Monument record TQ 94 NW 41 - Roman ditch and quarry, east of Pluckley Road

Summary

As part of a wider programme of archaeological investigation along the route of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, the Museum of London Archaeology Service (MoLAS) was commissioned to evaluate a strip of land situated to the north of the M20, approximately 7.5km to the west of Ashford, Kent. Earlier fieldwalking had identified surface concentrations of prehistoric worked flint and medieval pottery. A ditch dating to the Roman period was found orientated north east to south west. Associated with this ditch was a quarry pit and a number of irregular cuts, and a layer of gravel sealing these features was thought to be representative of a road.

Location

Grid reference Centred TQ 94604 47667 (42m by 50m) (2 map features)
Map sheet TQ94NW
County KENT
District ASHFORD, KENT
Civil Parish CHARING, ASHFORD, KENT

Map

Type and Period (2)

Full Description

As part of a wider programme of archaeological investigation along the route of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, Union Railways (South) Ltd (URS) commissioned the Museum of London Archaeology Service (MoLAS) to evaluate a strip of land situated to the north of the M20, approximately 7.5km to the west of Ashford, Kent. The site was split into two fields (west and east) by Oakover Lane. Thirty-seven trenches were laid out to sample the evaluation area where earlier fieldwalking had identified surface concentrations of prehistoric worked flint and medieval pottery.

The Roman period is represented by a ditch, orientated north-east to south-west, recorded near the top of the area of high ground to the west. The ditch was level, being situated on the 92.00m OD contour line. Associated with the ditch was a quarry pit and a number of irregular cuts. Sealing the Roman features was a layer of gravel which might represent a road, prehaps associated with the main Roman Dover to Rochester road that may be situated in the area of the present M20(1).

(See TQ 94 NW 40 and TQ 94 NW 42)


<1> Museum of London Archaeology Service, 1997, East of Pluckley Road An Archaeological Evaluation (Unpublished document). SKE6978.

<2> Museum of London Archaeology Service, East of Pluckley Road Archaeological Evaluation Interim Report (Unpublished document). SKE6979.

Sources/Archives (2)

  • <1> Unpublished document: Museum of London Archaeology Service. 1997. East of Pluckley Road An Archaeological Evaluation.
  • <2> Unpublished document: Museum of London Archaeology Service. East of Pluckley Road Archaeological Evaluation Interim Report.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

  • Intrusive Event: Evaluation east of Pluckley Road Charing (Ref: Site code: ARC PRD 97) (EKE5144)

Record last edited

Jun 21 2024 11:06AM