Why are there archaeologists at Brooksend?

A programme of building works has been agreed for an area of around 90 hectares (about 222 acres) of land where several large greenhouses, a pack house, education centre and other associated buildings are to be constructed for Fresca Group Ltd, the largest Fresh produce supply company in the UK. The project is known as Thanet Earth.

As part of the work archaeological investigation is taking place in areas where buried remains would otherwise be damaged by the new building works. Archaeologists know from previous excavation and survey in the surrounding area that this part of Thanet has a long history and is worthy of further investigation. The archaeological work at the Thanet Earth site is funded by Fresca Group Ltd.

So what have archaeologists found nearby?

When the stretch of road (A253) between the Monkton and Mount Pleasant, roundabouts was widened, discoveries included evidence for Late Neolithic–Early Bronze Age ‘Beaker’ burials (c.2000–1700 BC), Bronze Age ‘barrow’ cemeteries (c.1800–1100 BC), an Iron Age hut, a unique Romano-British village, a small Anglo-Saxon cemetery, a medieval farmstead, several stretches of ‘hollow ways’ (tracks) and twentieth-century military trenches.

Although most prehistoric barrows (burial mounds) in East Kent have unfortunately been ploughed flat through farming, the ‘ring ditch’ which would have originally surrounded the mound can still survive. While carrying out aerial photographic surveys of the Thanet landscape, numerous of these ring ditches have shown up as ‘cropmarks’ in fields in and around the Thanet Earth site and elsewhere.

Other local discoveries include evidence for a Roman villa and an Anglo-Saxon cemetery.

What are cropmarks?

Where ancient ditches, pits and buildings lie buried beneath the soil, they affect the way crops will grow in a field. For example, crops will grow thicker and higher if their roots can stretch into a deep ditch of soil. But if crops are growing over a buried stone building (where the soil is not so deep) they will not grow very well.

Have a look at this aerial photograph taken from a plane over Tothill Street, Minster.

What do archaeologists anticipate finding at the Thanet Earth site?

Several ring ditches have been identified so we hope to discover some interesting new evidence about occupation in the Bronze Age, helping to add to the story of Thanet’s prehistory.

The previous archaeological work in the area and other investigations at the site suggest there could also be remains surviving from other periods.

What investigations have there been at the site so far?

Apart from an aerial survey, last year small ‘evaluation trenches’ were dug and some metal detector and ‘field walking’ surveys were carried out. There is now an extensive programme of work in place for the areas to be systematically investigated by the archaeologists.

September – October 2007

Three kinds of investigation are being carried out.

Metal detector survey

Under the direction of the archaeologists, members of various groups co-ordinated by Kent Archaeological Metal detector Support Unit (KAMSU) are regularly out at the site systematically recovering finds from just below the ground surface. A variety of objects have come up including fragments of a Second World War plane identified as an American bomber – either a Douglas Boston or a Havoc. Detectorists were on site the same day as the Canterbury Young Archaeologist Club (see below) and so the young archaeologists had an opportunity to try their hand at this too and see the responsible face of metal detecting as part of a planned fieldwork strategy.

To find out more about the work of KAMSU contact Maurice Worsley at:
maurice.worsley1@ntlworld.com or 01303 277241.

Field walking

Enthusiastic youngsters from the Canterbury Young Archaeologist Club spent a Saturday club morning walking over an area marked out in a grid for them in advance. Guided by their leader, Abby Guinness, two walkers in each square scoured the earth searching for objects lying on the surface – ‘surface finds’. They found lots of flint fragments which they will wash later, some fossils and one young girl found a coin – on her first YAC outing! The morning was a great success. The youngsters braved the damp windy weather and learned some field work skills for their efforts. There will be an opportunity for a return visit at a later date.

‘Strip and Map’

Each area for archaeological investigation is to be stripped of topsoil by machine and any features of interest will be recorded – mapped. The first area has revealed a number of small features and prehistoric pottery sherds probably dating to the Late Iron Age and/or Bronze Age.

November – December 2007

The entire site is divided into distinct areas ('plateaux') which reflect the Fresca development plan. Continuous topsoil stripping of plateaux by the machines over the past weeks has revealed numerous archaeological features across the Thanet Earth site. These are being surveyed and mapped by the team and at the end of November, some excavation has now begun.

On Plateau 4

Thanet at War

Some intriguing remains have recently come to light. In an open field, the team have discovered remains of a brick and stone structure with steps still leading below ground. Staff at nearby MOD Manston believe it was a 1940s airfield radio approach beacon to guide aircraft into Manston airfield.

Wing Commander David Lainchbury said that the mains electricity cables still in place and signs of a back up generator and heavy duty batteries all helped to identify the structure which is also on the right alignment for the airfield. In its day, it almost certainly had a timber roof with cladding covered with earth. It was probably deliberately demolished in the 1960s when better communications equipment was available.

Other indications of war time Thanet include debris from a Canadian Halifax bomber found during a metal detector survey. The unusual mix of British and American machine gun ammunition at the site has meant that researchers could trace the last moments of the plane's fated flight back to Manston. Wing Commander Lainchbury spoke of how the Halifax, badly damaged by German fighter planes over Holland, diverted back to Manston but sadly failed to reach the airfield. The wrecked aircraft came down just a few miles short of its destination with the crew of six Canadians and one British airman all lost.

Prehistoric remains

Going back perhaps some two thousand years, the earliest evidence so far in this area dates back to prehistoric times. Several 'enclosures' have been identified with ditches forming the boundaries. It is likely that they had some kind of agricultural use, maybe for keeping animals.

On Plateau 2

Prehistoric and Roman remains

A small group of cremation burials suggests there was a cemetery here in the Roman period. The date of the burials can be identified by the pottery vessel which contains the cremated remains and any other pots buried with it. The vessels have been removed and will be cleaned and processed.

Large enclosures have also been identified (as in plateau 4) and other suggestions of ancient field systems, possibly in use in the Late Iron Age around 2000 years ago.

Thanet Earth project launch

Fresca Group Ltd, held a formal launch at the site in November. Marion Green, Education Officer, represented CAT and met members of the Fresca and Fitzpatrick (building contractors) teams and project partners. A huge blue ribbon around the bucket of a JCB was cut for press photos, KMFM Radio heard about the development plans and the archaeological work and guests were treated to a great buffet. The development site is so extensive that guests were then given a tour in 4x4 vehicles.

Involving the community

The Education Officer is visiting schools near the site with a presentation about local discoveries and kits of handling material. Visits to the Thanet Earth archaeological site are also being planned. More next time!

December – January 2008

The workforce is expanding and the on-site team now has an international flavour with excavators from Sweden, Poland, Spain and USA as well as the local area. Topsoil stripping continues across the plateaux, more archaeological features have been identified and excavation is picking up speed.

On Plateau 2

Prehistoric and Roman remains

Of particular note are the enclosure ditches of what are almost certainly two very big rectangular late prehistoric fields. If interpretation is correct, this is a rare example in Kent of such organised land management of the period (Late Iron Age) being seen over such an extensive area.

Two more Roman cremation burials have been recovered from Plateau 2, making four to date.

On Plateau 4

The 1940s radio approach beacon (see November-December update) has been fully surveyed and excavation continues on a huge quarry, dated by the presence of peg roof tiles and brick fragments to the eighteenth or nineteenth century.

One substantial ditched enclosure in this area, dated by its pottery, suggests land management here in the medieval period while Roman pot sherds (including imported Samian ware) and occasional features coming to light suggest even earlier activity in the Roman period.

On Plateau 5

This is the highest part of the site and almost certainly archaeological features will have suffered from erosion. However in one concentrated area, small pits and ditches have been detected.

The service road area, near Plateau 6

This stretches from the bottom of the Thanet Earth site virtually to the top, running for the most part parallel to Seamark Road. Near the bottom end the topsoil stripping has revealed a double ring-ditch (see So what have archaeologists found nearby? above) approximately 20 metres in diameter.

Taking the Archaeology into local schools ...

CAT's Education Officer had a great time at Monkton Primary School giving a presentation about why we are at Thanet Earth and previous discoveries in the local area. The 7 to 11 year olds were very responsive and enjoyed seeing and handling the local finds and teaching staff were enthusiastic about this curriculum support in their classrooms. A visit to Minster Primary is planned for later this month.

... and inviting local schools to the see the Archaeology

We are planning visits to the site. Logistics are challenging ... but interesting.

Fresca Group Ltd (the site developers) and Fitzpatrick (the construction company) are both very supportive of our educational programme and together we are making plans.

Media coverage

The Isle of Thanet printed a whole page article (December 14th 2007) and Meridian News filmed the team on site and back at CAT HQ, the piece being broadcast as an evening news item (January 6th 2008).

February – March 2008

Many more archaeological features have been identified and the team of over 30 British, Swedish and Polish archaeologists is forging ahead with the excavations. The weather has been kinder of late which always helps and now, volunteers are getting involved on Saturdays (see contact details below for volunteering).

A broad picture of the history of the site is now beginning to emerge and it seems that the area has a very long farming tradition. Some of the most recent discoveries are from the Second World War and going much further back, open fields and small farmsteads apparently occupied the area in the medieval period (with a concentration along the Seamark Road edge of the site). Before this, enclosures and remains of Roman structures suggest there were small Roman farmsteads with local inhabitants being buried nearby.

Earlier still, there is evidence for prehistoric activity, with some kind of Iron Age settlement just now coming to light to the north (around Plateau 8) and - the very earliest remains so far - Bronze Age 'Beaker burials', dated to around 2000 BC.

On Plateau 2

An unusual find was a small cluster of four animal burials (probably all sheep) . One of the graves showed that five animals had been carefully laid out. There is no dating evidence as yet, but they may be quite recent.

Prehistoric remains

The team found a 'crouched burial' with the deceased placed in the grave, knees drawn up in the foetal position. Although there were no grave goods with this particular burial, other 'crouched' burials found at Thanet Earth have pottery placed with the body which dates it to the Bronze Age. So this Plateau 2 grave may also date to this time, around 2,000 BC.

This is how archaeologists work - carefully examining the remains and looking for any dateable evidence that can be associated with them. That dateable evidence may be on the same site or in another place altogether.

Roman remains

Three more Roman cremation burials have been found, making seven now in this area. One of the recent ones had a southern Spanish amphora, a type of pottery often found on Roman occupation sites. These large heavy vessels were originally imported containing olive oil and would have sat on the kitchen floor, the oil decanted when needed.

They also often turn up in Romano-British graves, the neck and handles having been broken off and sometimes personal items (perhaps a coin, brooch, smaller pot) placed inside.

Some interesting indications of a Roman settlement are also coming up on this plateau. The team has been excavating the remains of a large 'sunken floored' building cut into the chalk (see video clip below). The pottery sherds found around the building and comparison with similar Roman buildings found at the Monkton Mount Pleasant excavations in 1994 suggest this Thanet Earth building is also of Roman date.

The construction is very unusual for the Roman period. Stepping down into the living or working area as you entered the building, was a style more commonly used in the Anglo-Saxon period.

On Plateau 3

Prehistoric remains

Another 'crouched burial' has been found, this time with a ceramic pot placed by the head of the deceased. This style of burial is known as a 'Beaker burial' and can be dated to the Bronze Age, by the style of pottery. At the moment this is an isolated discovery on Plateau 3 with very little else in the area. See photo of a 'Beaker burial' from Plateau 4 below.

On Plateau 4

Prehistoric remains

A second Bronze Age 'Beaker burial' has been discovered, adjacent to plateau 3. The 'beaker' is shaped like an upside down bell and is often highly decorated with intricate patterns etched into the surface. 'Beaker' burials have been rare in Kent.

Medieval remains

Several large agricultural enclosures are being uncovered. Deep ditches form the boundaries and inside two are rectangular 'sunken floored' buildings. Remains of the building in Enclosure 1 is pictured here with two steps down onto floor level (on the right). Finding the holes where posts stood shows that there was once a wooden door which opened onto the steps.

Although similar in style to Roman buildings at the Monkton Mount Pleasant site, the pot sherds found in the area suggest it is from the medieval period.

Another 'sunken floored' building has come up in Enclosure 3 and this one had an impressive medieval oven or hearth in one corner (seen here).

On Plateau 5

More features are coming up here now, with a complex area of pits with Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age pottery indicating an area of settlement in prehistoric times.

At least one more sunken floored rectangular building enclosed by ditches (Enclosure 2) is being investigated. Inside the building was a medieval style oven or hearth (similar to the one on Plateau4).

Plateau 6

A Roman cremation burial has been found here. So far all other Roman burials have appeared on Plateau 2. Ditches and quarries have also been uncovered including another large ditched enclosure (probably medieval).

The service road area, near Plateau 6

The double ring ditch (see location plan) mentioned last time has been fully exposed now and this is a remarkable find. The ditches are the remains of what was once a prehistoric burial mound or 'barrow'.

Plateau 8

Recent topsoil stripping has uncovered a staggering number of features here - over two hundred so far. Many of these are domestic refuse pits with animal bone and identifiable pottery sherds. These, together with post holes indicating wooden structures, suggest that this is going to be an interesting area of Iron Age settlement.

More next time...

Media coverage

The Thanet Earth excavations have had lots of media coverage recently generating local interest in both the archaeological discoveries and the Fresca development.

TV
BBC South-East News
Meridian News
Discovery Channel, Canada

Radio
BBC Radio 4 Country File
BBC Radio Kent Breakfast Show

Newspapers
Isle of Thanet EXTRA
Isle of Thanet Gazette
Thanet Times
Sun
Daily Mirror

Internet
BBC News online
KM Kentonline
Kent TV video of Bronze Age 'Beaker burial' discovery
Daily Mail
Invicta FM
Archaeo News
Current Archaeology

Click the image on the left for a location plan of the Thanet Earth site.

Fresca Group Ltd is a Kent based company and Thanet Earth will be the UK’s largest greenhouse complex, providing locally produced salad crops.