Two Bronze Age pits were excavated during an evaluation at Howe Barracks, Canterbury in 2016. The pits measured 0.44-1.60m in diameter, and 0.16-0.46m in depth.
Finds recovered from the site include a small quantity of daub and an assemblage of over 200 pieces of struck flint, including blades, flakes, cores, scrapers, and a leaf shaped arrowhead, alongside 46 sherds were dated to the Bronze Age period of occupation at the site, over half of which possessed Beaker-style decoration
Environmental sampling of some of the features identified evidence for plant remains including seeds, chaff, charred hazelnut shells, charred apple pips and cereal grains, charcoal, and charred fruit flesh. (1)

An excavation in 2017 identified further evidence for Bronze Age activity comprising a series of 5 pits containing large quantities of charcoal. An undated post hole or small pit is also located in close proximity to the pit group which may be early Bronze Age or later in date; its proximity to the features suggests that it could be contemporary. The report states that Beaker pits are relatively rare in Kent, and therefore, their function - domestic or ritual - is unknown.

During the 2016 and 2017 excavations, 288 pieces of worked flint, weighing 6678g and forty-six pieces of burnt unmodified flint weighing 910g were excavated at the site. Many of these were associated with features created during the early Bronze Age occupation phase of activity at the site. The assemblage is thought to be late Neolithic-early Bronze Age in date. Some artefacts originated from deposits and features associated with the later Bronze Age (TR 15 NE 2086), however, this material may be derived from the early Bronze Age phase of activity.

Environmental sampling of several pits identified charred hazelnut shell, charcoal, cereal grain, chaff, uncharred blackberry/raspberry seeds (which may or may not be intrusive), possible cockle shell, and a small quantity of burnt bone. (2)

<1> CgMs, 2017, ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION, Development Phase 1 and subsequent Phases Howe Barracks Littlebourne Road Canterbury Kent (Unpublished document). SKE57660.

<2> CgMs, 2017, POST EXCAVATION ASSESSMENT FOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS, Howe Barracks Littlebourne Road Canterbury Kent (Unpublished document). SKE57659.