Evaluation and subsequent excavation south-east of Eyhorne Street, undertaken by OAU in 1999.

The evaluation has revealed a total of 14 archaeological features and deposits of archaeological interest, including six ditches, three pits, one post-hole, one tree throw and an extant lynchet earthwork. Of the dateable features, one ditch appears to be post-medieval in date, whilst the remainder have been identified as Late Bronze Age, with the exception of a tree-throw producing a small quantity of Late Iron Age/Romano-british pottery. In addition, a buried soil horizon was identified in two adjacent trenches, containing Late Bronze Age pottery and worked flint flakes, some of which may potentially be Mesolithic or Earlier Neolithic in origin.

The Late Bronze Age appears to represent settlement evidence, probably focussed on the higher ground to the north-east of the site, but extending into the evaluation area. There was no apparent focus of archaeological activity in the vicinity of the previously identified geophysical anomalies, thus it is likely that they identified either natural variations in geology or modern ferrous-based remains located within the topsoil horizon. (1-2)


Subsequent excavtion of the eastern half of the evaluation area refined the previous assumptions. The site consists mainly of numerous pits, from the Late Neolithic to Early Roman, with a few residual flints suggesting Later Mesolithic activity. Additionally there are some post-holes and ditches, and a medieval/post-medieval ditch. (3-9)

<1> Wessex Archaeology, 1999, Archaeological Evaluation at South-East of Eyhorne Street Final Report (Unpublished document). SKE7009.

<2> Wessex Archaeology, 1999, Archaeological Evaluation at South-East of Eyhorne Street Draft Report (Unpublished document). SKE7010.

<3> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 2001, Eyhorne Street, Hollingbourne, Kent: Targeted Watching Brief Assessment Report (Unpublished document). SKE16493.

<4> OWA (Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture), 2006, Prehistoric Worked Flint from Section 1 of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE16489.

<5> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2006, The Later Prehistoric Pottery from Excavations Along Section 1 of the CTRL (Unpublished document). SKE16486.

<6> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2005, The Early Prehistoric Pottery from Excavations Along Section 1 of the CTRL (Unpublished document). SKE16485.

<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, The Prehistoric Landscape at Eyhorne Street, Hollingbourne, Kent: CTRL Integrated Site Report Series (Unpublished document). SKE16497.

<9> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2006, Prehistoric Worked Flint from Section 1 of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (Unpublished document). SKE16596.