Part of an Iron Age field system was discovered during a Watching Brief carried out during works along a pipeline route along Military Road, Ramsgate. It was seen sporadically and is represented by small, shallow ditches, mostly aligned north-west to southeast and north-east to south-west and containing relatively few finds. One ditch appears to have been re cut which suggests that the field system underwent occasional modification and maintenance. This field system can be considered as part of the peripheral fields adjacent to the series of settlements scattered around the north and west sides of Pegwell Bay, c. 1-5kms from Chalk Hill. These settlements are known from excavations, and are mainly represented by enclosures, roundhouses, fourpost structures and abundant finds of domestic refuse. This narrow low-lying area, known as the Ebbsfleet peninsular extended into the Wantsum Channel, until it had completely silted-up by the medieval period. Other ditches, more than likely associated with the Field System have previously been excavated in the field to the immediate south of the pipeline easement - in the easement for the original water main. Elements of another field system were also identified to the east in the Ramsgate Harbour Approach Road excavations, although this was dated as Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age. In addition, there is other evidence to suggesting its extent to both the north and south, with some of the adjacent cropmarks visible possibly associated with the Field System.

An Iron Age burial was also located during these excavations. The grave contained a supine, extended inhumation with the legs flexed with head facing to the south-east. The individual is possibly male aged 30-44 years old There were no grave goods and only a single sherd of Middle/Late Iron Age pottery was recovered from grave fill. A C14 radiocarbon sample from the skull produced a date of 2092±33 BP (SUERC- 70631; cal 200-39 BC). Close to the grave to the south was sub-circular pit. The pit was filled with brown clay silts containing a small assemblage of Middle/Late Iron Age pottery sherds. Other pits were seen in the area to the south of the pipeline, and these may have been contemporary features. However, as these could not be excavated, their date remains uncertain.(1) (information summarised from source)

<1> Archaeology South-East, 2017, ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF REPORT MILITARY ROAD RISING MAIN REPLACEMENT CHALK HILL LANE, RAMSGATE KENT (Unpublished document). SKE58300.