Monument record TR 26 NE 1309 - Medieval Site 5, enclosures, structures and SFB, posible farmstead - Plateau 2, Thanet Earth

Summary

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 5 was located just 8m to the west of site 4 and is probably contemporary with it. Again this is an area of settlement was clustered around a Bronze Age barrow. The site was likely a small farmstead, with two definite sunken feature buildings and up to five possible further sunken buildings. At least two other possible post built structures were also identified alongside pits, wells and a late quarry (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)

Location

Grid reference Centred TR 2859 6691 (38m by 25m) (58 map features)
Map sheet TR26NE
County KENT
District THANET, KENT
Civil Parish ST NICHOLAS AT WADE, THANET, KENT

Map

Type and Period (7)

Full Description

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 5 comprised a sequence of rectangular enclosures, seemingly open on the southern side during all phases; multiple re-cutting of the boundaries occurred. The earliest phase comprised an extensive ditch forming an inverted L-shape with its western extent aligned roughly north-south, 23.9 m long and cut away by a later ‘quarry’. Two subsequent phases of development include the establishment of a small settlement or farmstead at the site. The structures and possible structures evident here were all spaced around the edges of the main enclosure complex, possibly facing inward to an open area or courtyard. A Type 1 sunken-featured structure was situated in the south-east corner (SFB 36), with a Type 3 structure on the north side, cutting through earlier enclosure ditches in the common fashion. Evidence suggests at least four or five other sunken structures as well as a cellar around the perimeter, but most of these were heavily truncated with little surviving. At least two other structures, a rectangular post-hole structure possibly a replacement of an earlier building that only survived as floor surfaces, was also located to the west. Two wells (shown by percussive boring to be c. 26m deep) and a number of pits were also indicative of settlement, while a large quarry at the western end of the site appeared not only to be a late feature, but also provided evidence for possible underground facilities, features which were more evident in the eastern settlement. Considerable activity was similarly represented by a significant and widespread area of erosion, almost certainly caused by the traffic of men and animals. Environmental evidence from the wells gives a good indication of the nature of these two settlement sites, while animal bone remains suggest butchery taking place, the latter not clearly evidenced elsewhere. (1) (information summarised from source)


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

Sources/Archives (1)

  • <1>XY Monograph: Canterbury Archaeological Trust. 2023. Beneath the Seamark: 6000 Years of an Islands History. [Mapped feature: #111840 Settlement area, ]

Finds (1)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

  • Event Boundary: Excavations at Thanet Earth 2007-2008 (EKE14749)

Record last edited

Jul 5 2023 7:19PM