The first find from the site was made by G Payne in 1889, a Palaeolithic handaxe from the bank by the gate into the rectory garden (1). Further handaxes were found in c. 1901 (2), and then further investigations by PJ Tester in 1962 led to discovery of the richness of material not far below the ground surface. After the initial "trial hole", three further nearby small trenches were dug, Tr 1, 2 and 4. The total area covered by these works was c. 7 square metres, and, in fluvial terrace deposits between 1m and 1.5m below the ground surface (at between c. 17m and 17.5m OD), 210 handaxes were found, as well as more than 50 flake-tools, 20 cores and more than 360 waste flakes (3). Most of the artefacts are in fresh condition and unpatinated suggesting minimal disturbance, although a few (c. 4%) are brown-stained and more-abraded suggesting a greater degree of disturbance. The high proportion of handaxes suggests this was an activity/occupation site where handaxes were used and discarded, having been made elsewhere. Test pits dug c. 20m to the southwest and northeast (Tr 5 and 3 respectively) found similar sand/gravel terrace deposits, but with far fewer artefacts (almost all of them waste flakes) suggesting the main concentration of the site is focused near TPs 1, 2 and 4. The finds from Tester's work are held at the British Museum. Roe's analysis (4) showed that the assemblage from the site is dominated by thick-butted pointed handaxes, although these include a range of forms (sub-cordate with rounded tips, straight-sided with sharp points and ficrons). The site was reinvestigated in 2005 for Medway Valley Palaeolithic Project (5), and a test pit (TP1) was dug inside the garden gate, on the right, about 5m to the SE of Tester's previous Tr 3. Sand/gravel deposits were encountered underlying a loamy deposit rich in chalk pebbles. The former contained rough Palaeolithic flakes similar to those reported by Tester from Tr 3, and the latter was shown by OSL dating to be a deposit of Roman date, consistent with the many reports of nearby Roman activity. The site is now designated as a Scheduled Monument. Other sources (6, 7, 8).

<1> Payne G, 1893, Collectanea Cantiana: or, Archaeological Researches in the Neighbourhood of Sittingbourne, and Other Parts of Kent. (Monograph). SKE51542.

<2> Payne G,, 1902, Researches and discoveries in Kent 1900-1901: Cuxton. (Article in serial). SKE51543.

<3> Tester, P.J, 1966, An Acheulian site at Cuxton (Article in serial). SKE13258.

<4> David Hicken Associates, 1995, Beam Engines Henwood Pumping Station (Unpublished document). SKE6570.

<5> Wenban-Smith F. F., Bates M.R and Marshall G., 2007, Medway Valley Palaeolithic Project Final Report: The Palaeolithic Resource in the Medway Gravels (Kent) (Unpublished document). SKE29351.

<6> Cranshaw, S., 1983, Hand-axes and cleavers: selected English Acheulian industries (Monograph). SKE13241.

<7> Wessex Archaeology, 1993, The Southern Rivers Palaeolithic Project, Report No.2: The South West and South of the Thames [Vol. I - text], M 4.13 (Monograph). SWX6569.

<8> Wessex Archaeology, 1993, The Southern Rivers Palaeolithic Project: maps for Report No. 2, Regions 4 & 1, The South West and South of the Thames [Vol II - maps], M 4.13 (Unpublished document). SKE12023.