Eight early neolithic pits were encountered towards the southern end of the 'Thanet Earth' excavations, two on plateau 5 and six plateau 6. most contained early neolithic pottery sherds.

On plateau 5: Pit S5216 was 0.9m in diameter and 0.2m deep with a slightly double U-shaped profile, containing a uniform charcoal flecked fill containing 28 early Neolithic potsherds, a few worked flint pieces of possible Mesolithic origin, but with little in the way of plant or other remains present apart from a charred fragment of a nutshell. Pit G5058 was 0.68m wide, 0.85m long and 0.3m deep with a steep sided ‘U’-shaped profile; (Fig. 50). It was filled with dark charcoal-rich silty clay which produced fifteen Mesolithic or early Neolithic flint flakes or blades and a relatively large assemblage of undiagnostic prehistoric pottery, potentially part of a deliberately deposited vessel.

On plateau 6: Pit S6364 was 1.4m in diameter and 0.42m deep with a U-shaped profile and slightly uneven base. It was filled with a reddish brown silty clay with common carbon inclusions which produced 862 pieces of worked flint, mostly of early Neolithic date with some residual Mesolithic material. Apart from flakes and blades, there were five end scrapers. A number of relatively small and undiagnostic potsherds, possibly all from the same vessel were also recovered as well as some unidentifiable fragmentary animal bone. Pit S16083 was 0.6m wide and 0.22m deep, lay just 3m to the north-west of pit S6364; it may be contemporary but contained only a few pieces of flintwork. Pit S16020 was 1.4m in diameter and 0.42m deep with a U-shaped profile and slightly uneven base. It was filled with a reddish brown silty clay with common carbon inclusions which produced a few very small early Neolithic potsherds and seven flint flakes and blades of Mesolithic/early Neolithic date. Pit S16014 was again 1.4m in diameter and 0.4m deep, with steep sided edges and a flatter but uneven base. It was filled with a reddish brown silty clay with common carbon inclusions which produced 182 pieces of worked flint, the majority of early Neolithic in date with a small number of residual Mesolithic pieces. At least three of the flakes and blades had been burnt while a single flake core on Bullhead flint had two platforms at 90° to one another, typically early Neolithic, although it did not have any platform preparation. In addition were four end scrapers, two of which could be classified as ‘horseshoe scrapers’ and a knife, manufactured on a soft hammer-struck flake. An unfinished laurel leaf or roughout for a laurel leaf was also found. Six blades had evidence for having been used, or in one case having denticulation. A large number of undiagnostic potsherds were also recovered from this feature, probably from the same vessel. Other finds included some heavily eroded cattle and pig teeth and burnt bone of uncertain derivation but there was no significant ecofactual material. Pit S5186 was 1.2m wide, 1.5m long and 0.18m deep, filled by grey brown clay silt with occasional re-deposited carbon, fragmented undiagnostic pottery and some early Neolithic worked flint. Pit S5205 was 0.21m wide, 0.64m long and 0.21m deep. Its fill of dark brown clay silt produced 84 pieces of early Neolithic worked flint, a few fragments of hazelnut shell and a relatively large assemblage of undiagnostic prehistoric pottery.
(information summarised from source) (1)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2023, Beneath the Seamark: 6000 Years of an Islands History (Monograph). SKE55405.