Medieval features were discovered during an excavation in 2016. These features were cut through the colluvium, consisting of six pits of varying sizes and a substantial ditch. Small residual fragments of Iron Age pottery were present in the lower fills of some of these features, and an assemblage of medieval pottery sherds dating between 1175-1300 were recovered from the upper fills of all of these features. The ditch would have been part of a medieval field system, and the pits may have been used for storage. A small quantity of smelting slag was found in one pit alongside medieval pottery and coould date to the same period or be Roman. (1)

A 2017 excavation at the site identified further features dating from the medieval period. These included probable storage pits, ditches, and other features.

A probable storage pit was located to the north-western area of the site, reused during later periods for the disposal of refuse. This feature measured 5.99m long, 1.98m wide, and 0.32m deep and contained several fills, the latter of which comprised 65 sherds of medieval pottery and a 12th-14th century padlock. An environmental sample of the pit contained plant remains in the form of cereals and legumes. Wheat, oat, and barley grains, alongside peas were represented in the assemblage. A number of other medieval pits were excavated, measuring 0.52m-2.25m long, 0.45m-0.80m wide and 0.28m-0.32m deep, and frequently containing small quantities of medieval pottery.

Other features located at the site included several ditches, alongside a shallow feature measuring 2.25m long, 1.70m wide and 0.21m deep of undetermined function, thought to potentially represent another storage pit.

Early medieval features including a curvilinear ditch and a sunken featured building (TQ 95 SW 167) were identified to the east of the medieval features at the site. A post-medieval pit and boundary ditch was identified in the central-western area of the site (TQ 95 SW 166). (2)

<1> Archaeology South-East, 2017, POST-EXCAVATION ASSESSMENT AND UPDATED PROJECT DESIGN REPORT: SHEPHERD’S FARM QUARRY, LENHAM HEATH, KENT (Unpublished document). SKE52293.

<2> Archaeology South-East, 2018, ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS AT SHEPHERD’S FARM QUARRY LENHAM HEATH, KENT, A POST-EXCAVATION ASSESSMENT AND UPDATED PROJECT DESIGN REPORT (Unpublished document). SKE58036.