Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

During works associated with the Channel Tunnel Rail Link in 2002, a large late iron age enclosure was discovered east of the River Ebbsfleet. The enclosure respected the route and alignment of the nearby processional way. Later excavations to the north revealed further evidence of this enclosure as well as an annexe on its northern side. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available evidence)

Monument Types

• ENCLOSURE (Late Iron Age - 100 BC to 42 AD)

Associated Finds

• ANIMAL REMAINS (Late Iron Age - 100 BC to 42 AD)
• COIN (Late Iron Age to Roman - 100 BC to 409 AD)
• HUMAN REMAINS (Late Iron Age - 100 BC to 42 AD)
• POTTERY ASSEMBLAGE (Late Iron Age to Roman - 100 BC to 409 AD)
• SHERD (Late Iron Age - 100 BC to 42 AD)
• THISTLE BROOCH (Late Iron Age to Roman - 100 BC? to 409 AD?)
• NAUHEIM DERIVATE BROOCH (Late Iron Age - 1 AD? to 42 AD?)
• LANGTON DOWN BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD? to 409 AD?)
• UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Full description

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During works associated with the Channel Tunnel Rail Link in 2002, a large iron age enclosure was discovered east of the River Ebbsfleet. The enclosure respected the route and alignment of the nearby processional way. The enclosures (400012) was c. 70m north-south and at least 50m east-west.The enclosure had various phases but contained few finds - mostly late iron age pottery but also some early Roman pottery, coins and metalwork. The coins extended as late of the 4th century.

37 post holes were found in the eastern half of the enclosure but no patterns could be established that might suggest structures.(1-2)

In 2007/8 Wessex Archaeology carried out a programme of works in advance of new housing. The enclosure was first encountered during Channel Tunnel Rail Link works and was associated with a ceremonial or processional way to the west. Some of the banks of this enclosure probably survived as visible earthworks into the 7th century AD. A hearth made of flint cobbles was found in the base of a ditch, associated with three grog-tempered vessels, possibly a placed deposit. Other deposits in the ditches may have related to feasting events within the enclosure. One such dump contained a relatively large number of sherds of pottery plus animal bones and a human bone. The third phase of use of the site saw a smaller trapezoidal enclosure constructed, effectively blocking access to the earlier one. Pits and post holes were found within the two enclosures, including post holes of one possible roundhouse.
(3)

At least three late Iron Age to early Roman brooches were found - a Nauheim derivate, a Langton Down brooch and a Rosette (Thistle) brooch (4).

<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.

<2> Wessex Archaeology, 2003, Channel Tunel Rail Link Archaeological works at Springhead Roman Town (ARC SPH00): interim fieldwork report (Unpublished document). SKE31600.

<3> Wessex Archaeology, 2008, Archaeological Investigations at Springhead Quarter (Phase II), Northfleet, Kent: Archaeological Assessment Report and Updated Project design (Unpublished document). SKE17943.

<4> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2011, Settling the Ebbsfleet Valley. CTRL Excavations at Springhead and Northfleet, Kent. Volume 2: Late Iron Age to Roman Finds Reports (Monograph). SKE32435.

Sources and further reading

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