During investigations associated with the construction of the Ramsgate Harbour Approach, road in 1997/1998, eastern part of an enclosure measuring about 57m north-south and 32m east-west, formed by six curving sections of shallow ditch was seen extending from the western edge of excavation at the southern end of the site. Within the excavated area, these ditches enclosed an area of approximately 1650m², encompassing further linear features, pits and numerous post-holes suggesting a structure or group of structures. A number of post-holes and pits just outside the enclosure may also have been associated with it. The enclosure and its attendant features can be dated to the late Bronze Age (c 1100-800 BC) on the basis of pottery evidence. Many of the features in the area were shallow and sealed directly by topsoil, suggesting that considerable truncation of the archaeological horizon had taken place, mainly through ploughing.

The enclosure ditches were quite varied in width (1.25-3.25m) and depth (0.09m – 0.75m), in places barely surviving later truncation. Where a profile could be confidently drawn, it tended to be a broad ‘U’ shape, with fairly steep sides and a dished base. Just over 12.6m of the most northerly section. A gap of 2.85m separated the rounded terminal of this section of the enclosure ditch from that of the next, 5m of which was visible to the north of a baulk crossing the excavation area. The ditch was deeper here (0.45m) and contained a sequence of silt deposits. A further section of ditch, 11.7m long emerged from the southern side of the baulk, but with a noticeably narrower profile and even on a slightly different alignment, suggesting that further variation in the enclosure at this point was masked by the baulk. The ditch was shallow (0.15m deep) and about 1.75m wide. A gap of 3.5m separated the rounded terminal of this ditch section from the next, around 2m wide and 0.4m deep, of which only 4.27m was visible, its southern end running into another baulk to the south. A small section of the enclosure ditch was identified on the southern side of the baulk. Truncated by a later feature, the enclosure ditch here was 0.45m deep and approximately 1.7m wide. There was no sign of it continuing beyond the later feature that cut across it, however, and another gap/entrance in the enclosure is therefore suggested at this point, at least 3m across. The final section of enclosure ditch formed a continuous curve from north-east to west, over 34m long and continuing beyond the western limit of excavation. Flintwork and bronze age pottery was discovered in the fills of these ditch sections.

Two linear hollows lay within the enclosure running north-south between two unexcavated baulks (their northern and southern limits were unseen). The western hollow , ran for 16.65m southwards, where it was truncated by a later feature, it was 3.7m wide and 0.20m deep, and contained a metalled surface along most of its length consisting of a compact matrix, up to 0.15m thick in places, of small to medium sized rounded and sub-angular flints. A number of significant finds were recovered from the surface of this metalling, including 46 sherds of pottery, some notably large and fresh, including late Bronze Age plain ware and decorated phase material, along with a single flint flake. Three small discrete features, potentially post-holes, were directly associated with the hollow towards its southern end, although it is unknown whether these preceded or were contemporary with the metalled surface. It is conceivable that this linear hollow acted as a means of access between the northern entrance to the enclosure and a structure or structures evidenced by a mass of post-holes a few metres to the south. A wider linear hollow lay broadly parallel to the first hollow on its eastern side, separated by a gap of 3-5m. This hollow, again only seen between two unexcavated baulks crossing the excavation, was 18.4m long, and up to 7.3m wide, with irregular sides and an uneven base between 0.25m and 0.4m deep. The base was pitted with numerous small holes, suggesting trampling by animals. Excavation through the deposits in the hollow produced 105 potsherds including middle to late Bronze Age, late Bronze Age (plain and decorated), very early Iron Age and some late Iron Age material. a human bone from this hollow was also dated to the 1st century BC.

A variety of features were discovered within the area encompassed by the enclosure ditches. A cluster of 47 post holes in the southern portion of the enclosure likely represent a post built structure. While the putative post-holes and associated features in this group did not clearly delineate the ground plan of a building or buildings, a qualitative assessment of the cluster suggests an overall rectilinear arrangement (with possible internal partitions) covering an area of approximately 9m north-west/south-east by 14m south-west/north-east. Among and potentially associated with the post-hole cluster were five linear pits/scoops. Towards the northern end of the enclosure, Approximately 4m west of the northern end of the hollow were three small features all just over 0.3m wide with curving sides and flat bases 0.1-0.15m deep. Quite closely and evenly spaced in a loose triangular formation, the features might have formed the basis for a small structure of leaning and tied posts. Several other pits and clusters of post holes were identified and included one truncated pit that contained a the poorly preserved remains of inhumation burial.

A few features which also appeared to be contemporary with the enclosure were discovered just outside of it. A number of features clustered just to the north of the possible north-eastern entrance to the enclosure. These included two adjacent oval pits which produced occasional late Bronze Age plain and decorated pot sherds. Just over 3m to the west was a group of four post-holes forming a square 1m across. Less than 2m to the north of this possible ‘four poster’ was a linear cluster of six small pits or post-holes. Further to the north was a large oval pit 4.5m by 3.3m in extent and 0.65m deep. Its primary fill contained ten middle to late Bronze Age (1300-1100 BC) and late Bronze Age (1100-800 BC) pot sherds along with an early Iron Age bowl sherd (600-550 BC) in good condition, as well as sparse finds of worked flint. The secondary fill produced over 200 sherds, with the late Bronze Age decorated phase (800-600 BC) being particularly well represented, and the uppermost fill yielded yet more late Bronze Age sherds. A few worked flints were again present in these contexts, but this feature was especially noteworthy for its cattle bone content, a large quantity (over 500 cattle and cattle-sized pieces) being recovered with femora and pelves predominating; whole bones in this assemblage indicate some meat wastage, however, perhaps suggesting a more specialised and even ceremonial use of the animals. The pottery evidence suggests an early Iron Age date for the infilling of the feature, perhaps at the very end of the use of the enclosure. (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.