Pleistocene and Holocene deposits and palaeochannels were identified during a geotechnical investigation and a 2023-2024 desk-based assessment at The Nurseries, Willesborough. Based on data from the British Geological Survey and the investigation undertaken in 2023 by Geo-Environmental Ltd, a reconstruction of the land surface has been created, demonstrating that the north of the site was originally low-lying, forming part of a flood-plain within a valley, and that the south of the site was originally elevated and formed part of a hillside. Gravels are present in both the low-lying and elevated areas of the site. The floodplain is characterised by up to 4m of younger sands and gravels, whilst the elevated areas are characterised by older gravels. Both of these deposits of gravel are thought to be Pleistocene in date and there is potential for Palaeolithic material to be contained within their deposit sequences.
During the 2023 geophysical survey of the site, several palaeochannels were identified, indicating that the geoarchaeological sequence may be quite complex. Therefore, if artefacts are found in some areas of the site, these may have been transported through alluvial processes rather than representing in situ remains.
Alluvium has been identified within all boreholes at the site. This has been dated to the Holocene and have been shown to contain peat and other organic material. The nature of these deposits has led to the interpretation that these layers could contain palaeoenvironmental material. (1, 2, 3)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2023, Land At The Nurseries, Kennington, Ashford, Kent Tn24 0rq Archaeological Desk-based Assessment With Geoarchaeological Component (Unpublished document). SKE57039.

<2> SUMO Services Ltd, 2024, Land At The Nurseries, Kennington, Ashford: Updated Geoarchaeological Desk Based Assessment (Unpublished document). SKE57043.

<3> Canterbury Archaeological Trust Ltd, 2023, Land At The Nurseries, Kennington, Ashford, Kent Tn24 0rq Geophysical Survey Report And Geoarchaeological Method Statement (Unpublished document). SKE57040.