Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Excavations at West and Centre Field, Kemsley Village, Sittingbourne, identified archaeological remains of the Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age, indicating some form of marshside settlement at Kemsley between the 2nd and 1st millennia BC. Major activity on site dated from the middle Bronze Age to Late Bronze Age, with limited activity in the Iron Age and Roman periods. The corner of a medieval enclosure was also identified in the far north of the site along with two groups of unphased and not phased features.

Features extend over a 500m wide area. The approximate extent of which is marked out in the grid refs below.

The site is thought to extend to the north, as similar Mid-Late Bronze Age features have been recorded north of Ridham Avenue (TQ 96 NW 96 and 97).

Monument Types

• OCCUPATION SITE (In use roughly 1200BC - 500 BC, Middle Bronze Age to Early Iron Age - 1600 BC to 401 BC)

Associated Finds

• LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Middle Bronze Age to Early Iron Age - 1200 BC to 500 BC)
• VESSEL (Middle Bronze Age to Early Iron Age - 1200 BC to 500 BC)

Full description

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Canterbury Archaeological Trust excavation of West and Centre Fields, part of 11.1 ha intended for development east of Kemsley Village, produced evidence for marshland settlement dating from Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age, c1200BC to 500BC. Post holes, stake holes and pits produced quantities of pottery and flint, but unusually low amounts of animal bone. West Field produced a substantial amount of material still needing detailed analysis. A further field in the eastern corner of the development area proved too damaged by modern activity to warrant detailed investigation. (1) (2) (3) No visible remains in 2004. (4)

Canterbury Archaeological Trust, Stratigraphic report of the Excavations at West Field and Centre Field and the accompanying Watching Brief up to Christmas 1999, Kemsley (Unpublished document). SKE12287.

Canterbury Archaeological Trust, Stratigraphic report of the Excavations at West Field and Centre Field and the accompanying Watching Brief up to Christmas 1999, Kemsley (Unpublished document). Ske12287.

Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2004, Stratigraphic Report: Kemsley Fields, Sittingbourne, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE12288.

Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2004, Stratigraphic Report: Kemsley Fields, Sittingbourne, Kent (Unpublished document). Ske12288.

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1998, An Archaeological Evaluation at Kemsley Fields, Sittingbourne (Unpublished document). SWX6734.

<2> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1999, Interim Statement on the Excavation of West Field Kemsley TQ9100:6600 (Unpublished document). SWX6742.

<3> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1999, Interim Statement on the Excavation of Centre Field, Kemsley TQ 9100 6600 (Unpublished document). SWX6745.

<4> Wessex Archaeology, 2005, North Kent Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey: Phase ll: Field Assessment Year One report (Unpublished document). SWX12121.

Sources and further reading