Monument record TR 36 NW 1430 - Late Bronze Age- Early Iron Age settlement remains - Shottendane Road

Evidence of Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age activity was revealed in all four excavation areas, as well during the watching brief area, during investigations at Shottendane road near Margate.

Extensive remains of LBA/EIA settlement were found across the northern part of Area A, taking the form of numerous pits and postholes and a small number of linear features. A substantial assemblage of 1290 sherds (24,735g) of LBA/EIA pottery was recovered from this area. Alongside the pottery was a substantial assemblage of animal bone (1413 specimens), alongside worked flint (2324 pieces), and small quantities of worked stone and fired clay (the latter including a spindle whorl and probable weight fragment). A number of linear/slightly sinuous ditches/gullies in Area A have been assigned to Period 1 on the basis of their association with LBA/EIA pottery. Most of these features were aligned north-northeast to south-southwest and were shallow, rarely in excess of 0.75m wide and 0.3m deep. Of the large number of discrete features identified across Area, 32 medium to large sized pits have been provisionally assigned to Period 1 on the basis of their associated finds. The include several small groups of three to five pits alongside isolated features. The pits varied in morphology and size and include some relatively small bowlshaped features, but many were substantial features with steeply sloping, vertical or undercutting sides and flat bases, typically 0.75m to 2m wide and often well in excess of 0.5m deep (Plates 1-5), up to 1.76m deep in the case of pit 6201. The remains of at least nine post-built structures associated with the Period 1 activity were identified in Area A. Six of these are ‘classic’ square four-post structures of the kind usually interpreted as raised granary structures with the other three sharing similar square/rectangular plan forms but featuring larger numbers of posts.

Among the small number of (mostly undated) discrete features exposed in Area B were two small pits, one of which produced a single sherd of LBA/EIA pottery (6003) and the other (6019) associated with an assemblage of 22 worked flints.

Further extensive Period 1 remains were revealed in Area C. These included large pits and at least two post-built structures analogous to those in Area A. As with Area A, the vast majority of finds came from the fills of pits, including a large assemblage of LBA/EIA pottery (1893 sherds, 49,425g) and some 781 specimens of animal bone. Other finds included flintwork (115 pieces), fired clay (12.842g, including possible briquetage), a fragment of quern stone and a sandstone spindle whorl. There was also some evidence for (non-ferrous) metalworking in the form a crucible fragment and a small quantity of fuel ash slag. Perhaps the most unusual and significant finds, however, are 45 fragments of shale, representing roughouts and waste derived from the manufacture of shale armlets. Period 1 activity in Area C was associated with a large rectangular enclosure (Enclosure 6928), covering an area of approximately 0.5ha and defined on three sides by a series of linear ditches, some of which had been subject to episodes of recutting.

Period 1 remains in Area E were limited to a single four post-structure (Structure 7347) located in the eastern part of the area. A small quantity of LBA/EIA pottery was recovered from two of its postholes (totalling five sherds, 88g). (information summarised from source)

<1> Oxford Archaeology, 2026, Shottendane Road, Margate, Kent - Post Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design (Unpublished document). SKE58858.