The medieval features on Thanet Earth dated to between the mid-eleventh century to the early part of the fourteenth (possibly extending to AD 1350). The activity is primarily agricultural in nature with significant elements of domestic occupation. A site wide system of enclosures appears to be intimately related to various trackways across the site. The activity around these enclosures has been grouped into a number of Medieval ‘sites’.

Site 4 was situated on either side of Trackway 28, 25m to the south of Enclosure 41 and appeared to encapsulate prehistoric Barrow 8. The features appear to represent a settlement complex or farmstead and were almost completely contained within a convoluted development of ditched enclosures. The earliest was in use and contemporary with the droveway and therefore belonged to the earlier medieval phase. Dating generally suggests that this settlement originated, and was in use, somewhat later than Sites 1, 2 and 3. The enclosures were perpendicular to the droveway unlike Enclosure 40/41 to the north, this alignment, influenced by the position of the prehistoric barrow which may have still been evident in the ground, covered a rectangular area, 93m across east to west and about 45m north south at maximum. The area showed a complex and protracted development, and was originally partially sealed by a deposit of old topsoil or colluvium, that had aggraded in two shallow depressions defining the extent of more concentrated activity. These extensive depressions and their fill had undoubtedly been caused by prolonged or intensive occupation of the area eroding the relatively soft subsoil in the zone of settlement. Many of the associated structures and features cannot be assigned confidently to particular enclosures. However, the complex sequence of enclosure ditches and other features formed something of a palimpsest where the extents and disposition of earlier elements were often obscured or excised by later activity. In some cases therefore the precise arrangements are unclear, ambiguous or are open to alternative interpretation.

The earliest enclosure (enclosure 35) consisted of three ditches to the east of Trackway 28, the western ditch of Trackway 28 appeared to form the western side of the enclosure. There were three dividing ditches within the enclosure, The first was aligned east-west, 8.7m long, the second was A ditch near the eastern end of the first, this was 4.5m long, and the third was aligned roughly north-west to south-east, 6.9m long. All the ditches contained a similar fill with mixed pottery (1050–1150), animal bone and oyster shell inclusions. It is possible that the northern half of the enclosure was specifically for stock, perhaps explaining the much greater erosion of its interior. Another early enclosure was situated immediately to the west, of the droveway and consisted of two L-shaped ditches ) forming a near square enclosure about 25m across. This enclosure contained a single sunken feature building that was located in the north-eastern corner. The eastern end of the structure contained the remnants of the oven and side hearth. This building was a fairly typical example of a Type 1 structure, its position and alignment strongly suggesting it was contemporary with the use of Enclosure 35.

This enclosure was extended/replaced by another (enclosure 36) in a later phase of the sites development. This consisted of a single ditch forming a rectangular area aligned north-south opening to the south. The ditch contained a uniform fill with pottery (AD 1075–1250), animal bone, and sea shell. The enclosure probably represents the peak of activity as it was associated with at least three buildings, SFB 29, 30 and 31 as well as two areas of underground chambers. The SFBs varied in form, building 26 and 29 likely had a domestic function and were associated with pottery that would suggest domestic activity with some sooted cooking pots. Building 30/31 was a fairly typical example of a Type 1 bakery building with an oven (though little of its superstructure survived). The western complex of underground chambers were situated on the western side of the enclosure, 2.5m north of SFB 29 at the southern end of the western enclosure ditch, and extending north for about 16.3m. The complex of six collapsed or partially extant chambers were connected by a collapsed passage or tunnel. The collapsed tunnel was approximately 11m long with a maximum width of 2.50m and depth of c. 2m. Three underground chambers extended from this passage at roughly regular intervals, two on the east and one on the west. A similar group of features was situated at the extreme south-east corner of the enclosure, with and entrance in the enclosure and the system extending south eastwards under the enclosure ditches, about 9.4m overall. Again this consisted of a group of collapsed and partially intact chambers and passages. These underground chambers were undoubtedly used for the storage of possibly quite large quantities of raw materials or produce.
These features were the best preserved examples at Thanet Earth. They would have provided a cool storage space for perishable foodstuffs (perhaps including beer) and were undoubtedly related to the settlement focus

A final enclosure (Enclosure 70) appears to represent the last phase of activity at the site. It appears to relate to Structure 64 located directly to the south. This was primarily represented by an extensive cut 20m long with a turn to the east at the northern end extending for a further 4.5m and a similar turn to the south, only traced for a short distance. Possible beam slots were cut into this feature suggesting that it may have represented a building of some form. (1) (information summarised from sources)

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