Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Neolithic - medieval site discovered during building of M20

Monument Types

• FINDSPOT (POTTERY, Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
• FINDSPOT (POTTERY, Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Associated Finds

• SHERD (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
• SHERD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Full description

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TR 15553705. Finds ranging in date from Neolithic to Medieval came from a site located in June 1979 when the Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit were engaged in a watching brief during the construction of the Folkestone -Ashford motorway (M20). It occupies a virtually flat piece of land on the Greensand Ridge, 1.25 km north of Saltwood parishchurch. About 50cm of soil over a 2 km stretch had been removed when a dark brown sandy clay deposit over the natural, weathered Greensand was discovered. The deposit contained no features, but Iron Age and Roman pottery sherds. The vessels represented by the Iron Age potteryappeared to be hand-made and of c. 500-200 BC. An Iron Age occupationsite may have been close by, but there were no related features. The many sherds of Roman pottery suggested a long occupation from the late1st century AD to the late 4th century, and may have represented a general rubbish deposit. A 'cut out' was also found and was at least 3.40m in length, although neither end could be investigated. It was 20 cm deep with steep sidesand a flat base and was filled with burnt, black sandy clay plus much carbon and burnt orange daub. Pottery of mainly 4th century date was found, and burnt daub with wattle marks. The quantity of daub could suggest a hut or similar structure existed here c. 4th century AD, butthe limited excavations did not allow proper investigations. Other finds from the site included medieval pottery sherds of the late13th - early 14th century, several flint implements of Neolithic date,and a baked clay loom-weight of probably mid - late Saxon in date. This has provided a range of evidence from a previously unknown site, and by finds alone represent material from four periods. The site's position suggests that a series of small farmsteads may have existed here or close by. (1)

RPS Clouston, 1994, Folkestone & Dover Water services: Bluehouse to Cherry Garden Trunk Main (Unpublished document). SKe6910.

<1> KAR 80 1985 226-235 (J Wilson) (OS Card Reference). SKE45436.

<2> RPS Clouston, 1994, Folkestone & Dover Water services: Bluehouse to Cherry Garden Trunk Main (Unpublished document). SKE6910.

Sources and further reading