Three Bronze Age ring ditches were uncovered during excavations associated with the construction of the East Kent Access route in Thanet, in Zone 23. These appeared to form part of a small group with three or four others lying outside of the investigated area to the north. They were all around 40-50m apart and lay on a ENE-WSW alignment towards the western end of a chalk ridge formed by Thorne Hill and Telegraph Hill which at 55m is the highest point in Thanet.

The Penannular ditch of the eastern-most barrow (193123) was 24m in diameter, 2.5m wide at the top, 1m wide at the base and 1.3m-1.45m deep. There was a 20m wide entrance on the eastern side. The chalk fills at the base of the sequence point to the presence of an outer bank. A large amount of flint working debris was found in the ditch, predominantly in the west side opposite the entrance. The flint was in a fresh condition and was located near the base of the fills suggesting that the flint working took place shortly after the monument was constructed. The penannular ditch was later recut and converted into a ring ditch by digging a further length of ditch between the two terminals. The pottery from the fills of this re cut suggest a middle/later Bronze Age date. No graves or contemporary features were located in the interior of the ditch but an inhumation was inserted into the ditch on the North-East side. This was radio carbon dated to 1610-1410 cal BC. (information summarised from source). (1)

A ring ditch forming part of a round barrow of Bronze Age date was visible as a cropmark in Next Perspectives APGB Imagery 21-APR-2007. This feature was mapped as part of the Historic England Isle of Thanet project in 2024. The spatial mapping from authority (1) and the cropmark mapping have both been retained in this record because the strong cropmark shows as a continuous ditch with no breaks. (2)

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Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2011, East Kent Access (Phase II), Thanet, Kent: Post-Excavation Assessment Volume 1 (Unpublished document).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

<2> Next Perspectives, 2003-2021, Next Perspectives APGB orthophotography, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery 21-APR-2007 (Archive). SKE57110.