Archaeological evaluation carried out by the Canterbury Archaeological Trust in 1999 discovered Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age settlement features alongside a Late Iron Age pit.

Activity dating from the later prehistoric period at the site was largely restricted to the south-east and comprised pits, ditches, post holes, occupation deposits, a gravel platform, metalled surfaces, gullies, a probable quarry, and two possible cremations with associated burnt bone. The pits measured between around 0.3-2.1m in diameter, and 0.12-0.6m in depth. The possible quarry was over 1.2m in depth and its extent continued betyond the margins of the trench in which it was identified. Ditches at the site measured around 0.94-1.6m in width and 0.42-0.6m in depth. The gravel platform may have formed the base of a house or structure.
Finds recovered from the fills of features comprised bone, charcoal, burnt flint, daub, and pottery dating from the Late Bronze Age - Early Iron Age.
A number of undated features including ditches, pits, and post-holes were also identified at the site, and later recorded activity was characterised by Late Iron Age - early Roman occupation (TR 16 NE 1395), Roman industrial features (TR 16 NE 1391) and medieval field boundaries (TR 16 NE 1392). (1)

An excavation in 2000 revealed further evidence for Late Bronze Age/early Iron Age activity at the site, including a large number of settlement features. Pit complexes, gullies, a probable fence, drainage and boundary ditches, a possible cremation burial, metalled surfaces, post-holes, a round house, and occupation debris were identified. A possible storage pit was also located at the site. This comprised a 0.95m diameter pit lined with clay and thought to have been used for storage.

The round house structure was identified through the presence of post-holes with associated segmented sections of gully and pits.

Metalled surfaces at the site have a range of interpretations - from external courtyard to floor surfaces or trackways.

A possible cremation burial was also identified, comprising a pit containing a large amount of pottery within its fill. However, no fragments of bone were identified.

Ditches and ditch segments at the site measured up to around 26m in length - although many were recorded at around 10m in length. The widths of these features measured between 0.32-1.76m, and their depths were recorded at 0.28-0.8m. The ditches may have formed field boundaries or drainage features.

Burnt clay, charcoal, and pottery fragments were associated with the fills of many features at the site. A total of 2,112 sherds of pottery (with a combined weight of 16,853g) were excavated from the fills of features at the site. The majority of the sherds dated from the Late Bronze Age, with some Middle Bronze Age and few Late Iron Age fragments.
Environmental evidence comprising shellfish (including oyster and mussel) fragments, charred seeds, charcoal, and cattle bone were also associated with this phase of occupation at the site. (2)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1999, Archaeological evaluation of Land at Willow Farm, off Hoopers Lane, Broomfield, Herne Bay, Kent. (Unpublished document). SKE54759.

<2> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2001, Archaeological excavation at Willow Farm, off Hooper’s Lane, Broomfield, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE56287.