Eight early Neolithic pits were recorded on Plateau 8, within the upper levels of a colluvial deposit. Spatially, they formed two groups no more than 65m apart. Sherds of early Neolithic pottery, and flints were recorded in most of these pits and three pits contained important charred plant/grain assemblages.

Pit S12304 was near circular, 1.12m wide, 1.36m long and just under 0.4m deep from the stripped surface. The feature appeared to have been sealed under a layer of colluvium approximately 0.20m deep, and was recorded with an undercut profile. The lower fill contained worked and burnt flint, degraded daub and a small amount of charred plant remains and shellfish. The flintwork mostly comprised flakes, although six cores were also present, suggesting the deposit incorporated knapping waste. Plant remains from this level have been radiocarbon dated to 3796–3653 cal BC. The upper fill also included plant remains and shells, some indicated brackish/marine conditions. Pit S12309 was 1.15m in diameter and 0.27m deep, a layer of charcoal-rich silty clay lay immediately above re deposited natural in the pit, this contained 23 sherds of early Neolithic pottery, probably Carinated Bowl and a large quantity of burnt flint and burnt worked flints, as well as two sandstone quern fragments. Plant remains from this deposit were dated to 3926–3659 cal BC. Pit S3941 was sub-circular, 1.5m wide, 1.76m long and 0.56m deep. Sterile base layers indicate the pit was open for some time before backfilling began. The fills comprised charcoal and burnt-clay rich layers with early Neolithic pottery, a few struck flint flakes, charred plant remains and a tiny amount of human bone. An emmer grain from this assemblage was radiocarbon dated to 3912–3652 BC. Subsequent fills consisted of light grey brown silty clay with a large quantity of burnt clay in the matrix, 19 early Neolithic potsherds and one worked flint. The pottery comprised an incomplete but fine early Neolithic Carinated Bowl in good condition which suggests it was buried soon after it went out of use. Possibly a deliberate ‘structured’ deposition. The grain assemblage in these pits is important and includes a examples of a tetraploid free threshing (‘naked’) wheat, which is the first time it has been recognised in the UK.

A cluster of five pits lay less than 20m to the south, Pit S3456 was 0.60m in diameter and 0.28m deep, with steeply sloping sides and a concave base. It was filled with greyish-brown sandy silt containing 46 sherds of early Neolithic pottery and 23 worked flint flakes, also of probable early Neolithic date. Pit S3452 was 06m long, 0.5m wide and 0.2m deep, with steeply sloping sides and a concave base. It was filled with a grey brown sandy silt that produced 19 early to mid-Neolithic potsherds, traces of charred grain and hazel nut shell and 30 pieces of Mesolithic or early Neolithic flintwork, including twelve flakes, six blades or bladelets, and two flake cores. Pits S3453, S3543 and S3610 were all generally comparable to the pits described above, and though their fills were completely sterile they have been grouped together because of their morphological similarity and spatial association.

Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2023, Beneath the Seamark: 6000 Years of an Islands History (Monograph). SKE55405.