During an archaeological evaluation carried out on land to the north of Canterbury Road West, a group of features possibly dating to the Early-Middle Neolithic Period were uncovered. Three trenches revealed these possible Neolithic features, they were concentrated towards the northern and western end of the site.

In detail: in Trench 26 - Emerging from the SSW end of the trench was a deposit continuing from trench25. It measured 2.4m+ long x 1.6m+ wide x 0.11m deep and was a slightly silty clay, dating possibly to the Middle Neolithic 3500-2700/1550-50BC. This deposit produced a small body sherd that showed 1 small crescentic impression that could be from a fingernail. If this is intentional decoration, then an Early to perhaps Middle Neolithic date is possible. In Trench 64 – a pit dating to the Early to Middle Neolithic 3650-3350/2700BC was revealed. This measured 1.38m long, 0.72m wide and had a max depth of 0.19m. It was ovate in plan, with steep undercutting sides and a flat base and was aligned NNE-SSW. These sherds are of a broad Early to Middle Neolithic date and might be from an Early Neolithic Decorated bowl, given the somewhat restricted nature of the decoration. In Trench 65 – a linear feature measuring 1.8m wide with a max depth of 1m was uncovered. It was rectilinear in plan and had steep inwards sloping sides and a flat base, and was E-W aligned, possibly dating to the Early to Middle Neolithic 3650-3350/2700BC. Its fill produced 1 small fragment of a rim that could be from an Early Neolithic Decorated Bowl, dating between 3650 and 3350 BC. Though worn, the rim top probably featured a decoration of incised lines and the gritting was characteristic of some Earlier Neolithic fabrics locally (1-2) (information summarised from sources)

<1> Swale and Thames Archaeological Survey Company, 2023, Archaeological Evaluation Of Land South Of Canterbury Road West, Cliffsend, Thanet, Kent Phase 2 (Unpublished document). SKE56817.

<2> Swale and Thames Archaeological Survey Company, 2022, Archaeological Investigations Of Land South Of Canterbury Road West, Cliffsend, Thanet, Kent
(phase 2 – Evaluation) (Unpublished document). SKE56753.