During the archaeological investigation of the land north and south of Cottington Road ahead of the redevelopment of the site, a variety of archaeological features finds and deposits were recorded. These included a group of features dated to the Anglo-Saxon period and which appear to represent early medieval settlement activity in this location. The features are mainly seen on the northern of the two excavation areas, though some features were also present to the south. The features comprise nine early-mid Anglo-Saxon sunken feature buildings (SFBs) which were all (with one exception) orientated northwest-southeast. The SFBs appear to respect and follow the western edge of the Post-Glacial Deflation Hollow though a number of the buildings truncate the upper fill of the hollow. In addition to the SFBs, a timber post-built structure was located within the southeast corner of the site, north of Cottington Road. The building, although not an SFB and currently undated, may be associated with the Anglo-Saxon phase, as it truncates both the Early-Mid Iron Age penannular-shaped enclosure and the Late Iron Age and early Roman trackway. The structure also follows the line of a number of the Anglo-Saxon buildings, forming a row. Other early-mid Anglo-Saxon features on the site north of Cottington Road include a number of pits and, possibly, a group of linear features. The Anglo-Saxon phase of activity within the south site comprised a group of linear features and a small number of pits situated within the southwest corner of the excavation. These features were contemporary with the early-mid Anglo-Saxon features located to the north of Cottington Road. A large boundary ditch which is incorporated in a later pahse of Medieval activity may have originated in the Anglo Saxon period. The pottery recovered from the primary layers of backfill, suggest that the enclosure may have had a Saxo- Norman origin. (information summarised from source – from interim report and therefor lacking detail and refined phasing, further detail will be added when full report is available) (1)

<1> Swale and Thames Archaeological Survey Company, 2022, Archaeological Excavations on Land North and South of Cottington Road, Ciffsend, Thanet, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE58400.