Polygonal enclosed settlement with internal features sited to TQ 7088 7237 from good quality air photographs. Interpreted as Iron Age (site no. KE 166.1.1) (1-2)

Cropmarks of a multiphase settlement located at TQ 7082 7229 to the west of Turks Hill. The site comprises rectilinear conjoined enclosures with a central trackway, numerous internal pits and associated ditches. The settlement could have later prehistoric origins, but has traces of a large building defined by a double row of post pits 18m in length set 10m apart which could be early medieval or later. It is possible that the settlement is early medieval rather than later prehistoric in origin. The proposed site of the 15th century church, the remains of the lost medieval village of Merston lies approximately 275m to the west of the settlement site described in this record (see NMR 416888). No trace of the medieval site of Merston could be seen to ascertain any link between the two sites.
There are three areas within the site where there appears to have been later quarrying of the chalk which are visible as large amorphous dark cropmarks obsucuring parts of the settlement.
The cropmark remains of the large multiphase settlement were mapped form aerial photographs as part of the English Heritage: Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project.
The course of a modern pipeline can be seen cutting through the north of the field the site occupies, passing through the ditch (the trackway) which extends north out of the site.

<1> AP NMR TQ 7072/2-3 (02-05-75) (OS Card Reference). SKE34167.

<2> The Classification of cropmarks in Kent: A Report for MPP. RCHM APU (July 1989), list 14. (OS Card Reference). SKE50285.