Monument record TR 36 SW 478 - Possible ditches and enclosures, south of Cottington Road

Summary

Geophysical (magnetometry) survey carried out in 2016 identified a number of possible archaeological features on land to the south of Cottington Road. It is likely that many of these are a continuation of the later prehistoric ditches and enclosures which were identified on an adjacent site. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)

Location

Grid reference Centred TR 3421 6404 (142m by 70m) (16 map features)
Map sheet TR36SW
County KENT
District THANET, KENT
Civil Parish MINSTER, THANET, KENT
Civil Parish CLIFFSEND, THANET, KENT

Map

Type and Period (3)

Full Description

This area displays a number of anomalies interpreted as archaeology, many of which continue from those identified in 2015. Perhaps the most notable of these is located at 5000, where a continuation of the linear feature at 4005 within Area A can be observed. Feature 5000 is orientated on an approximate east – west alignment and extends from the eastern extent of Area D for 33 m. There is also a shorter 10 m, north – south aligned aspect to this feature which extends south, close to the eastern extent of the area. This is consistently visible as a 1.5 – 2 m wide weak positive magnetic anomaly (0 – +2 nT). This is most likely associated with a linear ditchlike feature and forms part of a larger arrangement of ditch features. To the north of 5000 there is also a linear that extends into Area A on a north-east – south-west alignment. To the west of this there are two further 11 – 12 m linear ditch-like features on a similarly orthogonal alignment at 5001. These are also weakly positive and are generally within a value range of 0 – 2 nT. Though there is no physical relationship between these features, the consistency in values and width (c. 1.5 – 2 m) suggest they are associated with one another. A continuation of this arrangement can be identified towards the west of Area D, after a gap of 17 m between 5000 and 5002. This shares many characteristics, as it is also on an approximate east – west alignment, albeit in a slightly more southerly in position in the western extent. It also measures a similar width of 1 – 2 m and is characterised by weakly positive magnetic values of 0 – +2.5 nT. It measures approximately 88 m in length and extending from it are a series of perpendicular linear-ditch like features on a north - south orientation. At the most western part of 5002, a very faint intermittent linear feature extends in a northerly direction for 26 m at 5003. Similarly, 5004 and 5005 extend for 15 m and 9 m respectively, perpendicular to 5002. At 5005, there are two further short linear features, directly north of the gap between the main east-west aligned ditch at 5000 and 5002. These are likely to relate to additional linear ditch-like features, but their position may suggest a slightly different function.At 5006, two parallel linear features are also positioned perpendicular to 5002, and extend towards the southern boundary of the Site. It is likely that this arrangement is representative of a series of rectangular enclosures that extend from a central east – west ditch. To the north of linear complex 5000 – 5006, there is a slightly curving linear ditch-like feature on a roughly east – west alignment, 5007. This measures 55 m in length, and also corresponds with part of the linear feature at 4005 in Area A. It is characterised by a weaker positive magnetic response (0 – +1.5 nT) and appears to represent the limit of the concentration of anomalies considered to be of archaeological interest in this area. The slightly different form of this ditch may also suggest that this ditch is of a different function and/ or date to the arrangement identified to the south, but it is not possible to provide further detail on the basis of the results of this geophysical survey alone In amongst the network of linear features within Area D, there are a number of additional anomalies which may relate to a variety of different types of archaeological features. For example, there are also a number of circular and sub-circular positive anomalies directly to the west of this which are of an uncertain function. (information summarised from source) (1)


<1> Wessex Archaeology, 2016, Land South of Canterbury Road West and adjacent to Cottington Road, Ramsgate, Kent, Detailed Gradiometer Survey Report (Unpublished document). SKE52738.

Sources/Archives (1)

  • <1>XY Unpublished document: Wessex Archaeology. 2016. Land South of Canterbury Road West and adjacent to Cottington Road, Ramsgate, Kent, Detailed Gradiometer Survey Report. [Mapped feature: #126097 geophysical anomolies, ]

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

  • Non-Intrusive Event: Land South of Canterbury Road West and adjacent to Cottington Road, Ramsgate, gradiometry survey, 2016 (EKE20718)

Record last edited

Jun 25 2024 4:59PM