bone - P
10
2134 2190 1074 4 125 C - A C A* Burnt bone - C
5
2134 2191 1075 6 250 C - A B A Burnt bone -
20
2136 2185 1068 1 15 - - A C C - -
60
2136 2186 1069 5 25 C - A C C - -
60
2136 2188 1072 1 10 C C B C - - - P
40
2137 2184 1062 1 10 C - A - - - -

24
 Flot Residue
Feature type/ Context Sample size flot size Grain Chaff Weed seeds Charcoal Other Charcoal analysis
No litres ml Uncharre charred >5.6mm >5.6mm
d
Late Bronze Age (cont.)
Cremation group 2269 (cont.)
50
2138 2171 1049 1 15 C - B C C - -
75
2138 2173 1051 3 40 C - A C - - -
25
2139 2182 1060 3 30 - - B C - - -
10
2139 2183 1061 4 90 - - A C A - -
15
2140 2172 1050 2 60 C - C C A - -
20
2140 2174 1052 4 110 - - A C A - -
60
2141 2175 1053 1.5 10 C - A - - - -
33
2141 2176 1054 2 15 C - A C C - -
20
2142 2177 1055 6 175 - - A C A Burnt bone -
75
2142 2178 1056 8 60 C - A C C - -
65
2142 2179 1057 1 10 C - B - - - -
10
2142 2180 1058 3 125 C - A - A Burnt bone -
80
2142 2181 1059 10 30 C - A - - - -
30
2143 2162 1040 5 60 - - A C B Burnt bone -
50
2143 2169 1047 5 40 C - A - C Burnt bone -
80
2143 2170 1048 10 40 C - A C - - -
40
2144 2160 1038 1 15 - - A C C - -
80
2144 2161 1039 6 20 - - a* C - - -
35
2144 2165 1043 0.75 15 - - B C C - -
75
2144 2166 1044 7 30 - - A C - - -
80
2145 2163 1041 4 40 - - C C - - -
90
2145 2167 1045 4 30 C - A - - - -
40
2146 2164 1042 3 40 C - A - - - -
50
2146 2168 1046 5 50 C - A - A - -
15
2130 1076 2 40 C - A C B Burnt bone -
75
2135 1070 4 20 C - A Ch - - - P
30
2196 1082 4 40 C - A C C Burnt bone -
50
2199 1081 1 10 - - A C - - -
Cremations
20
423 424 15 10 500 C - A C A* - - C
80
2111 2112 1032 6 50 B - A - C moll-t (C) - P
90
2111 2112 1033 10 80 A C A - - - - P
50
2111 2113 1030 3 60 C - A - B - -
50
2111 2113 1031 1.5 30 C - C C C - -
50
2285 2284 1011 30 40 A - A C C Burnt bone 40 P C
2285 2284 1011 10 Artefact sieved -
35
3204 3205 1113 1 30 - - A C C - -
20
3204 3206 1114 3 200 C - A C A* - -
20
3220 3221 1139 4 175 - - C C A* - - C
30
3220 3222 1140 3 120 - - C C A* Moll-t (C) -

25
 Flot Residue
Feature type/ Context Sample size flot size Grain Chaff Weed seeds Charcoal Other Charcoal Analysi
No litres ml Uncharre charred >5.6mm >5.6mm s
d
Late Bronze Age (cont.)
Cremations (cont.)
90
3225 3226 1141 7 60 C C A C C - - P
75
3225 3229 1152 6 100 C - A C B Burnt bone -
85
3225 3230 1153 7 120 C - A - - Burnt bone -
Pits
80
2230 2229 1003 20 100 A C A Bh - - - P
25
2239 2238 1004 9 100 C - A - A* - - C
30
2871 2872 1168 25 120 B - A C A - -
50
2871 2873 1167 30 150 A - A C A - - P C
35
2871 2874 1166 25 200 B - A C A* - -
80
3223 3224 1142 30 250 A C A B C - - P
60
3233 3234 1156 20 120 B C A C - - -
80
3427, gp3437 3426 1155 30 120 C - A C - - -
80
3432, gp3437 3430 1164 30 175 A B A B - - - P
60
3432, gp3437 3431 1165 15 100 C - A - C - -
Post holes
60
Gp 2263 2391 1115 6 50 A C A C C - -
80
2534, gp2264 2535 1143 20 30 A C A C - - -
85
2536, gp2264 2538 1144 30 60 B C A C - - -
2536, gp2264 2538 1144 10 Artefact sieved -
50
2539, gp2264 2540 1157 6 40 B C A C - - -
75
2541, gp2264 2542 1158 10 60 A A A C - - -
80
2543gp 2264 2544 1159 18 60 A A A C C - -
80
3209, gp2265 3210 1148 20 50 B - A C - P/bean (B) -
90
3209, gp2265 3211 1149 30 30 B B A C - Moll-t (C) -
70
3212, gp2265 3213 1150 17 100 A C A C C Moll-t (C) -
P/bean (A)
80
3215, gp2265 3216 1151 30 130 A B A C P/bean (B) - P
3215, gp2265 3216 1151 5 Artefact sieved -
70
3217, gp2265 3214 1145 30 100 A A A B C P/bean (A) - P C
3217, gp2265 3214 1145 5 Artefact sieved -
60
3218, gp2265 3219 1146 1 10 C - A C C - -
90
2431, gp2443 2433 1019 30 125 A A A C A - - C
90
2434, gp2443 2435 1035 6 25 A A A C - - -
50
2434, gp2443 2436 1034 17 40 A A A A - - -
15
2042 2041 1005 2 100 C - A - A* - - C
75
3000 3001 1009 10 30 A - A A B - -

26
 Flot Residue
Feature type/ Context Sample size flot size Grain Chaff Weed seeds Charcoal Other Charcoal Analysi
No litres ml Uncharre charred >5.6mm >5.6mm s
d
Late Bronze Age (cont.)
Enclosure Ditches
80
3019, gp2242 2297 1016 30 90 C - B - C - -
80
2381, gp2268 2375 1065 18 60 A B A - - - - P
50
2381, gp2268 2377 1066 18 20 B C A - - - -
35
2381, gp2268 2378 1067 18 15 B C B - - - -
80
2853, gp2268 2855 1063 30 60 A A A C - - - P
90
2853, gp2268 2856 1064 30 40 C C A - - - -
80
3032, gp2268 3037 1097 30 140 A B A Ch C - - P C
80
2060, gp2400 2061 1012 25 60 B - A C - - -
90
2060, gp2400 2070 1015 20 25 C - B - - - -
50
2066, gp2400 2063 1014 22 10 C - A - - - -
Ditches
80
2451, gp2245 2456 1036 30 90 A C A C - - - P
75
2451, gp2245 2457 1037 27 40 A - A C C - -
85
3044, gp2266 3045 1111 30 130 A - A C - - -
90
3200, gp2267 3201 1103 30 100 A C A - C - -
90
2613, gp2615 2614 1008 29 125 A C a* C C - -
90
2616, gp2624 2618 1007 29 150 A C a* C C - -
Late Iron Age / Romano-British
Ditches
25
2464, gp2253 2466 1022 30 40 A - B C C - -
70
2464, gp2253 2467 1023 26 60 B - A - B - -
60
2480, gp2253 2478 1027 10 80 A* A* B C C Burnt bone - P
90
2105, gp2256 2106 1028 23 250 A - A C A - - P C
80
2866, gp2256 2868 1147 30 225 B - A C - - -
Saxon
Ditches
90
3020, gp2246 3021 1025 30 125 B - a C A - -
75
2309, gp2247 2306 1018 30 400 A - a C A* Burnt bone - P C
50
2089, gp2255 2088 1020 30 225 A - a C A* - - P C
50
2093, gp2255 2094 1024 27 80 A - a C A - -
Medieval
Ditches
80
2658, gp2251 2660 1026 27 250 A* - a C A Burnt bone - C
90
2843, gp2252 2845 1029 30 100 A C a C - - - P
Undated
Pits
20
2000 2001 1000 5 60 - - b - A* - -
40
2002 2003 1001 9 100 C - a - A - -
20
2293 2291 1013 30 350 A - a C A* Burnt bone -
20
2302 2300 1017 30 900 B - a C A* - -
60
2611 2612 1002 6 40 B - a - C - -

27
 Flot Residue
Feature type/ Context Sample size flot size Grain Chaff Weed seeds Charcoal Other Charcoal analysis
No litres ml uncharre charred >5.6mm >5.6mm
d
Undated (cont.)
8
2707 2708 1154 15 750 C - a C A* - -
20
2713 2714 1160 5 160 - - a C A* - -
40
2715 2716 1161 20 250 A A a C A* - -
70
3235 3236 1163 30 150 A C a C - - -
80
3429 3428 1162 10 100 C - a - C - -
Ditch
20
2404 2407 1010 30 25 A A* a C C - -
50
2857 2860 1098 30 15 A B b C C - -
75
2857 2861 1099 30 40 A C b - - - -
KEY: A** = exceptional, A* = 30+ items, A = t10 items, B = 9 - 5 items, C = < 5 items, (h) =
hazelnuts, smb = small mammal bones
NOTE: 1flot is total, but flot in superscript = ml of rooty material. 2Unburnt seed in lower case to distinguish from charred
remains.

28
Table 5: Land snail assessment from Causewayed Enclosure Ditch 457
SAMPLE 1118 1119 1120 1121 1122 1123 1124 1125 1126 1127 1128 1129 1130 1131 1132 1133 1134 1135 1136 1137 1138 1007 1008
CONTEXT 2533 2533 2533 2531 2531 2531 2531 2528 2528 2528 459 459 459 459 459 458 458 458 458 458 458 2618 2614
HEIGHT FROM BASE 0- 0.05 0.10 0.12 0.17 0.22 0.27 0.34 0.39 0.44 0.52 0.57 0.62 0.67 0.72 0.77 0.82 0.87 0.92 0.97 1.02 spot spot
0.05 0.10 0.12 0.17 0.22 0.27 0.34 0.39 0.44 0.52 0.57 0.62 0.67 0.72 0.77 0.82 0.87 0.92 0.97 1.02 1.07
WEIGHT (g) 1000 1500 1400 2000 2000 1500 2000 1800 2000 1800 1750 2000 1750 1900 1900 2000 1650 1900 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000
FEATURE 457- Neolithic Cause-way Enclosure ditch Column 1117 2616 2613

Burrowing species
Cecilioides acicula - - - - C - - C C C C B C A B B B B B B B C -
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
KEY: A = t10 items, B = 9 - 5 items, C = < 5 items, (+) = present

29
 PART B: PROPOSALS FOR POST-EXCAVATION ANALYSES
AND DISSEMINATION

6 STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL

6.1 Overview of Structural Evidence

6.1.1 The archaeological work in advance of the Kingsborough Manor

development, carried out by Archaeology South-East and Wessex
archaeology, established the presence of an Early Neolithic Causewayed
Enclosure, only the second to be recorded in Kent, which is of regional and
national importance. This monument was only partially revealed by the work
and is likely to extend beneath land to the south. In the Late Bronze Age,
north of the Causewayed Enclosure, at least four settlement enclosures were
constructed on the higher ground of the Site. These contained few structural
features beyond four-post structures and fence lines. Traditionally, four-post
structures are interpreted as aboveground grain storage buildings. All the
enclosures may not represent permanent settlement but may be points in the
landscape where people gathered for short periods within seasonal patterns of
movement and activity. This is reflected in the relative lack of internal
features traditionally recorded within enclosures of this date in southern
England. A small number of scattered, cremation-related pits as well as a
significant cluster in the north-east of the Site, point to long-term ritual use
and significance of the Site within the wider landscape.

6.1.2 In the Middle to Late Iron Age and thereafter the Site is transformed, falling
into agricultural rather than settlement or ritual use. Linear ditches running
across the Site appear to indicate tracks, possibly drove-ways, and
boundaries indicative of field systems of Late Iron Age/Roman date. The
man-made landscape orientation and use continued to develop through the
Saxon and Medieval periods, pointing to the long-lived importance of this
land for agricultural use.

6.1.3 This sequence of monuments and features, combined with the related
artefactual and environmental assemblage, has the potential to describe the
man-made landscape of the Isle of Sheppey, from the Neolithic period
onwards, for the first time. As such, the original objectives of the work
would appear to have been successfully addressed and may be advanced.

6.2 Finds

6.2.1 Within the artefactual assemblage, arguably of greatest significance are the
groups of Neolithic pottery and flintwork, associated with the Causewayed
Enclosure. Although their archaeological potential is perhaps limited by the
small size of the assemblages, they may be added to the related assemblages
recovered by ASE. Pottery of this date in particular is relatively uncommon

30
 within Kent, and this constitutes one of very few stratified assemblages from
Causewayed Enclosures in southern England.

6.2.2 The majority of the finds recovered are of later prehistoric date (pottery,
flintwork, clay tablets, cremated human bone), associated with the settlement
enclosures. Primary dating evidence is provided by the pottery, but its
potential value in this respect is limited by the predominance within the
assemblage of long-lived ware types, and by the paucity of diagnostic
material. Functional evidence is likewise restricted by the scarcity of other
artefact types – no grain-processing or textile working equipment, for
example, was identified. The human bone, however, can provide some
insight into the local population and their burial rituals.

6.2.3 Material of later dates (Romano-British and later) is of very minor

importance, although the presence of a small quantity of Saxon pottery on the
site is interesting.

6.3 Environmental remains

Charred plant remains

Neolithic
6.3.1 The high levels of charred grain in samples from the Neolithic Causewayed
enclosure are unprecedented. Although there is some concern that the high
levels of un-charred remains indicates the possibility of intrusive charred
remains, later phases of activity are rarely as rich. This provides the potential
to define aspects of the Neolithic cereal economy in Kent and must be seen
as of high regional importance. Nearly all samples are accompanied by weed
seeds and chaff is present. However only the three basal sampled contexts are
Neolithic in date, and above context 2528, Late Bronze Age pottery was
recovered.

6.3.2 The overall potential to define the crops cultivated, the type of soil tilled,
whether autumn sowing was practised is high. The preservation of chaff may
enable some indication of crop processing activities conducted on, or prior to
disposal on site. The dated Late Bronze Age pottery indicated that the upper
five sampled contexts are post Neolithic, but the filling sequence provides
some time dimension which can be quantified.

Late Bronze Age

6.3.3 The charred plant remains in the cremation-related features are likely to be
incidental to the cremation events. Features from cremation group 2269 were
100% sampled. Other outlying more isolated cremations were also 100%
sampled. These samples provide some general indication of the cereals and
plant remains on the site during firing of the cremation pyres. Some remains,
may, however, be evidence of tinder specifically selected to fire the
cremations.

31
6.3.4 Similarly samples from the ditches contain material blown in, thus provide a
good, but general, background of the activities on site. Dumped deposits
have the potential to provide information about the disposal after burning of
the waste from specific activities. The charred remains from the ditches
contain grain, chaff and weed seeds. There is potential to examine the nature
of the Bronze Age cereal crops, cultivation regimes and soils tilled, while the
presence of preserved chaff enables the stage of processing of crops and the
processing activities conducted on site.

6.3.5 A series of pits were sampled across the site, the majority of which contain
both grain and weed seeds, and some have chaff. These are largely dumped
debris relating to the specific disposal of burnt waste and can be readily
related to specific activities. These assemblages have the potential to define
more precisely the nature of activities on site (crop processing, drying etc.)
and have a higher potential to contribute to the interpretation of the role and
function of the Site as a whole. This will aid in determining the nature of the
Site and its role in the wider Kent Bronze Age landscape; i.e. was it a
producer or consumer Site?; was the grain processed for consumption,
storage or market? Examination of pits across the site might enable some
differentiation in the use of space to be determined.

6.3.6 Postholes are usually poor contexts in taphonomic terms, especially in multi-
period sites. The age of the incorporated grain may be in question. Its origin
is uncertain as during its use the timber post occupied most of the fill.
Material may have originated from soil through which the post was cut, or
relate to the activity after the post had been removed. However the samples
are very rich and the presence of peas/beans is particularly noteworthy.
Although incidental inclusions, they are important evidence of Late Bronze
Age cultivation of legumes.

Late Iron Age/Romano-British – Saxon – Medieval

6.3.7 The presence of grain, weed seeds and chaff in ditches of all three phases
enables some data to help compare the changing role of the Site and of the
agricultural economy. These latter phases are not seen as priority, but do
provide important evidence of the developmental history. The Saxon
material, in particular, is of importance in view of the relative scarcity of
charred remains from rural Saxon sites in south eastern England.

Charcoal

Neolithic
6.3.8 Charcoal is present in small quantities in all samples. As this is likely to
originate from domestic fires this is probably selected from the surrounding
local woodland. As such this charcoal has the potential to provide some
information about the nature of the local woodland and its species
composition. There may also be the potential to examine evidence for
woodland management or selection from the nature (roundwood vs

32
 heartwood) and size of the material represented. Only the basal three
sampled contexts from the Causewayed Enclosure are securely Neolithic.

Late Bronze Age

6.3.9 Charcoal from cremations has the potential to determine specific selection of
timber for the firing of the pyres. Examination of the material may enable the
isolation of woodland management practices, and together aids in
determining pyre technology. Samples from different areas across the site
may enable the detection of varying practices or pyre technology.

6.3.10 Charcoal from the pits and from the ditches represent specific events such as
fire waste disposal and material blown into ditches, and have the potential of
providing information on wood used for more general domestic purposes
such as fires, artefacts and construction. The former of these is more likely to
have been selected from local available woodland, thus providing the
potential to establish the nature, and management of, the local woodland.

6.3.11 Charcoal in most of the postholes includes both roundwood and heartwood
and does not generally represent former timber posts. However, two samples
may represent former timber posts.

Late Iron Age/Romano-British – Saxon – Medieval

6.3.12 Charcoal is relatively sparse in both the Late Iron Age/Romano-British and
Medieval phases and there is relatively little structural or functional
archaeological evidence to which it may relate. In contrast all samples from
the Saxon ditches are very rich in charcoal, indicating some specific burning
activities were employed during this phase. The charcoal evidence has the
potential to isolate activities not otherwise represented in the archaeological
record. Charcoal from the remaining phases provides the potential to
examine and contrast their development with the development of the Site in
the Neolithic and Late Bronze Age periods.

Land snails
6.3.13 No shells survive in the processed samples, excepting (probably modern)
burrowing species.

6.3.14 A few flots of bulk samples contained low numbers of snails. In the later
Bronze Age phases the levels of preservation are not great enough to enable
the detailed environmental interpretation required to be of any value at this
time. Two samples from the Neolithic causewayed enclosure contained
snails. Despite the low level of preservation, the information they provide,
even if only general, may be of value in attempting to build some general
picture of the local landscape at this time.

33
7 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

7.1 Aims
x To provide an integrated narrative of landscape development based on
the results of all archaeological work undertaken for dissemination via
an appropriate academic source
x To prepare and deposit an accessible archive of the results of all the
archaeological work undertaken with an appropriate but as yet
unidentified depository
7.2 Objectives
x To establish a computerised and fully-relational database of all the
information recovered from the excavation to facilitate a detailed
spatial analysis of the Site.
x To consider further any known archaeological sites and findspots
within the local area, including the incorporation of earlier material
derived from the Site, where known, thereby contributing to a
comprehensive study of the Site context.
x To build up as detailed a chronology as possible for the inception,
development and use of the Site in the Neolithic and Late Bronze Age,
through further detailed analyses of the pottery assemblage and other
dateable material and environmental evidence
x To support this more detailed chronological study of the Site material
with a programme of radiocarbon samples
x To study the beginnings and development of the later prehistoric/early
historic agricultural land-use of the Site, combining structural,
artefactual and environmental evidence
x To examine and assess the nature, date and range of ritual/ceremonial,
settlement and agricultural activities that took place on the Site
x To consider the position of the evidence from the Site within the local,
regional and national archaeological contexts

8 METHOD STATEMENT

8.1 Strategy

8.1.1 The results of all work on the Site by the teams from Archaeology South-
East and Wessex Archaeology will be the concern of the programme of post-
excavation and dissemination. It is proposed that the analysis and publication
of the results is undertaken jointly and that to achieve this the results are
divided broadly by chronological period in the following manner:

x Neolithic- Archaeology South east

x Bronze Age- Wessex Archaeology

x Iron Age and Roman- Archaeology South-East

x All later periods- Archaeology South-East

34
8.1.2 A prerequisite of this will be the joint ordering of the Site archives and
identification of those parts of the Site archive which are currently shared
that will need to be re-assigned for the purpose of post-excavation analyses.
This will be undertaken with the agreement of the Heritage Conservation
Group of Kent County Council and Jones Homes (Southern) Ltd and
managed by Wessex Archaeology.

8.2 Archaeological Background

8.2.1 The known, if limited, archaeological background in the immediate vicinity

of the Site will be assessed and described by Wessex Archaeology. This will
include investigation of all available aerial photographs in order to assess the
visibilty of monuments and different patterns of landscape utilisation
extending from those recorded within the boundaries of the Site.

8.3 Site records and archive stabilisation

8.3.1 All appropriate recorded information will be checked and entered onto a fully
relational computer database at Wessex Archaeology. This will facilitate
rapid cross-examination and updating of the archive during the post-
excavation programme.

8.4 Finds

8.4.1 All Neolithic finds recovered by Wessex Archaeology will be regarded as

part of the analysis and publication programme to be carried out by
Archaeology South-East

8.4.2 Later prehistoric pottery (Bronze Age) will be subjected to fabric and form
analysis, following the standard Wessex Archaeology recording system
(Morris 1994), which is based on nationally recommended guidelines (PCRG
1997). Local (Canterbury Archaeological Trust) fabric series will be
consulted where appropriate, to place the assemblage within the regional
context. The assemblage will be discussed within the immediate Site context,
and local and regional context, considering aspects of manufacture and
potential sources, and any functional implications suggested by the range of
vessel forms.

8.4.3 Iron Age, Roman, Saxon, Medieval and Post-medieval pottery recovered by
Wessex Archaeology will be regarded as part of the analysis and publication
programme to be carried out by Archaeology South-East. An initial
assessment of the Roman, medieval and Post-medieval pottery recovered by
Wessex Archaeology indicates little scope for further analysis, although this
should be reviewed against comparative material held by Archaeology
South-East.

8.4.4 Further analysis of human bone from Bronze Age cremations or cremation
related deposits recovered by Wessex Archaeology and Archaeology South-
East is proposed, where quantities will allow. Certain contexts contain too
small an amount of material to be considered further, but will be included in

35
 overall quantification. Analysis will aim to determine the nature of the
cremation-related contexts (whether in situ burials, pyre debris dumps, etc);
to examine aspects of demography (age; sex; number of individuals) and
pathology; and to discuss evidence for pyre technology and ritual.

8.4.5 Brief text statements and descriptions will be prepared (based on information
collected as part of the assessment) for the fired clay tablets and quernstone
fragments recovered from Bronze Age contexts:

8.4.6 No further work is recommended on the following material recovered by

Wessex Archaeology: ceramic building material, metalwork, slag, glass and
animal bone.

8.5 Proposals for Palaeo-environmental remains

8.5.1 The following proposals include Neolithic material that will form part of the
Archaeology South-east programme. It will be necessary to confirm these
proposal with them.

Charred plant remains

8.5.2 A series of samples are suggested for analysis (Table 4). Wessex
archaeology employs a double flotation process to facilitate relatively high
recovery of charred remains. Nevertheless, Wessex Archaeology consistently
employs a routine strategy of total sorting and extraction of all the residue
fractions (5.6mm, 2mm and 1mm) from all samples highlighted for analysis.

Neolithic
8.5.3 Because of the rarity and significance of the charred remains it is suggested
that all eight samples are fully extracted and analysed as part of the
Archaeology South-East programme.

Bronze Age
8.5.4 A selection of samples from cremations, ensuring both the main group
(2269) and other isolated groups are included, are recommended for analysis.
Similarly a selection of pits across the site are also listed (Table 4). A
selection of ditch samples are to be made to provide some general
background (Table 4).

Charcoal
8.5.5 A selection of the samples are proposed for extraction and analysis (Table 4)

Charred plant charcoal

Neolithic 8 4
Late Bronze Age 18 13
Late Iron Age /R-B 3 2
Saxon 2 2
Medieval 1 1
Undated 0 0

36
 Land snails
8.5.6 No analysis is possible from samples processed specifically for snails. The
two bulk samples (1105 and 1106) from the Neolithic causewayed enclosure
should be fully extracted for snails and analysed.

9 TASK LIST, RESOURCES AND PROGRAMME

9.1 Task List

9.1.1 Table 6 below presents a provisional list of tasks, and estimate of the time
requirements these warrant, to be confirmed with Archaeology South-East,
and to be carried out by Wessex Archaeology within the proposed
programme of post-excavation. Once finalised, this will take the project
through to the production of a report typescript. The publication costs are not
included in the resources presented in Table 6, and will be dependent to some
extent on the chosen publication vehicle(s) and resources available to the
joint programme.

Table 6: Provisional task list and resources

Task item Personnel Time (days)
Stage 1 tasks
Structural
Site records and archive stabilisation PO 2
Finds
Prepare brief for analysis FM 0.5
Environmental
Extraction of charred plants and charcoal ES 10
(41samples)
Preparation of file for specialists (charcoal, ES 1
charred plants and snails)
Extraction of land snails (2 samples) ES 0 (with charred)
Commissioning analyses and contracts EM 0.5
(charcoal, charred seeds)
Radiocarbon Not finalised
Stage 2 tasks
Structural
Main site report (Bronze Age) PO 5
Illustration DO 5
Finds
Illustration DO 5
Bronze Age pottery report PS 15
Other finds PS 1

Human bone (All assemblages, all periods) SPO 5

Environmental
Charred Plant Remains, 32 samples Ext. Spec Fee
Charcoals, 22 samples (Rowena Gale) Ext. Spec Fee
Land snail analysis and reporting EM 1
Checking and report writing EM & EM/ES
Overview and Palaeo-environmental Summary EM 1

37
 General management PM .5

Stage 3 tasks
Editing /revisions- all reports Authors 10

Stage 4 tasks
Publication
Set DTP Pub. Man Est. 4
Correction of proofs Authors Est. 4
Index and printers Fee
Other tasks Pub. Man 3

Stage 5 tasks
Archive prep.
Ordering PO 1
Microfilm prep. FM .25
Microfilm costs Fee
Deposition PS 1
Storage grant Fee

9.2 Personnel

9.2.1 It is currently proposed that the following Wessex Archaeology core staff
and external specialists will be involved in the programme of post-excavation
analyses:

Project manager Paul McCulloch, BA, MIFA

Project Officer (CJE) Chris Ellis, BA, AIFA
Finds Manager Lorraine Mepham, BA
Environmental Manager Michael J. Allen, BA, PhD, MIFA, MAEA
Computer technician Paul Cripps
Project Officer (PH) Phil Harding, MIFA
Project Officer (JIM) Jacqueline McKinley, BTech, MIFA
Environmental Supervisor Sarah Wyles, BA, PIFA, MAEA
External specialists As identified

9.3 Programme

9.3.1 It is necessary to agree and finalise the proposed programme between

Archaeology South-East and Wessex Archaeology, and thereafter agree the
programme with The Heritage Conservation Group at Kent County Council.
Following acceptance of the programme and agreement as to the dispersal of
remaining costs, a programme timetable will be drawn up and implemented.
The duration of the programme may be estimated at this stage as twelve
months.

38
10 PUBLICATION AND DISSEMINATION

10.1 Monograph

10.1.1 It is currently proposed that the report on the results of the excavations at
Kingsborough Manor, Isle of Sheppey, by both Archaeology South-East and
Wessex Archaeology be published in an academic monograph, possibly as
part of a series on the archaeology of Kent. Alternative appropriate forms of
publication will also be discussed with the project sponsors and Kent County
Council. It is important that the information should reach as wide an
audience as possible.

11 STORAGE AND CURATION

11.1 Museum

11.1.1 There is as yet no agreement in place covering the eventual deposition of the
project archive.

11.1.2 Deposition of the finds will only be carried out with the full agreement of the
landowner.

11.2 Conservation

11.2.1 No immediate conservation requirements were noted in the field. Finds

which have been identified as of unstable condition and therefore potentially
in need of further conservation treatment comprise the metal objects.

11.2.2 The metal objects have been X-radiographed as part of the assessment phase,
as a basic record and also to aid identification. On the basis of the X-rays, the
range of objects present and their provenance on the site (medieval or later
features), no further conservation treatment is proposed on any objects.

11.3 Storage

11.3.1 The finds are currently stored in perforated polythene bags in 9 cardboard or
airtight plastic boxes, ordered by material type, following nationally
recommended guidelines (Walker 1990).

11.4 Discard Policy

11.4.1 Wessex Archaeology follows the guidelines set out in Selection, Retention
and Dispersal (Society of Museum Archaeologists 1993), which allows for
the discard of selected artefact categories, which are not considered to
warrant any future analysis. In this instance, burnt, unworked flint has
already been subject to discard following quantification. Other categories,
which might be targeted for eventual discard, include unidentifiable metal
objects.

39
11.5 Archive preparation

11.5.1 The project archive produced by Wessex Archaeology (WA: site code
W6792) during the course of evaluation and excavation of the site forms part
of a larger archive which also includes the records produced by Archaeology
South East (ASE: site code KFE99) during earlier evaluation and excavation.
It is strongly recommended that archive records from both contractors is
deposited as a single archive, and it is essential that within this overall
archive the two blocks of records are fully cross-referenced and indexed.

11.5.2 The complete site archive, which will include paper records, photographic
records, graphics, artefacts, ecofacts and digital data, will be prepared
following nationally recommended guidelines (SMA 1995).

11.6 Copyright

11.6.1 The full copyright of the written/illustrative archive relating to the site will
be retained by the Trust for Wessex Archaeology Ltd under the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988, with all rights reserved. The recipient
Museum, however, will be granted an exclusive licence for the use of the
archive for educational purposes, including academic research, providing that
such use shall be non-profitmaking.

11.7 Security Copy

11.7.1 In line with current best practice, on completion of the project a security
copy of the paper records will be prepared, in the form of microfilm. The
master jackets and one diazo copy of the microfilm will be deposited with the
National Monuments Record centre at Swindon, a second copy will
accompany the paper records to the Museum, and a third diazo copy will be
retained by Wessex Archaeology.

12 REFERENCES

Archaeology South-East, 2000 Archaeological Investigations at

Kingsborough Farm, Eastchurch, Isle of Sheppey, Kent: Post-
excavation assessment and draft proposals for future work.
Unpublished Client Report No.1067.

Bond, D., 1988, Excavation at the North Ring, Mucking, Essex, East Anglian
Archaeol. 43

Dyson, L., Shand, G., Stevens, S., 2000 ‘Causewayed Enclosures’. Current
Archaeology No.168, 470 – 472.

Evans, J.G. 1972. Land Snails in Archaeology. London, Seminar Press.

Macpherson-Grant, N, 1991, ‘A reappraisal of prehistoric pottery from

Canterbury’, Canterbury’s Archaeology 1990-1991, Canterbury
Archaeological Trust, 38-48

40
SMA, 1995, Towards an Accessible Archaeological Archive, Society of
Museum Archaeologists

Walker, K., 1990, Guidelines for the preparation of excavation archives for
long-term storage, UKIC Archaeology Section

41
Appendix 1: Site archive

Archive Index

Site Name: Kingsborough Manor, Sheppey

Site Code: 46792

File No. NAR Details Format No.

Cat. Sheets
Gas pipeline watching Brief
1 - Index to Archive A4 2
1 B Day Book (Photocopy) A4 6
1 - Project Brief A4 8
1 B Context Index A4 1
1 B Context Records A4 23
1 B Graphics Register A4 1
1 B All Site Graphics A4 8
1 D Photographic Register A4 4
1 C Context Finds Records A4 11
2 - B+W Negatives 35mm 80
2 - Colour slides 35mm 80
Finds See below
Roads Watching Brief & Evaluation Trenches 41-44
3 - Index to Archive A4 2
3 B Day Book (photocopy) A4 18
3 B Trial trench records A4 4
3 B Context Records A4 2
3 B Levels (photocopy) A4 1
3 B Site Graphics (Tr 41- A4 5
44)
3 B Site Graphics (Roads) A4 4
3 B Site Graphics (Roads) A3 1
3 D Photographic Register A4 4
3 B Various Site Plans - 8
4 - B+W Negatives 35mm 65
4 - Colour slides 35mm 65
Finds See below
Phase I, Stage 2 - Excavation & Trenches 45-49
5 - Index to Archive A4 2
5 B Number Record A4 1
5 B Day Book (photocopy) A4 47(+)
5 B Context Index A4 36
5 B Trial trench records A4 6
5 B Graphics Register A4 35
5 B Evaluation Trench A4 7
Graphics

42
 5 B Evaluation Trench A3 1
Graphics
5 B Excavation Graphics A4 154
5 B Excavation Graphics A3 24
5 D Photographic Register A4 80
5 Artefact Sample Index A4 3
6 - Index to Archive A4 2
6 B Survey Data Index A4 27
7 - Index to Archive A4 2
7 B Evaluation Trench A4 24
Context Records
7 B Excavation Context A4 402
Records (2000 – 2399)
8 - Index to Archive A4 2
8 B Excavation Context A4 330
Records (2400 – 2999)
9 - Index to Archive A4 2
9 B Excavation Context A4 171
Records (3000 – 3799)
10 - Index to Archive A4 2
10 C Object Register A4 3
10 C Object Records A4 39
11 - Index to Archive A4 2
11 C Sieved Finds Records A4 133
12 - Index to Archive A4 2
12 E Environmental Sample A4 11
Register
12 E Environmental Sample A4 175
Records
13 B Site Graphics A1 1
14 - B+W Negatives 35mm 1590
14 - Colour slides 35mm 1590
Finds Nine boxes in all

43
Appendix 2: Publication Synopsis

Outline Publication Synopsis for Wessex Archaeology and Archaeology South

East

Section Printed pages Figs/Plates Tables

Contents 2
(WA)
List of Figures 1
(WA)
List of Tables 1
(WA)
List of Plates 1
(WA/ASE)
Acknowledgements 1
(WA/ASE)
Summary 1
(WA/ASE)
Bibliography 8
(WA/ASE)
Appendices
(WA/ASE)
Index 12
(WA)

SECTION 1: SITE INVESTIGATIONS

Introduction
Project Background 3 2
(WA) (WA)
Site location, topography and geology (3 Figs, 2 3 5
Plates) (WA) (WA)
Archaeological and Historical Background (2 Figs) 5 2
(WA) (WA)
Excavation Methodologies 1
(WA 0.5)
(ASE 0.5)
Environmental Sampling Strategies 1
(WA 0.5)
(ASE 0.5)

44
Excavation Results

Natural deposits and soil sequence 1

(WA)
Period Summary (overall for Site) 3 2
(WA) (WA/ASE)
Neolithic Period 10 5
(ASE) (ASE)
Late Bronze Age 25 16
(WA) (WA)
Roman Period 8 6
(ASE) (ASE)
Medieval or later 2 1
(ASE) (ASE)

SECTION 2: ARTEFACTUAL ANALYSES

Finds

General Finds summary 2 4

(WA) (WA/ASE)
Neo Pottery 6 5 3
(ASE) (ASE) (ASE)
Other Pottery 10 4 4
(WA/ASE) (WA/ASE) (WA/ASE)
Fired clay 1 2 1
(WA/ASE) (WA/ASE) (WA/ASE)
Worked and burnt flint 5 1 3
(WA 2.5) (WA/ASE) (WA/ASE)
(ASE 2.5)
Objects 10 6 3
(WA/ASE) (WA/ASE) (WA/ASE)

SECTION 3: ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSES

All samples processed and assessed. Mollusc
assessed. No words written yet.
Environmental
Animal bone 2 3
(ASE) (ASE)
Human Bone 6 (WA) 4 (WA)
Charred plant remains 10 4 4
(WA/ASE) (WA/ASE) (WA/ASE)
Molluscs N/a? N/a? N/a?
Pollen 5 3 4
(WA/ASE) (WA/ASE) (WA/ASE)
Soil Micromorphology (for Neo encl.) 5 1 4
(ASE?) (ASE?) (ASE?)
Radiocarbon Dating 2 2 3
(WA/ASE) (WA/ASE) (WA/ASE)

45
All W/Brief and Eval. Samples in ( )
Total samples 169 (176)

Causewayed Enclosure – 10 (inc. 1 monolith and 1

column sample)
Large LBA Enclosure – 4
‘Inner’ LBA Enclosure - 2
Small LBA Enclosure – 3
Rectilinear LBA Enclosure – 8
Unurned Cremation Burials – 71
Rectilinear Ditches – 9
Droveway ditches – 7
Pits – 16 (18)
4-posters – 13
Postholes – 7
Others – (5)

SECTION 4: DISCUSSION
The Neolithic Landscape 3 1
(ASE) (ASE)
Late Bronze Age settlements and their landscape 5 2
setting(comparable LBA enclosures) (WA) (WA)
Roman 3 1
(ASE) (ASE)
Synthesis/Discussion/Review 2
(WA)
Total c. 165 c. 71 c. 40

46
 Neolithic

Cremation related feature

Late Bronze Age

2871
Mid-late Iron Age

2869
Late Iron Age/Romano-British
2256
3641
2268
Saxon
2267
Area B1 2268 2269
Medieval

Post-medieval/modern 3425
2265
Undated
3642
Natural
3643 2257 2706 2266

2264

2263
3433

Area B

2042 2256 3220

2040

2257
2056 3227
2046
2258
2038 3227
recut 423

2242 3000 2252

2002 2055
2251
2611 2489
2609

2277
2276 2259

2848 2255 2340

2278 2247 2245
2260

2243 2254
3024
2624 2246
2278 2111
3006 2242 2443
2230 Area A
2372
2032
2248

2245

2244
2243 2254

2293
Wessex Archaeology 23/01/02 LJC ref:46792/3

0 10 20m

Scale 1:800 at A3

Phase 1, Stage 2 excavation; all features phase plan Figure 3

WESSEX ARCHAEOLOGY LIMITED.
Registered Head Office : Portway House, Old Sarum Park, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 6EB.
Tel: 01722 326867 Fax: 01722 337562 [email protected] www.wessexarch.co.uk
Maidstone Office : The Malthouse, The Oast, Weavering Street, Maidstone, Kent ME14 5JN.
Tel: 01622 739381 [email protected] www.wessexarch.co.uk

Registered Charity No. 287786. A company with limited liability registered in England No. 1712772.