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 multi period remains. A small number of early to middle Iron Age features were identified among these remains, these appear to pre date the more intensive occupation seen at this site for the middle to later Iron Age. This early phase of occupation of the site is defined by sparsely distributed features without any visible focus or intensive management of the use of space on the hilltop.

Two large pits excavated in 2003 in the south western area of the site produced large amounts of pottery dating the final filling of both to the Early to Middle Iron Age 450/400-350 B.C suggesting that they may have originally been dug in the Early Iron Age. The two pits, and in particular the bell shaped pit, provide the best evidence that grain was stored on the site sealed in airtight conditions. The shape of the bell pit as well as the remains of a possible wattle and daub lining within, is paralleled with the ‘beehive’ pits excavated by Cunliffe at Danebury. These were interpreted as grain stores. The location of these features to the west of a later ditch and post hole alignment may indicate that the settlement extended further to the west prior to the construction of the ditch and post line.

The largest pit, cut 4158 measured 1.38m deep. It had a diameter of 1.66m at the mouth widening to 1.9m toward the base forming a bell shaped profile. The earliest fills of the pit contained animal bone, marine shell, slag, daub; burnt and charred seeds, chaff, wood and grain including barley, spelt, emmer and oat. Sealed between, two sandy deposits with high concentrations of burnt and charred seeds was a deposit which consisted of a number of large blocks of moulded chalk paste. Some of the blocks had distinct voids and impressions formed by the rods and sails of a supporting framework of stakes. The chalk paste had used as a type of plaster in place of clay daub. Some clay based daub showing wattle impressions and a large piece of quern stone were also found in the deposit. An impression of a possible timber structure identified near the mouth of the pit suggests that these blocks may have formed part of the lining of the pit or, alternatively, part of a superstructure built around the mouth. These deposits include the remains of grain either stored or processed in the pit, and parts of the pit lining or upper structure mixed with and overlain by occupation debris deposited soon after the pit stopped being used as a grain store.

Within the pit at a depth of 0.91m the skeleton of a female aged 35-45 years was found. The body had been placed on its back, aligned approximately east west with the legs flexed and the knees facing towards the north. The right arm was extended along the right side, with the left arm placed across the body and the left hand rested on the chest. The skull faced upwards and appeared to be slightly thrown back which may reflect a combination of settling of the midden material below and the decomposition of the body. Another contributory factor to the position of the head may be the bony fusion of the mandible to the skull. The bony fusion (unilateral ankylosis) of the skull would have prevented the individual from eating anything but the smallest morsels of soft food which would be at odds with a traditional coarse Iron Age diet and Anderson deems it likely that she would have been well looked after within the community. This individual also had a well healed rib fracture and osteoarthritis of a single vertebrae. The body appears to have been placed carefully within the pit in a natural position which would seem to dismiss the idea that the body had ‘been thrown into the rubbish’ as has been suggested with other pit burials of this type on Thanet (Perkins 1999c, 376). It would seem unlikely that an individual who evidently received special care from family and friends within the community would have been treated differently in death. Two complete glass beads and fragments from a third bead were recovered near to the neck of the burial as well as a bone pin suggesting the woman had some personal possessions of fine quality. There is enough evidence to indicate that this is part of a regular method of inhumation on sites of this date. Pit burials of this type are not uncommon in the Iron Age and have been found on a number of sites across the Isle of Thanet; examples are known from South Dumpton Down (Perkins 1994), Fort Hill Margate (Perkins 1999c) and Trinity Square Margate.It is likely that the pit was only partly filled or had been cleared to the level where the burial was placed. There was no indication of a clean backfill deposit over the burial. The upper fills of the pit contained large amounts of animal bone, shell, burnt and charred seeds indicating that after the burial of the female the pit continued to be used for waste disposal.

The second pit, cut 4228 measured 1.71m in diameter and 1.25m deep. The cut had vertical sides and a single post hole was cut into the base of the pit. The fills contained large amounts of domestic waste including animal bone, shell, flint, daub, charcoal, and burnt and charred seeds, grain and chaff from species such as oats, barley, wheat and spelt. Two chalk weights, possibly spindle whorls, one of which was unfinished were found. Fragments of human bone of a neonate were found within the primary and upper fill of the pit.

A small, slightly irregular, oval grave cut (4040) contained the badly fragmented burial of a female aged between 35 – 45 years. The body had been placed on its right side with the arms and legs flexed in a very tightly crouched position. There was no evidence of pathology on the surviving bones. The grave cut was very small, measuring approximately 0.9 metres long by 0.5 metres wide and approximately 0.25 metres deep. It was orientated approximately south east north west with the head at the south eastern end. The cut had been heavily truncated by the terracing of the site during the 19th and 20th Centuries. The tightly crouched position of the body suggests that the body had either been bound or wrapped tightly. Although the overlying fill of the grave contained pottery dating to 450/250- 50 BC, it is possible that given the degree of disturbance of the body that this is intrusive and the grave may belong with other similar burials on the site which are thought to date to the late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age period.

Thirty two pits excavated across the site produced pottery of Iron Age date; they have no clear pattern to their spatial distribution or association with any of the major features Three of the pits, are located on the western limit of the site. The largest percentage date to the Early Iron Age with a small number of Early to Middle Iron Age date and equal numbers dated to the Middle to Late and Late Iron Age. The large number of dispersed early Iron Age pits predate the construction of the Phase 2 enclosure, ditch and the post line. This is a possible indication that Early Iron Age occupation on the site was more dispersed. The decline in the number of isolated pits constructed across the site coincides with Phase 2 when the occupation across the site is became more ordered and organised.

Fourteen isolated post holes also produced pottery of Iron Age date the majority contained finds of early Iron Age date, with smaller numbers dated to the early to middle Iron Age. The cuts had an average diameter of 0.52m and average depth of 0.27m. None of these post holes can be seen to form a clearly identifiable structure, either with other Iron Age post holes, unexcavated or undated post holes. It is possible that they are part of small or temporary structures and that the other post holes that formed the structure were not excavated to a sufficient depth to survive.

These features represent the earliest establishment of a regular settlement on the site. However they may be only the most visible manifestations of a population whose settlement patterns were determined by seasonality whose economy mixed pastoral herding of sheep and cattle with grain production. The grain storage pits may represent a cache of food and seed grains utilised after the summer harvests and only occupied during the winter months when other food resources were scarce. The isolated pits and post holes may represent short lived mobile or temporary structures. (information summarised from source) (1-2)

<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.