During an archaeological evaluation carried out ahead of development at Manston Business Park the earliest archaeological features on Site, identified by CAT, date to the Early Bronze Age and were represented by the Beaker burial and by association, the ring ditch that enclosed it to the west, south and east. The grave had been disturbed, possibly by antiquarians, with the inhumation remains having been redeposited in two piles within the backfill, along with the typical Beaker package of a barbed and tanged arrowhead, wrist guard and Beaker vessel. The ring ditch had cut and was cut by two features; in each instance, these features comprised a large pit and a post-hole. Other discrete features, mostly post-holes but also another large pit, were recorded within the area of the ring ditch, whilst a single cremation pit was recorded directly outside it to the south-west. (1)

The site was later investigated by Invica Archaeology and a small SMS area was opened up around the ring ditch. The fieldwork carried out by Invicta Archaeological Services Ltd exposed no further burial remains but did come across an additional two Beaker vessels and a second wrist guard, all from an elongated pit located directly south of the robbed burial and outside the ring ditch. This cut feature was associated with a pit and posthole.

Other discrete features were unearthed to the south and east of the ring ditch. Four post-holes appeared to form a north-west/south-east alignment to its south, whilst there was a small cluster of pits to the east, close to the terminus of a north-west/south-east ditch that the CAT evaluation had revealed. A ditch with a terminal was found opposite it, extending north-eastwards outside the excavation area, and both ditches may have defined a wide entrance into a possible mortuary area to the west. One intriguing feature was a small circular ditch, located north of the ring ditch, which was interpreted as a possible ritual monument. Whilst most of these cut features are undated, their proximity to the Beaker burial may suggest an Early Bronze Age date for some. The ring ditch was further investigated via excavation of another intervention and by partial re-cleaning in plan. The excavation revealed the presence of a small water gully, whilst cleaning could not identify any cut or fill. This places doubt on the validity of the ring ditch unless it was constructed in segments and had suffered from erosion. (1-2)

The Loop, Manston site to the adjacent east produced just one feature of Early Bronze Age date, comprising an elongated pit. Nonetheless, the presence of Neolithic and Bronze Age burials is well documented for the local area, as are Early Bronze Age/Beaker burials. The discoveries at Manston Business Park augment the existing knowledge that this area was a funerary landscape during the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age periods.

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2023, Plots 1 & 2 Manston Business Park, Manston, Thanet, Kent Ct12 5gd Archaeological Evaluation And Interim Strip, Map And Sample Excavation Report (Unpublished document). SKE56921.

<2> Invicta Archaeological Services Ltd, 2023, Interim Report For Archaeological Excavation At Innovation Business Park, Junction Off Columbus Avenue & Maple Leaf Business Park, Manston, Kent, Ct12 5gd (Unpublished document). SKE56923.