Between 2005 and 2022 archaeological excavations discovered a late prehistoric settlement, field system, and associated features. These ranged in date from the Bronze Age, Iron Age and early-mid Roman period. Many features at the site relate to extensive agricultural and domestic activity; these include round houses, a field system, enclosures, kilns, and a possible drove road. An unurned human cremation burial was also excavated at the site.

During the 2005 evaluation, features such as pits, ditches and post holes are seen through the 80 test trenches. These 80 test trenches were split into areas A, B, C and D. Areas A and B revealed little significant finds but the present evidence suggested post-medieval iron working on a moderate scale that was possibly associated with a farmyard smithy that took place either close to or on the site. Such evidence is seen in the presence of iron-slag deposits in varying combinations and proportions, burnt flint and charcoal.

Area C saw significant archaeological remains in the northern part of the area with some finds associated with settlement activity. Finds such as a 40gsm sherd of central Gaulish Lezaux Samian Dr 33 cup base dated to c. AD 120-200 was inscribed with the manufacterer's name (MANNVS) along with another 19gsm sherd of Cologne colour-coated (Koln) fabric beaker base c. AD130-250 and two large abraded sherd (total weight of 59gsm) of Nere Valley Ware dated mid-late 2nd century mean that the ditch found n trench 29 was certainly open during the mid-Roman period and suggests that a possibly high-status settlement was occupying the land in the northern part of Area C.

Area D saw 17 trenches out of 24 in the area with significant archaeological finds. Trench 63 revealed a 1.9m wide rougly circular pit that was 0.20m deep with a primary fill of re-deposited brickearth containing some daub and underlying an 8cm thick layer rich in small, calcined flint fragments along with occasional calcined flint tempered potsherds. This suggests an Early Iron Age of Mid Iron Age date, the feature also has the appearance of a collapsed 'key hole' kiln or hearth. (1)

During the various phases of archaeological investigations at the site, a number of prehistoric features were identified including Middle Bronze Age and Iron Age roundhouses (TR 16 NE 1414), ditches, pits, enclosures, and corrals. The enclosures, droveways and interrupted parallel ditches formed a network of herding features, including a 'three way drafting gate system' (as suggested by Pryor, 1998). A possible Neolithic long house has also been identified to the north of the site (TR 16 NE 1413), suggesting a long continuity of settlement during the later prehistoric period. A significant find from the site comprises a Mesolithic tranchet axe which is postulated to have been kept and ceremonially discarded during the later prehistoric period. (2)

Excavations carried out at the site between 2005-2022 identified further evidence for occupation at the site dating from the Mesolithic or early Neolithic (TR 16 NE 1433) to the mid Roman period. Features identified included ditches, a pit, a field boundary ditch, a possible droveway, several hollow ways (one Bronze Age, one Roman), and a possible horseshoe enclosure.
Some of the earliest evidence for occupation at the site comprises a buried land surface dating from the Neolithic to early Bronze Age (4000-1550 BC). This layer was associated with pottery dating to between these periods, and is thought to represent a tread deposit. The mid-Bronze Age to early Roman period activity has been characterised as marginal agricultural activity, with some possible animal husbandry taking place between the mid-late Bronze Age and Roman periods. Undated features excavated at the site may have been associated with prehistoric or Roman activity at the site. These included a kiln, post-holes, stakeholes, and a pit. (4, 6)

The report also describes a number of previous investigations to the south, east, and south-east of the site identifying features relating to a settlement established around 1550 BC and occupied until 1350 BC, alongside contemporary field systems, roundhouses, palisades, and ancillary structures. (3) Two Middle Bronze Age and on Iron Age roundhouses were excavated at Blacksole Farm, Herne Bay. The features are thought to have been the focal point for the prehistoric agricultural and domestic landscape at the site. (4)

The field system covered an area of around 90,000m2. An assessment of work completed at the site in 2007 described the field system identified as "part of the earliest known complex and extensive prehistoric field system in Kent, and possibly in South East England" (from the original report, 5). The field system and settlement site's significance was based on many factors; these included the age of the features - around 650-450 years earlier than other comparable occupation sites in the levels. Furthermore, the scale of the field system, representing a socially cohesive community; and the design of the system. Areas to the south and east of the site had been designed to act as a flood preventation measure, whilst also conserving water at the site; this "allowed formerly unusable marginal land to become productive, and allowed the later Bronze Age and Early Iron Age population to continue to increase in the face of environmental challenges" (from the original report, 5).

The majority of the ditches excavated at the site, many of which made up the field system, were dated to around 1550-1350 BC. These features were recut, extended, and replaced during the course of their use, suggesting that the field system had been functioning for an extended period of at least 200 years. Due to the lack of bronze digging implements recovered from the site, the authors of the report consider it likely that the ditches were excavated using technology originating in earlier periods, primarily the Neolithic. These technologies would have included flint picks, axes, and spades made of organic materials. During the 2007 (and possibly also the 2015) excavations, 2,222 pot sherds were recovered from the site, indicating substantial activity taking place at the site during the Middle Bronze Age.

Three possible dwellings were excavated at the site; these comprised a round house in the "form of a ring ditch or curvilinear ‘eaves gully’ with associated post holes, one in the form of a sub-rectangular, horseshoe-shaped arrangement of gullies, also in association with many post holes, and one in the form of a dense cluster of postholes in association with the substantial occupation deposit" (from the original report, 5). Later assessments of evidence at the site suggested the presence of two roundhouses and other associated rectangular structures which probably represented dwellings. (6) The dwellings were associated with two groups of rectangular pits, one of which contained industrial waste including crushed calcined flints and scorched daub. This burial process may have been ritual in nature or the features could represent possible kilns, with the material within their fills originating from pottery production. (6)

By the early Iron Age, a probable fringe or small scale settlement was established at the site, which was followed by a period of abandonment and the reoccupation of the site during the late Iron Age and early Roman period. This was evidenced by the recovery of around 329 pottery sherds dating from 50 BC to 250 AD from later features. This later period of settlement coincided with the creation of a smaller scale field system at the site and evidence for small-scale industrial activity such as iron smithing and quarrying. Other features established during this period include a group of pits, alongside a large rubbish pit containing domestic debris such as charcoal, sea shells, animal remains, and daub. This artefactual evidence is considered by the authors of the report (5) to represent dumped material from a nearby settlement of this date. (5)

<1> Swale and Thames Archaeological Survey Company, 2005, The Results of an Archaeological Evaluation on land at Blacksole Farm, Beltinge, near Herne Bay in Kent (Unpublished document). SKE51901.

<3> Swale and Thames Archaeological Survey Company, 2023, Archaeological Strip Map and Sample Excavation of the Phase 3 Trade Park Units at Altira Park, near Beltinge, Kent, Post-Excavation Assessment Report (Unpublished document). SKE57817.

<4> Kent Archaeological Society, 2018, A Prehistoric Landscape Emerges at Blacksole Farm (Unpublished document). SKE52509.

<5> Swale and Thames Archaeological Survey Company, 2016, An archaeological assessment report following an archaeological evaluation and subsequent topsoil strip, map and sample excavation on the former site of Blacksole Farm, Thanet Way & Margate Road, Herne Bay, in Kent (Unpublished document). SKE57631.

<6> Swale and Thames Archaeological Survey Company, 2016, An archaeological assessment report following an archaeological evaluation and subsequent topsoil strip, map and sample excavation on the former site of Blacksole Farm, near Beltinge, Herne Bay, in Kent (Unpublished document). SKE57632.