Fieldwork

The Canterbury Archaeological Trust (created in 1976) was one of several units established throughout the country at that time under the auspices of the Department of the Environment with a brief to undertake archaeological excavation on sites in advance of redevelopment. The Trust’s principal role remains unchanged, that is, to ensure that sites and buildings under threat are adequately investigated before any redevelopment takes place. Our work is largely dictated by urban and rural building development plans which may involve anything from constructing a shopping arcade to adding an extension to a private dwelling.

During its early years the Trust worked in the Canterbury district and particularly in the city itself, which in the 1980s experienced redevelopment on a scale not seen since the early post-war years. As we entered the twenty-first century the redevelopment of the Whitefriars area saw a programme of excavation in Canterbury of an unprecedented scale.

The unit now operates throughout the county.

Recent projects

Augustine House, Canterbury Christ Church University
Thanet Earth, Brooksend, near Monkton, Isle of Thanet

Previous projects

Archaeological Investigations at Northfleet Water Treatment Works Neolithic | Bronze Age
Bredgar Primary School Iron Age | Roman
Buckland Anglo-Saxon Cemetery, Dover Anglo-Saxon
Dover Bronze Age Boat Bronze Age
Florence Road, Maidstone Iron Age | Roman
Holborough Quarry, Snodland Bronze Age | Iron Age
Island Road, Hersden Iron Age | Roman
Mid Kent College/Lower Lines, Brompton 18th–20th Century
Monkton, Thanet Bronze Age | Iron Age | Roman | Anglo-Saxon | Medieval | 20th Century
New Romney First Time Sewerage Scheme Archaeological Works Medieval | 16th Century
Rear of Wincheap Street, Canterbury Roman
Ringlemere Farm Neolithic | Bronze Age | Anglo Saxon
Saltwood Anglo-Saxon
Whitefriars, Canterbury Roman | Victorian