Archaeological excavation carried out in advance of the new Leybourne Bypass found extensive archaeological evidence. In area 'A' a range of flint artefacts were found dating from the Mesolithic to Bronze Age periods. A single later bronze pit was found but most of the evidence dated to the Iron Age. In the middle Iron Age a ditch system was constructed based on two parallel ditches that contained dumps of fired clay and burnt animal bone. The ditch system was later expanded into a larger and more complex system and contained numerous finds that suggested occupation in the vicinity.A third phase of the system, dated to the later Iron Age, contained several postholes or pits though it could not be firmly concluded that these related to the ditches.Some of the postholes may have formed part of a four post structure, possibly a granary. A single fourth phase ditch suggested that activity continued at the site into the Roman era.