Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Union Railways Limited to carry out an archaeological evaluation and excavation of a site at Little Stock Farm, alongside the Ashford to Folkestone railway, near the village of Mersham (centred on NGR grid point TR 06400 38625). The site is known as Little Stock farm, and had been proceeded by an enviromental assessment, geophysical survey, fieldwalking and evaluation (for evaluation report see source 2). The evaluation identified a concentration of Late Bronze Age, Late Iron Age and medieval features.

Archaeological Features recorded during the excavation survived as cuts into either the surface of the natural geology or thin colluvial deposits present over most of the site. Overall, 67 archaeological deposits and/or features were investigated and recorded, comprising 11 ditches, 16 gullies, 17 pits, 17 post-holes, three hearths, two burials and one quarry. Numerous datable artefacts were recovered from these features, indicating Neolithic, Early/Middle Bronze Age, Late Iron Age, Roman and medieval activity in the area.

In general, the earlier prehistoric evidence appears to indicate transient activity, with no definite evidence for permanent occupation. The Late Bronze Age and Late Iron Age periods, by contrast, demonstrate intensive occupation of the immediate area, including structural remains, enclosures, hearths, 'placed deposits' and refuse pits. This activity is concentrated on the brow of the slope overlooking the East Stour river valley. The Roman remains appear to indicate elements of a field system extending from the west into the site with no evidence for occupation in the immediate area. The medieval remains include a large stone quarry, within a ditched enclosure possibly also used for some form of domestic and/or industrial activity. The medieval remains may be related to contemporaneous activity in the vicinity of Park Wood Cottage to the east(1)

(See TR 03 NE 67 and TR 03 NE 61)

Additional bibliography. (3-4)

Wessex Archaeology, 2001, Little Stock Farm (ARC LSF99) Post Excavation Assessment Report (Unpublished document). SKE16508.

Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2006, The prehistoric settlement at Little Stock Farm, Mersham, Kent: CTRL Integrated Site Report Series (Unpublished document). SKE16509.

<1> Wessex Archaeology, 1999, Channel Tunnel Rail Link Archaeological Excavation at Little Stock Farm (Unpublished document). SKE6909.

<2> Wessex Archaeology, 1999, Channel Tunnel Rail Link Archaeological Evaluation at Little Stock Farm (Unpublished document). SKE6911.

<3> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2006, Radiocarbon dates from Section 1 of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE16490.