A programme of archaeological excavations and evaluations in the grounds of the former St. Stephen’s College in the North Foreland Area of Broadstairs between 1999 and 2003 revealed a group of Late Neolithic or early Bronze Age barrows. The primary cut of a ring ditch was designated Barrow 4, the feature was later re cut over its full circuit and the re cut was designated in post excavation analysis Barrow 2. The feature was sampled initially in four segments; later more substantial excavations through the ditches were made. The primary cut defined a slightly irregular ring ditch 18m in diameter, like Barrow 1 this feature showed signs of having been excavated in straight segments with sharp compensatory bends restoring the circuit to conformity with a circular layout. Where both edges of the primary cut were visible in section the maximum width was approximately 1.5m although the truncation of the later re cut made this difficult to estimate. Although no segment showed the full depth of the feature the maximum can be estimated at between 0.6 and 0.7m. The profile appeared to be flat based with steeply sloping sides angled at approximately 60°. The fills of the earliest cut were thin laminated bands of loam and chalk fragments, often with a fine graded appearance suggesting the deposition by water action.

Re cut ring ditch The deposits in the primary cut of Barrow 4 were truncated by a later re cut. The recut ditch was slightly offset from the centre line of the primary ditch on the western side although it was roughly central on the eastern side. The earlier cut must have been entirely filled before the refurbishment took place and it may only have existed as a raised earthwork rather than a ditch. The profile of the secondary cut was roughly ‘V’ shaped with a slightly rounded base or in places a steep sided slot. The re cut profiles were generally asymmetrical with irregular sides sloped at approximately 45° except on the sides where the original ditch was present where the slope was less acute. Where the re cut ring ditch was excavated through the centre of the earlier ditch the profiles were more even and symmetrical. The average width of the re cut ditch was 2.8m, much broader than the original ditch. The lower deposits filling the re cut showed no sign of being derived from any particular direction or material suggestive of the erosion of a bank or mound. A band of well-sorted flints was present aggregated in the centre of the hollow formed in the upper fills. This material is unusual in the fill deposits and suggests some process of selection. In the upper fills above the flints of five of the segments transitional Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age pottery was found in relatively large quantities along with small amounts of 6th century BC pottery contemporary with the earliest Iron Age occupation features. These were the only deposits to produce material of this date in such abundance suggesting that the final filling of the re cut barrow occurred early in the Iron Age and that the re cut derives from a late Bronze Age refurbishment, possibly of a Neolithic round barrow. It is possible the flints were derived from field clearance and used to finally fill the earthwork created by the barrow mound. A small group of disarticulated human bones was found in deposit 625 which could possibly be derived from eroded grave structures associated with the barrow.

Two grave cuts were identified within the Barrow platform. It is not clear to which phase of activity they are associated only absolute dating will enable conclusions to be made. The first grave (279) a large rectangular cut was located in the centre of the platform; the second (1071) was a much smaller oval grave cut placed toward the northern edge of the barrow platform. The rectangular grave cut contained a single burial within the centre of the Barrow. The skeletal remains were that of a mature adult male aged approximately 30-40 years. The skeleton showed no evidence of bone injury and the poor preservation of the skeleton impeded the estimation of height and discontinuous traits. The body been placed with its head at the north end in a crouched position with arms and legs flexed, on its left side facing east. It had been placed in the northern half of the grave cut and may have been buried with food offerings placed around the body possibly at the feet. The grave cut was orientated northeast southwest and sub rectangular in plan with rounded corners, steep, near vertical sides and a flat base. The grave dimensions measured approximately 2.6 metres long by 1.6 metres wide and 0.76 metres deep. The earliest deposits within the grave consisted mainly of finely crushed chalk mixed with light grey silt and dark brown organic loam. Deposit 1022 incorporated a small quantity of fragments of charred wood. Overlaying these deposits was a mid grey brown silty clay deposit. Together these deposits measured the depth of the grave cut and were confined to the edges suggesting the presence of a coffin or coffin like structure which contained the burial. The interface between the primary deposits within the grave suggests the coffin structure measured approximately 1.05 metres wide by 2.08 metres long. A dark grey organic rich silt may represent the decayed remains of a coffin structure, possibly a wicker basket, around the burial. A similar deposit covering the base of the grave cut and surrounding the skeleton probably represents the base of the coffin structure and other decayed organic matter originating from the body and, possibly, other organic objects which may have been placed within the coffin. It seems likely that the grave was backfilled soon after the deposition of the coffin within the grave. The upper fill of the grave incorporates 44 sherds of Early Iron Age flint tempered pottery and fragments of charred wood which may be associated with activity involving the refurbishment of the Barrow. Disturbance created by animal burrowing in the upper fill of the grave includes a worn sherd of early Neolithic impressed ware.

An oval shaped grave cut was identified to the north west of the central burial. The grave contained the friable skeletal remains, possibly of a male, aged between 14 -16 years (Sk 1160). The body had been placed with its head at the north end of the grave cut on its left side with its upper body twisted so that it was almost face down in a tightly crouched position with the arms and legs flexed. The head faced east. The body may have been wrapped. The upper fill incorporated the remains of a secondary burial within deposit 1073 represented by unfused fragments of vertebrae and teeth suggesting a juvenile (Sk 1075). A small sherd of worn early Iron Age flint tempered pottery found with the primary burial within this grave may be intrusive from the insertion of a second burial in the early Iron Age, a premise that can only be confirmed by absolute dating methods of the skeletal remains. The grave cut was orientated approximately north south and oval in plan with steep near vertical sides that undercut slightly on the east side, with a flat base. The grave cut was much smaller than grave 279 measuring 1.04 metres long by 0.7 metres wide with a depth of 0.5 metres. There was evidence of a coffin structure perhaps a basket, as shown by the void left by the primary chalky grave fill around the body. The deposit surrounding the burial within the void left by the coffin structure was represented by silty clay. The overlying deposit included a secondary burial which may have been inserted some time after the first burial within the grave (1073, Sk 1075). No evidence of a secondary grave cut was identified during excavation. The upper and overlying fill of the grave incorporated an intrusive sherd of Medieval Tyler Hill pottery and a small quantity of charred grain, which may or may not be contemporary in the backfill of the grave. (1-2) (information summarised from source)

A ring ditch forming part of a round barrow of probable Bronze Age date was visible as a cropmark on land now occupied by 28 Foreland Heights in EARTH.GOOGLE.COM XX-XXX-1990 (ACCESSED 14-NOV-2023). This feature was mapped as part of the Historic England Isle of Thanet project in 2024. (3)

<1> Trust for Thanet Archaeology, 2006, Excavation at St Stephen's College, North Foreland, Broadstairs, Kent, Archaeological Excavation Report (Unpublished document). SKE53141.

<2> Trust for Thanet Archaeology, 2001, St. Stephen's College, North Foreland, Broadstairs: A Research Design (Unpublished document). SKE18223.

<3> Google.Com, 1960-2023, Earth.Google.Com orthophotography, EARTH.GOOGLE.COM XX-XXX-1990 (Archive). SKE57111.