Two enclosures, one trackway and one possible trackway dating from the Late Iron Age and Roman period occupation excavated at land between land between Arthur Baker Playing Field and Ashford Road, Charing, Kent. The excavation took place in 2019 in advance of a planning application. The wider site (TQ 94 NE 290) demonstrates "multiphased evidence for agrarian, industrial and domestic activity ranging from the Early Bronze Age through to the post-Medieval period" (from the original report (1)).

Enclosure one was established in the Late Iron Age. During its first phase, the enclosure was oriented NW-SE; it covered 2165sqm. The enclosure was bounded by three boundary ditches. The boundary ditch to the NE measured an average of 46x1x0.50m. The boundary ditch to the SW measured an average of 33x 1x0.50m. The boundary ditch to the NW was split into three segments; these measured an average of 45x1.10x0.40m. The NE & SW ditches both had three layers of backfill, these included pottery assemblages dating between 25 BC - 200 AD. The NW ditch contained two layers of backfill which contained pottery dating between 50 BC - 70 AD. The SW boundary ditch also contained iron slag within the ditch fill.

Enclosure two was established in the Late Iron Age. During its first phase, the enclosure was oriented NE-SW; it covered 1070sqm. The enclosure was bounded by two boundary ditches. The boundary ditch to the NW measured on average 38x0.90x0.80m. The other boundary ditch is the SW boundary ditch of enclosure one. The NW ditch contained two pottery assemblages containing iron slag, and pottery dating from 50 BC - 250 AD.

The trackway was oriented NW-SE, and was around 5m wide. Two ditches bounded the trackway, the northernmost ditch measured on average 40x1.70x0.55m, the southernmost ditch measured on average 36x0.65x0.18m. The combined assemblage from the ditches contained worked flint, animal bone and pottery dating between 50 BC-150 AD.

The possible trackway had a NW direction and an average width of 4.8m. It was also bounded by two ditches. The northernmost ditch measured 17x0.60x0.25m, the southernmost ditch measured 44x0.50x 0.15m. The combined assemblage from the ditches included pottery dating to between 25 BC - 70 AD.

During the Roman period, "alterations to Enclosure One comprised increasing the internal space by the backfilling of the ditch, forming the northeast boundary and extending the length of the north
ditch of the trackway, resulting a re-cut along its entire length. Management of the ditches also included the extension and re-cutting of the ditch, forming the northwest boundary, resulting in an alteration to the entrance and the closing of the spaces between each segment, thereby producing one continuous linear feature" (from the original report (1)).

Alterations to Enclosure two also comprised increasing the internal space by the backfilling of the ditch, forming the southwest boundary of Enclosure One, and shortening the length of the southern ditch of the trackway" (from the original report (1)). The linear feature cross-cutting enclosure two was extended, cutting the enclosure and part of the trackway in two.

Other features (including pits, post holes and cremations) are associated with this site, these are discussed in separate monument records. (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.