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. Barrow 3 was located on the western edge of the site. With a diameter of 9.6m this feature was also an irregular sub circular shape in plan. In this case two fairly regular arcs were joined by a short straight stretch of ditch at the southern end to complete the circuit. On the northern side of the ditch a narrow causeway 0.4m wide was located between the two square ended terminals of the ring ditch. It has been suggested that this barrow belongs to an Oval barrow form that may date to the late Neolithic – Beaker/Early Bronze Age although absolute dating evidence is required to confirm this premise. Fourteen segments were excavated through the feature at regular intervals. The profile of the ditch was flat based with very steep sides sloping between as much as approximately 70° to near vertical with a surviving depth of between 0.42 and 0.57m and width varying between 0.75 and 0.9m The fills of the ring ditch were dark loam deposits including varying degrees of chalk and flint inclusions irregularly distributed throughout the fills. Several of the deposits filling the ditch produced Iron Age pottery suggesting that the feature was only filled in the later part of the Iron Age period.

Two grave cuts were identified within the barrow platform; one grave cut was positioned centrally, the other located on the southern edge. A further grave cut was identified within the north western arm of the ring ditch. A sub rectangular grave cut containing a single burial (1271) was exposed within the Barrow platform. The grave contained the fragmentary and poorly preserved remains of an adult aged approximately 25 -35 years. Most of the bone had eroded with only the long bones left. The position of the long bones within the grave suggests that the body had been placed in a crouched position with the head to the south, facing west. The grave cut was rectangular in plan with rounded corners measuring approximately 1.75 metres long and 1.05 metres wide with vertical sides on the northern and southern edges and steep slightly curved sides on the eastern and western edges. It was located centrally within the barrow platform. The cut measured 0.3 metres deep with a very rough and uneven base in which there was an oval shaped depression aligned approximately north east south west. A chalk deposit located in the north western and south western edges of the cut follows the edges of the depression in the base of the grave cut and represents chalk filling around a coffin structure. The skeleton (1271) was overlain by deposit (1211) which incorporates fragments of charred wood and charred Wheat and Barley grains. It is interesting to note that this deposit also included two small sherds of early Iron Age flint tempered pottery which may be intrusive given the heavy truncation of this area of the site. This deposit was cut by a sub circular pit located on the north west side of the grave. The pit is likely to be associated with another phase of use of the barrow. A second oval shaped grave cut was exposed on the southern side of the barrow platform orientated approximately east west. The grave contained the heavily eroded remains of a single individual represented by four unidentifiable fragments from the upper body, 4 fragments of one tibia and 8 fragments of a second tibia. No further analysis of the skeletal remains could be made. The location of the legs bones would suggest that the head was placed at the western end of the grave cut and that the body had been laid in a crouched position as the legs had been placed at right angles to the orientation of the grave. It is not clear whether the body had been placed on its left or right sides, or, was facing north or south. The grave cut was oval in shape measuring 1.25 metres long and 0.75 metres wide. The cut measured a maximum of 0.18 metres deep. The edges of the cut were concave breaking to a flattish base. This grave probably represents a secondary burial within the barrow platform. A third burial was encountered within the base of the north western arm of the barrow ditch adjacent to the causeway entrance. The grave cut contained the poorly preserved remains of a child aged 9-10 years old. The body had been placed on its right side in a tightly crouched position facing south east. The head had been placed at the western end of the cut. The tightly crouched position of the body suggests that the remains had been either bound or wrapped. The grave cut had been inserted into the base of the barrow ditch whilst the barrow ditch was still open. The grave cut was irregular, slightly ovoid in plan with near vertical sides and a flattish base. It was orientated approximately south west - north east. The edges of the cut were undercut slightly at the eastern end of the grave. The grave cut measured 0.7 metres long by 0.5 metres wide with a maximum depth of 0.3 metres. The skeleton had been placed directly on the base of the grave cut and then the grave had been backfilled with chalky sandy silt which presumably derived from the excavation of the grave cut. Within the upper part of the fill a fragment of whale bone had been placed on the southern side of the grave cut partially resting on the edge of the cut. The rest of the grave fill had been mounded over the grave covering the whale rib and overlapping the edge of the cut. It would appear that the Barrow ditch had been deliberately backfilled soon after the burial had been inserted in the base of the ditch.

A sub circular shaped pit exhibited near vertical sides on the north western edges with steeply sloping sides on the south eastern edges to a flat base. The pit measured 1.12 metres in diameter and 0.3 metres deep. The primary fill of the pit was represented by a tightly packed even layer of burnt flint fragments within clayey silt measuring approximately 0.1 metres deep. There were no other finds within the deposit. The flint deposit was overlain by a deposit of large flat stones laid evenly above the burnt flint within a deposit of silty clay with small fragments of chalk. The stones consisted of four large flat flint nodules that seemed to have been weathered by the sea; two large flat fragments of rag stone and two large flat fragments of Folkestone green sandstone measuring an average surface area of 0.6m2 and between 0.05 - 0.1 metres deep. Further fragments of burnt flint filled the gaps between the larger stones forming a level surface. A small quantity of charred wheat grain was recovered from a sample taken from the deposit, no other finds were recovered. The upper fill of the pit was a homogenous fill of chalky silty clay with occasional fragments of burnt flint. A single unidentifiable fragment of sheep bone was recovered from the deposit and three sherds of pottery of Early Iron Age date. The function of the pit is unclear as is the relation between it and the adjacent grave. The pottery obtained from the upper fill of the pit suggests an Early Iron Age date for when the pit went out of use. A lack of absolute dates for the skeletal remains also hinders any definitive interpretations of the relationship between the pit and burial. However it is possible to make some suggestions regarding the function of the pit. It is likely that the pit is a relic of some form of structure associated with the secondary use of the barrow monument at some time after the original construction. The deliberately and carefully structured deposits of burnt flint and larger flat stones within the pit would suggest some kind of ceremonially significant activity reflected in the deliberate selection of these materials. A lack of animal bone and insignificant quantities of charred grain would seem to dismiss the possibility of feasting associated with the use of the Barrow. The flint deposits may have been placed to create a level heated platform used to heat water perhaps for ceremonial treatment of the body prior to deposition in the grave. More likely, however, is that the pit represents a post hole with the flints providing a pad for a large post acting as a marker possibly relating to the phase of activity which includes the use of the Barrow causeway, the insertion of the burial into the Barrow ditch and its subsequent backfilling.

All three barrows discovered during these excavations occupy the level plateau of a chalk promontory at an elevation of approximately 45m O.D. This has an implication for their relative visibility in the landscape. Although the plateau affords views over the sea to the east and north and the deep valley to the west, the monuments are unlikely to have been visible from the lower elevations of the promontory or all but a restricted area of sea. Two further partly excavated barrows were located on North Foreland Avenue to the east of the site. It is likely that all three of the original barrow ring ditches and any associated mounds would have all been visible in the landscape. However one was refurbished at some point and may have been more distinct after the others began to be eroded by natural forces and agriculture. Both Barrow 2/4 and Barrow 3 had secondary graves inserted at some time after their primary central inhumation. It is likely that the area was seen as an appropriate location for burials after the barrow building tradition had lapsed. It is important to consider the landscape visible from the causeway of the smaller barrow (3) as much as the activities occurring within the Barrow platform as these aspects are interrelated. The community living and burying at, and around the North Foreland would have been heavily influenced by the Sea. The coast is clearly visible on the eastern and northern sides of the Barrow and it is interesting to note that facing out from the barrow standing on the causeway of Barrow 3 the mouth of the Thames Estuary/ North Sea is clearly visible. If the pit within Barrow 3 did support a large post, it may have had a maritime significance perhaps acting a Sea mark rather than specifically a marker for the Barrow itself. This relationship could be further supported by the significance of placing a whale bone over the burial within the ditch. (information summarised from source) (1-2)


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.