During excavations on land off Stone road in Broadstairs ahead of the redevelopment of the site, two groups of infant inhumations consisting of three articulated skeletons and fragments of up to two further individuals were encountered. They were within deposits contained by an Iron Age lynchet but it is not clear whether these inhumations are associated with the Iron Age activity or the later Roman buildings at the site.

An elliptical pit with steep sloping sides had been cut into the land surface. A complete inhumation of a full term infant had been placed tightly against the eastern edge of the pit that had then been backfilled with soft sandy silt. Further duplicated Infant bones indicated the disturbed remains of a second full term Infant had been incorporated into the backfill. The pit was sealed by the rammed chalk and mortar foundation of the later Roman building providing firm stratigraphic evidence that it predates the structure. At the interface between the floors of a later Roman building a small group of infant inhumations were excavated. Two separate individuals were discernable although further analysis of the bone collected indicated the possible presence of two further individuals. Both the inhumations recorded were contained within a fine silt deposit forming a matrix between the bones. One skeleton appeared to have been truncated by a later kiln, which removed the head and upper part of the body. A large cobble in a shallow depression was present immediately under the floors of the building and it is possible that this represents a grave marker. Based on bone size, five skeletons, two possibly male, could be classed as viable full-term foetal or newborn. One, a possible female, was slightly smaller and may represent a premature birth, or simply a smaller than average full-term baby. There was no evidence for cause of death on the available bones. The burial of neonates and infants outside formal cemeteries, in ditches; pits and in buildings, is well known in the late Iron Age and early Roman period. There is no evidence that these burials represent foundation deposits. They display no skeletal evidence of congenital deformity or deliberate mutilation. As such, the evidence appears to favour perinatal death from natural causes rather than infanticide or ritual sacrifice. (1-3)

<1> Trust for Thanet Archaeology, 2004, Land to the rear of 103 Stone Road, Broadstairs: Archaeological Evaluation (Unpublished document). SKE17629.

<2> Trust for Thanet Archaeology, 2005, Land to the rear of 103 Stone Road, Broadstairs, Kent: Archaeological Report (Unpublished document). SKE18204.

<3> Trust for Thanet Archaeology, 2005, Land to the rear of 103 Stone Road, Broadstairs, Kent: Archaeological Assessment Report (Unpublished document). SKE18203.