Medieval ditches, quarry pits, post-holes and a metalled surface were excavated at Rhodaus Town, Canterbury in 2015-2016.

The ditches comprised an extra-mural defensive ditch aligned NW-SE (and measuring over 46m in length and over 12m in width), a ditch recut (one the same alignment as the defensive ditch, and measuring up to 8.02m in width), and a southern boundary ditch aligned NE-SW (and measuring over 58.8m in length with three recuts). The southern boundary ditch measured between 1.49-2.26m in width, and 0.92-1.60m in depth. The extra-mural defensive ditch may have formed part of an outer bailey to a Norman motte and bailey castle at the site.
Artefacts associated with the ditches included pottery dating between 1050-1225 AD; environmental analysis revealed that the defensive ditch had contained water for some time during its use.

84 pits measuring 0.26-12.57m in length/width and 0.20-2.78m in depth were excavated at the site. Many of these appear to have had a similar function to the Anglo-Saxon pits (TR 15 NW 2654) excavated at the site - as refuse pits for metalworking debris and domestic waste, alongside some pits interpreted as related to quarrying (largely dating from the earlier medieval period (1050-1225 AD).
The pits contained artefacts include pottery dating between 1050-1350 AD, ironworking residue, late medieval brick and tile, green glass, hearth lining, tap slag, a forge bottom, animal remains, charred and mineralised plant remains.

Two post-holes were also excavated at the site; these measured between 0.54-0.72m in width, and 0.28-0.43m in depth. Pottery associated with these features dated from 1200-1350 AD.

A series of metalled surfaces and other layers were also present at the site. These were comprised of compacted layers of flint gravel held within a matrix of clay, alternating with silty layers and forming the metalled surface of a trackway. These layers measured between 4.90-8.57m in width, and 0.34-0.83m in thickness. One of the layers had evidence for a wheel rut worn into it aligned NW-SE.
Finds associated with the surfaces included pottery dating between 1150-1375 AD, three iron horse shoes, a copper alloy weight, a copper alloy pin, and a nail. The trackway may have been associated with the foundation of Dane John Manor.

Soil layers present at the site contained pottery dating between 1350-1550 AD.

Three linear features were also present at the site, thought to represent field boundaries. These features were aligned perpendicularly to one another, with one aligned NW-SE, and the other two aligned NE-SW (the latter two were also spaced 8m apart). The features measured between 7.5-21.30m in length, 0.42-2.48m in width, and 0.12-0.45m in depth. Only residual pottery was recovered from these features. (1)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust Ltd, 2017, Former Peugeot Garage, Rhodaus Town (A28), Canterbury, Kent CT1 2RH, Post-Excavation Assessment (Unpublished document). SKE52730.