Early Bronze Age to Roman agricultural features excavated on land between Arthur Baker Playing Field and Ashford Road, Charing, Kent. This excavation took place as the result of a planning application, and was carried out by Swale and Thames Archaeological Survey Company.

The wider site demontrated evidence for "agrarian, industrial and domestic activity between the early Bronze Age to the post-medieval period" (from the original report (1)).

The first phase of activity (Early Bronze Age) at the site comprised 6 pits in two groups of three. The second phase of activity (Middle Bronze Age) at the site comprised 2 pits, one in the area of each of the two groups of EBA pits. The third phase of activity (Late Bronze Age) comprised 2 post-holes and 1 pit in the same area as the features belonging to the first two phases - suggesting all phases of activity are interlinked. The fill of the pits included pottery, flint, worked flint, and animal bone, whilst the post-holes were infilled with flint and pottery.

The pit measurements are as follows: 1.10x0.63x0.21m, 1.67x0.95x0.19m, 1.60x0.21x0.13m, 0.81x0.58x0.20m, diameter of 1.30m and 0.09m deep, diameter of 1m and 0.25m deep, 1.80x1x0.20m, diameter of 1.37m and 0.37m deep, 0.82x0.48x0.28m.
The post-hole measurements are as follows: 0.35x0.21x0.17m, diameter of 0.40m and 0.18m deep.

The first phases of Iron Age activity at the site comprised the creation of pits, linear features, and the creation of a furnace for iron-working.

The linear feature measurements are as follows: 9.70x0.37x0.04-0.13m, 18x0.70x0.29m.

The pit measurements are as follows: 1.30x1.05x0.12m, 0.96x0.53x0.16m, 0.80x0.38x0.09m, 2.20x0.61x0.18m, 2x1x0.16m, diameter of 0.80m and 0.25m deep.

The late Iron Age post conquest period (50 BC-50 AD +/- 20yrs) at the site includes the construction of two enclosures and a trackway (TQ 94 NE 292), pits, linear features, and a group of built structures within one of the enclosures. These buildings were post built, with one smaller four post construct, and two larger buildings with 12 post pits alongside beam slots. These structures have been interpreted as granaries due to their similarities in form with contemporary granary structures. One late Iron Age cremation burial was also present at the site (TQ 94 NE 291).

Roman evidence at the site includes the creation of linear features and pits, the alteration of existing features - extending the enclosure ditches and backfilling others (TQ 94 NE 292), a cremation cemetery alongside two single 'ceremonial' cremations (TQ 94 NE 291), and the demolition of the Iron Age granaries.

One of the undated features at the site includes a N-S aligned inhumation burial of a 28-38yr old male which cuts a Late Iron Age pit feature.(1)

<1> Swale & Thames Archaeological Survey Company, 2022, Archaeological Excavations on land between Arthur Baker Playing Field and Ashford Road, Charing, Kent. Post-Excavation Assessment (Unpublished document). SKE55558.