A medieval building, field system, and enclosure were identified at Iwade, Swale during an evaluation and excavation in 2009.

The field system comprised of a series of three ditches which were dug after a phase of land clearance at the site around the late 12th or early 13th century. This pattern of clearance followed by the establishment of a field system is mirrored in mid-late Iron Age activity (TR 96 NW 1177) at the site, and many of the medieval ditches appear to be aligned in a similar arrangement to the earlier features. "This suggests that despite the apparent discontinuity in occupation that the field boundaries
continued on a similar configuration, perhaps replaced by a boundary type which leaves little or no archaeological evidence over the time of the apparent interruption in land use" (from the original report, 1). The ditches measured between 17-50m in length, and 0.3-0.4m in depth (following erosion and ploughing at the site). These features contained sherds of late 11th to early 13th century pottery within their fills.

An enclosure thought to have functioned as a possible livestock pen was located to the east of the site. This feature measured 8m by 6m, with a 2m wide opening to the east. The structure covered an area of around 48m square. To the centre of the site, a sheep and a juvenile sheep or goat were identified as part of an animal burial within a rectangular pit at the site. The remains are thought to be medieval in date and are interpreted by the authors as potentially representing the burial of diseased animals, as articulated livestock remains are relatively uncommon.

To the west of the site, a timber structure measuring 12m by 10+m (120m square in area) was identified by the presence of post-holes and two wall footings/foundation trenches. A possible entrance was identified in the eastern wall of the building. A series of four large post-holes (up to 0.35m in depth) to the south were thought to represent wall supports. Medieval pottery dating to the 13th century was recovered in association with the structure and ditches at the site suggesting that they were contemporary. (1)

<1> Pre-Construct Archaeology, 2009, Field Boundaries, a medieval structure and dead sheep at Iwade, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE57644.