Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

During works associated with the Channel Tunnel Rail Link in 2002, a late Iron Age sunken Terrace was discovered within a larger late Iron Age Ritual Landscape and close to the site of a possible processional way. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)

Monument Types

• TERRACE (Late Iron Age to Roman - 100 BC to 150 AD)

Associated Finds

• SHERD (Late Iron Age to Roman - 100 BC? to 150 AD?)

Full description

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During works associated with the Channel Tunnel Rail Link in 2002, a late Iron Age sunken Terrace was discovered within a larger late Iron Age Ritual Landscape and close to the site of a possible processional way. lay a little above the most steeply sloping part of the valley side and overlooked the springs just within the end of the processional way, though it was probably later and perhaps post-dated the latter’s use. The function of the terrace remains uncertain. It was somewhat irregular in plan and might be fairly accurately described as a sunken terrace. It was cut into the slope, had a flat base, and was approximately 6.75 m in length and a maximum of 3.20 m wide. Overall, a probable construction date for this terrace, based on the pottery evidence, at the very end of the late Iron Age is indicated, with disuse and infilling taking place at the beginning of the early Roman period. (1) (information summarised from source)

<1> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2010, Settling the Ebbsfleet Valley. CTRL Excavations at Springhead and Northfleet, Kent. The Late Iron Age, Roman, Saxon, and Medieval Landscape (Unpublished document). SKE31245.

Sources and further reading

Related records