Romano British features at land north of Thanet Way, Kent, comprising three phases of a NE-SW aligned ditch enclosure and concentration of large pits, and post holes. The excavations were undertaken by Canterbury Archaeological Trust in advance of the construction of a new Lidl store at the site. Other features at the site dated from the Medieval (TR 16 NE 1383) and prehistoric (TR 16 NE 1385) periods.

Finds from the site included pottery, and animal bone. The pottery has been dated to the late 1st or early 2nd century AD.

The pits are thought to have been associated with agriculture in the form of water collection for livestock.
During the initial phases of the site's use during the Romano-British period, activity was focused around a ditch enclosure aligned NE-SW and a concentration of pits. One of the ditches measured 1.95m wide, with the other measuring 3.2m wide. Both measured up to 1m in depth and are thought to have marked out an area to the south west, located beyond the excavation's limits. The infill of the ditches was found to contain burnt flint, broken pottery, charcoal, and burnt daub.

During the second phase of the Romano-British occupation at the site, a series of 5 intercutting pits were established, with a number of other pits in the surrounding area. These pits ranged in size from 0.8x0.7x0.58m to 5x2.5x0.85m. The infill of many of the pits included burnt flint, charcoal, pottery, marine shell, and animal bone. One of the pits also contained a copper alloy fibula. The largest of the pits are thought to have been associated with agriculture in the form of water collection for livestock.

During the final phase of Roman occupation at the site, the enclosure ditch was replaced by another enclosure ditch aligned north-east to south-west. "The ditch ran from the southern limit of excavation for 18m before turning to the north-west 12m before turning again to the north-east for 23m to the northern limit of the excavation. The ditch measured on average 1.1m wide and 0.6m deep" (from the original report (1)). Within the fill of this ditch were few pottery and animal bone inclusions, alongside a partially articulated cow burial.

A further possible ditch was also associated with this period. This was uncovered to the East of the excavation and aligned NW-SE. The ditch measured 0.8m in width and 0.13m in depth.

Six post-holes were also identified from this phase of the site. The average measurements for these post holes was 0.35m in width and 0.2m in depth.

Evidence for late Iron Age and Roman agriculture in the nearby area reinforce the interpretation of the site's use as agricultural.

Metal detector finds from the general site are as follows: "The finds comprised four copper alloy, two lead, one flint and one silver object. The copper alloy finds consisted of belt buckles from the topsoil and a brooch recovered from pit. The silver object was of a hammered long cross coin recovered from the topsoil. One of the lead objects was identifiably a spindle whorl. A flint hammer stone was
recovered from the subsoil deposit" (from the original report (1)). (1)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2019, New Lidl store, Land north of Thanet Way, Herne Bay, Kent, CT6 8LW, Archaeological Excavation Interim Report (Unpublished document). SKE53637.