Neolithic features including an early Neolithic pit and some other possible features which were undated were excavated in 2021 at Cockering farm, Canterbury. Earlier Mesolithic/Neolithic activity is present at the site in the form of worked flints (TR 15 NW 2619), and Neolithic activity is followed by mid-late Bronze Age activity in the form of finds and features (TR 15 NW 2621).

The pit measured 1.19m in width and 0.49m in depth. It contained a single sherd of early Neolithic pottery, which is thought to be contemporary with the feature - however, this is uncertain.

The other features thought to potentially date from the Neolithic period included ditches, pits and post-holes. These features measured between 0.33-2.20m in width and 0.08-0.64m in depth; two features had recorded lengths of 0.72-1.55m. Finds recovered from these features included charcoal, fired clay, and charred cereal grains (recovered through environmental sampling). (1)

4 pits and 1 post-hole were excavated during a strip, map, and sample excavation in 2021. The post-hole was roughly oval and measured 1.55x0.86x0.42m. The feature contained a two fills of clay sand silt. Artefacts contained within the fill of the post-hole included an assemblage of 6 sherds (20g) of early-middle Neolithic pottery, and 1 piece of worked flint (a flake weighing 4g).
The pits measured between 0.60-1.45m in length, 0.38-0.95m in width, and 0.12-0.48m in depth. The pits were sub-circular and oval, and contained fills of clay silt and silty clay, with two of the pits containing frequent charcoal inclusions, and heat-affected flint. Other inclusions within two of the pits included an early-middle Neolithic pottery assemblage (136 pieces, 762g). Possible early Bronze Age pottery (2 sherds), and a piece of medieval peg-tile which may represent intrusive bioturbation at the site.
Other finds from the pits included 166 pieces (1477g) of prehistoric worked flint, thought to be placed deposits, and three pieces of Sarsen-type quatzose sandstone probably derived from a saddle quern. Environmental sampling of the pits revealed evidence for hazlenut shells which were radiocarbon dated to between 3630-3527 cal BC.

A large number of undated features including hearths, linear features, post-holes, stake-holes, pits, and ditches were also present at the site. (2)

<1> Archaeology South-East, 2021, Archaeological and Geoarchaeological Evaluation Report Cockering Farm, Thanington, Canterbury, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE55574.

<2> Canterbury Archaeological Trust Ltd., 2022, Land at and adjacent to Cockering Farm, Thanington, Canterbury, Kent Archaeological strip, map and sample excavation Post‐excavation assessment (Unpublished document). SKE55719.