During evaluation a number of features were excavated from the late neolithic- early bronze age (TR 36 NW 177), early to mid iron age (TR 36 NW 382) and early medieval periods. The early medieval features included an irregular shallow bowl-shaped pit(?) which contained a copper alloy ring similar in form and shape to suspension rings of bronze mounted wooden buckets occasionally found in early medieval graves. Very close to this was an Anglo Saxon burial was discovered in Trench 15 during evaluation trenching on a site off Laundry Road in Minster. The grave was oval in shape, with a length of 1.8m and a maximum width of 0.9m and a maximum depth of 0.2m, orientated east-west. The skeletal remains were that of a child, probably under five years old. the burials had been disturbed by ploughing with parts of the skull, ribs and an iron knife in a mixed concentration in the centre of the grave. Only the long bones of the legs were in situ. When the area around the grave was cleared back two further features which may also have been graves were seen extending from the bulks. The presence of at least on Early Medieval burial was not unexpected bearing in mind extended inhumations of an unknown date were encountered during construction work in the adjacent business park. From nearby finds and aerial photographic evidence, the existence of a major cemetery on the hill crest serving the pre Christian community at minster has long been postulated. (information summarised from sources) (1, 2)

<1> Trust for Thanet Archaeology, 1995, Archaeological Evaluation at Laundry Road, Minster, Isle of Thanet (Unpublished document). SKE11883.

<2> Thanet Archaeological Services, 2021, Land adjacent to Laundry Road Minster, Kent, Archaeological Appraisal and Assessment of Potential (Unpublished document). SKE57864.