Evidence of iron age activity in the area is know from previous work when a farmstead was found during excavations between 1975 – 1982. In 2003, during evaluation trenching a circular enclosure was recorded which had earlier identified by a geophysical survey. The enclosure comprised a single ditched boundary, ranging in width from 0.45m to 1.60m and 0.14m to 0.80m deep, with a diameter of about 60m. At least one entrance was found on its north-eastern side, but there could have been more than one entrance originally. Other than the boundary ditch no evidence was found of internal structures or features although an undated ditch and two inter-cutting pits of iron age were found just to the east. Finds recovered from the excavation of the boundary ditch produced pottery of late iron age date through to the early Roman period. Evidence of this was suggested by the discovery of Roman pottery in a later redefinition of the ditch.

The lack of internal features makes to understanding of the enclosure’s function difficult.

To the north west, about 300m away, a single late iron age pit was also discovered and half sectioned. It produced a large range of well preserved vessel types of grog-tempered (hand and wheel thrown) and shelly wares. One rim sherd is of interest as it had part of an iron staple still in situ at the break.

In addition thirteen fragments of briquetage were found indicating that salt manufacturing was taking place on the site or nearby. The density of the pottery recorded would suggest that it was linked with nearby settlement activity, but what, the enclosure, of the farmstead, or other activity is unclear.(1, 2)

<1> Oxford Archaeology, 2003, A2/A282 Dartford Improvement Kent: Stage II Archaeological Evaluation (Unpublished document). SKE12021.

<2> GBS Prospection, 2003, A2/A282 Dartford Improvement Scheme: Geophysical Survey Report (Unpublished document). SKE12018.