Four trial trenches excavated prior to development. Three Iron Age pits and a possible ditch were discovered. An additional ditch and possible trackway were also found dating to the late iron age/Romano-British period. Finds of mostly pottery, spanning Iron Age to post-medieval. Other finds include clay pipe stems, glass (Romano- British), animal bones, horse/ox shoe. The evidence of Late Iron Age/Romano-British activity supports work of B. Philp and D. Kelly, 1962. (1).

A watching brief in 1996 on the western side of the development site recovered a single pit containing Late Iron Age/ early Roman pottery suggesting that the archaeological site lies to the east. Fineware from the pit included a white-slipped Eccles-type flagon and a South Gaulish Samian Dr.18 bowl with the remains of the makers mark. (2)

<1> South Eastern Archaeological Services, An Archaeological Assessment of Land Adjacent The Maypole Public House, Wises Lane, Borden, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE12080.

<2> South East Archaeological Services, 1996, A Watching Brief at Land Adjacent to The Maypole Public House, Borden, Kent, An arch. assessment of land adjacent to Maypole PH. Wises Lane, Borden. SEAS, 1995. (Unpublished document). SWX7027.