Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Between 6th and 27th August 2015 a programme of archaeological monitoring was carried out during the excavation of a service trench for a new residential building to be constructed at Bradstow School. Two parallel linear ditches were revealed, no stratigraphic relationship could be determined between the two features, however their proximity and alignment suggest they formed to cuttings marking the same linear boundary. The only finds were from two contexts within one of the ditches (a struck flint and a sherd of Mid-Late Iron Age pottery).

Monument Types

• LINEAR EARTHWORK (Undated)
• LINEAR EARTHWORK (Undated)

Associated Finds

• WORKED FLINT (Undated)
• WORKED FLINT (Early Neolithic to Middle Bronze Age - 4000 BC? to 1001 BC?)
• BODY SHERD (Early Iron Age to Late Iron Age - 600 BC to 42 AD)

Full description

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Between 6th and 27th August 2015 a programme of archaeological monitoring was carried out during the excavation of a service trench for a new residential building to be constructed at Bradstow School. Two parallel linear ditches were revealed, no stratigraphic relationship could be determined between the two features, however their proximity and alignment suggest they formed to cuttings marking the same linear boundary.

The ditches were similar in size, one measured 1.6m wide and 0.75m deep and the other measured 1.75m wide and 0.47m deep. Both ditches had a symmetrical profile; the second ditch was proportionately broader and shallower than the adjacent ditch.

The only finds were from two contexts within one of the ditches (struck flint and a sherd of Mid-Late Iron Age pottery). The Mid-Late Iron Age pottery sherd, made of flint tempered fabric, was stratified which makes it a highly significant find.

Two parallel linear ditches one measuring 1.6m wide with a maximum depth of 0.75 and the other measured 1.75m wide by 0.47m deep. No stratigraphic relationship could be determined between the two features, but their proximity and alignment suggest they formed two cuttings marking the same linear boundary. Both ditches had a symmetrical profile; the second ditch was proportionately broader and shallower than the adjacent ditch. The only finds were from two contexts within the same ditch. These were residual patinated struck flint and a single stratified sherd of Mid to Late Iron Age flint tempered pottery. Sea shell and occasional pieces of residual patinated struck flint were also recovered from the same deposit. The lower fill contained two flint fragments though they are not both considered contemporary.

No dateable finds were present from the second ditch. (1)

The Trust for Thanet Archaeology published an update for the excavations relating to the service trench. For this section of the excavation, the report states:
"No further graves or human remains were encountered in this area. Four previously unseen archaeological features were encountered; two substantial parallel ditches cut into the chalk and a ditch terminal which was perpendicular to the other two ditches and may form part of an enclosure with them. A single small circular post hole was also excavated.

Post excavation potential
Finds in the ditch group were limited to a single sherd of pottery so dating evidence for this set of
features is limited and they could be part of the Bronze Age, Iron Age or even Anglo-Saxon phases of
activity. Further analysis of the excavation plans from previous investigations, particularly evaluation
work prior to the construction of the Byrgles building may be able to provide additional evidence of
the spatial distribution of features.

Preliminary conclusions
1. The excavation of the service trench did provide a sample of some previously unrecognised
features which will contribute to understanding the way that the land on the chalk
downland hill top was used by prehistoric and Anglo-Saxon people.

2. No further burials were encountered within the area of the excavations, however the
archaeological work carried out may be able to provide better information for the future
about areas where there is some potential still for unexplored burials to remain in place.

3. Preliminary attempts to reconcile existing drawn plans of previous archaeological work with
the present georeferenced survey data show some major anomalies. A working plan of the
site which has been published using existing data can not be reconciled to the modern
survey. Preliminary manipulation of the survey and plans suggest there is a substantial
rotation error in the plan and that elements of Hurd’s original plan have been mis-plotted.
The reconciliation of the existing survey data and plans will make a substantial contribution
to understanding the excavations that have been carried out at Bradstow School over the
last century.

4. Synthesising the data gathered in the current excavation with the previous investigation will
demonstrate that the archaeological investigations at Bradstow School and on surrounding
sites demonstrate that the site is of regional and even national significance. The conclusions
should prompt a re-examination of previous excavations and the conclusions of earlier
research to produce a new analysis of the development of the archaeology of the site." (2)

<1> Trust for Thanet Archaeology, 2015, Archaeological Excavation Report: Service Trench, Bradstow School, 34 Dumpton Park Drive, Broadstairs, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE31557.

<2> Trust for Thanet Archaeology, 2015, Interim update on Archaeological investigation on route of service trench at Bradstow School Broadstairs (Unpublished document). SKE31581.

Sources and further reading