Located in the central part of the excavated area, during investigations associated with the construction of the Ramsgate Harbour Approach road in 1997/1998 was a series of three, possibly four or five, concentric arcs of discontinuous groups of cut features. These features was understood to represent part of a ‘causewayed enclosure’ of Early Neolithic Date.

The inner arc comprised ten ‘segments’, or rather foci for repeated episodes of pit-cutting and associated deposition. Various small pits or post-settings appeared to be associated with the segments. Generally the deposits filling all the features were homogenous silts, often with small to medium sized chalk fragments and natural flint inclusions. Finds were scattered throughout the fills and included mussel shells, burnt flint and small fragments of heat-affected clay, carbon and chalk, charcoal, seeds, worked flint early Neolithic pottery and some burnt and unburnt animal bone (including cattle) as well as several varieties of shellfish and a fragment of hazelnut shell.

Segment 1 was formed by a curving linear feature approximately 10m long and 1.15m wide at its southern end, tapering to 0.82m at its northern terminal with a depth of 0.22m. approximately 10m long and 1.15m wide at its southern end, tapering to 0.82m at its northern terminal. Segment two also consisted of a single shallow linear feature 3.75m long, 0.45m wide and 0.3m deep. Segment 3 was principally formed by two short linear gullies with a combined length of approximately 10m and varied in width between 0.13m and 0.5m, having a maximum depth of 0.26m. Near the southern terminal of this feature a discrete concentration of finds was noted, including an abraded sherd of early Neolithic Plain Bowl in association with a flint flake and a retouched scraper, along with 35 fragments of burnt animal bone. These items seemed to represent a deliberately ‘placed deposit’. Segment 4 was formed by a short gully, about 3.75m from south to north, 0.8m wide and 0.15m deep. A gap of approximately 15m separated Segments 4 and 5, but it is possible features interrupting this gap were missed. Segment 5 was made up of three discrete concentrations of pit/gully features forming an arc approximately 6.75m long from south-west to north-east. Just 0.22m to the north-east of this group was an oval pit, 0.8m by 0.5m and 0.16m deep. A little further (0.29m) to the north was an irregular linear feature, approximately 3m in length with a varying width of 0.5-0.8m and 0.25m deep, which probably represents several concurrent or consecutive pit cuts. This feature also contained a possible ‘placed deposit’. Segment 6 represents a more complex arrangement of features. The segment was primarily formed by five intercutting pits and gullies arcing from south to north-east, with a combined length of approximately 9m. Several further placed deposits were found within these features. A linear group of four adjacent post-holes or small pits lay on the south-eastern side of this segment. Neolithic pottery was recovered from each of these small features in sufficient quantity to suggest that they were pits dug specifically for deposition, though the possibility they represent post-settings cannot be discounted. Two further small and shallow pits/truncated post-holes were located less than a metre from the north-western side of Segment 6 and four small pits or post-holes were located to the south-east of Segments 5 and 6. Segment seven comprised four intercutting shallow linear features with a combined length of approximately 9m, representing at least two phases of activity. As well as these linear features, a number of smaller discrete features appeared to be associated with this segment, either representing post-holes or small pits for the placement of deposits. The single linear cut forming Segment 8 was 2.6m long, 0.5m wide and 0.23m deep. On a more southerly alignment than Segments 7 and 8, Segment 9 might have formed the original continuation of an alignment from the linear feature located near Segment 7, with the more easterly features of Segment 7 and Segment 8 marking a different phase of activity. The distance between Segment 7 and Segment 9 was just over 3m. The main element of Segment 9 was a short and shallow linear feature 1.5m long, 0.5m wide and 0.26m deep. Two possible post-holes or small pits were located to the north east and three other small oval/subcircular discrete features appeared to be associated with Segment 9. Continuing the alternative Inner Arc alignment from Segment 9, segment 10 was formed by an irregular linear gully 7m long with a maximum width and depth of 0.5m and 0.26m respectively. (information summarised from source) (1-2)

<1> 2019, Chalk Hill - Neolithic and Bronze Age Discoveries at Ramsgate, Kent (Monograph). SKE56208.

<2> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1997, Excavations at Chalk Hill, near Ramsgate, Kent 1997-98: Integrated assessment & updated research design (Unpublished document). SKE29640.