Later Bronze age settlement/activity was discovered during excavations associated with the construction of the East Kent Access routeway (Zone 4). This activity is represented in this area by a series of ditches/ditched enclosures a possible drove way and some possible structures (alongside an alluvial layer containing finds TR 36 SW 1128, several hoards TR 36 SW 112? and a small cremation cemetery TR 36 SW 112?).

This area (Zone 4 of the EKA excavations) occupied the spine of the Ebbsfleet Peninsula where it is joined the isle of Thanet. Until the silting of the Wantsum Channel and subsequent drying of the surrounding land, it would have been bounded by water to the east and west.

In the northern half of Zone 4 were several late Bronze Age ditches, together comprising a group that probably defined parts of at least two enclosures. Two of the ditches formed a T shaped plan, one north south ditch measuring 40m and was disturbed by a series of later Iron Age and Roman ditches. A series of short gullies and a ditch made up the east-west axis of the T shaped arrangement. It is possible that some of these ditches may have formed a droveway. Towards the northeastern corner of the Zone a rectilinear enclosure of probable Late Bronze Age date was recorded enclosing an area of 95 square metres.

A small amount of evidence for buildings was found which comprised two groups of postholes. One group of 8 formed a small rectangular structure and there was a small four post structure to the north west of it. The post holes of this four-post structure contained Bronze Age pottery and charred grain. Between the two structures was a Late Bronze Age pit that contained a pot and part of a Bronze ingot. Further pits were also discovered in the vicinity of these structures and ditches, including one which may have been an evaporating hearth for salt as it contained a single fragment that may have been from a briquetage vessel. (information summarised from source) (1)

<1> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2011, East Kent Access (Phase II), Thanet, Kent: Post-Excavation Assessment Volume 1 (Unpublished document). SKE29279.