Evaluation undertaken for CgMs Consulting on site of potential housing. Evidence was found of occupation near the edge of the East Stour river. Circular pit and linear features produced pottery dated to possibly from the Early Iron Age through to the early 2nd C AD. It is thought that the features, pits, were used for cooking/fire for seasonal occupation. One circular feature contained high levels of charcoal and appeared to be covered by fragments of fired clay. This has been interpreted as a possible collapsed sunken oven or furnace. Other features in the immediate area (TR 04 SW 123) many well have been used for similar purposes in the Late Neolithic/Bronze Age period. Sites of IA and Roman date are located close to this site, c.600m to the east (TR 04 SW 83) and c.800m to the south-west (TR 03 NW 12) (1)

Following the February evalaution, the area around the Late Iron Age/Early Romano-British features was subjected to a full excavation. The excavation revealed more pits with pottery of comparable date in two small clusters, one around the pits found in the earlier evaluation and two slightly to the north. As well as pottery fragments their fill contained a significant proportion of charcoal, burnt organic material, flint and daub fragments.and several heaths or ovens (one contained a number of large burnt stones and fired clay fragments possibly representing a hearth lining and clay capping over the pit) but without dating evidence. The pottery recovered on the site and features consisted of Middle Iron Age wares (although could be early or late as well), course Belgic style wares and Upchurch wares.

An Iron Age cremation of an infant was also recovered, possibly associated with some nearby pits (TR 04 SW 125). (2)

<1> Pre-Construct Archaeology, 2001, Archaeological Evaluation of Land at South Willesborough, Ashford, PreConstruct Evaluation 2001 (Unpublished document). SKE7580.

<2> Pre-Construct Archaeology, 2002, Assessment of an Excavation at South Willesborough, Ashford, Pre-Construct Excavation 2001 (Unpublished document). SKE7990.