The Oxford Archaeological Unit was commissioned by Union Railways (South) Ltd (URS) to conduct a field evaluation of land at Tutt Hill, Westwell, Kent. The work was conducted in two stages: An open area excavation was carried out between 8th and 18th March 1999, following the discovery of significant archaeological remains during a watching brief on geotechnical test pits. A second stage of evaluation was carried out in the surrounding area between 29th March and 9th April 1999.

The watching brief and subsequent investigations revealed a diffuse scatter of prehistoric features, with one significant concentration of features and finds located in the main excavation area. Twelve of the fourteen evaluation trenches contained no features at all, suggesting either that the group of pottery-rich pits in the main excavation area are the remanant of a more extensive but severely truncated site, or that they represent a very localised area of occupation.

The main excavation area was 40 m long and 20 m wide, with a 2m square extension on the south-western side. The subsequent evaluation comprised fourteen trenches, each 30 m long and 1.8 m wide. The only significant archaeological features comprised three pits of late Bronze Age and early Iron Age date, two of which produced substantial pottery groups, and three shallow ditches which are likely to be contemporary with the pits. (1)

Subsequent general watching brief over a 1.1km stretch and a targeted watching brief of a 150m x 200m area revealed evidence of Neolithic to Early Roman activity. Two flint scatters show Neolithic - Early Bronze Age activity, with the Mid-Late Neolithic also represented by two pits. Four ring ditches representing ploughed-out roundbarrows with associated Beaker pottery date to the Late Neolithic-Early Bronze Age. These are heavily truncated, and no evidence of burials were found, though an Early-Middle Bronze Age cremation was located near the ring ditches. There was also a single Early Bronze Age pit.

The Mid Bronze Age is represented by 3 sub-rectangular pits and a cremation pit containing an inverted bucket urn.

The Late Bronze Age sees the laying out of a field system, in addition to a few pits.

Activity seems to decline after this, and the Mid Iron Age-Early Roman period is represented by only two pits, a cremation. A furnace-like structure at the west of the watching brief area may be Iron Age due to associate pottery finds, though these may be residual and the furnace may be much later in date.

There are also a number of undated features, notable pits and a few cremations. Some medieval pottery. (2)


Additional bibliography. (3-8)

<1> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 1999, Tutt Hill, Westwell, Kent: Archaeological Evaluation Report (Unpublished document). SKE6968.

<2> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 2001, Tutt Hill Post Excavation Assessment Report (Unpublished document). SKE16480.

<3> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2006, The Prehistoric Landscape at Tutt Hill, Westwell, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE16482.

<4> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2005, The Early Prehistoric Pottery from Excavations Along Section 1 of the CTRL (Unpublished document). SKE16485.

<5> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2005, The Late Prehistoric Pottery from Excavations Along Section 1 of the CTRL (Unpublished document). SKE16555.

<6> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2005, The Medieval Pottery from Excavations Along Section 1 of the CTRL (Unpublished document). SKE16557.

<7> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2006, Radiocarbon dates from Section 1 of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE16490.

<8> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2006, Prehistoric Worked Flint from Section 1 of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (Unpublished document). SKE16596.