From the report:

"The archaeological strip, map and record excavations undertaken on the A249 Iwade bypass have successfully addressed the principal project aims and objectives. The fieldwork has generated a large body of archaeological data representing c. 2000 years of human activity, dating primarially from the Late Neolithic to the Roman periods. The results, although not totally conclusive, have been obtained by means of a thorough stratigraphic analysis of the site, despite the poor survival of much of the archaeology, including evidence for the truncation of features and of significant post-depositional disturbance. These problems were compounded by the fragmented nature of the associated pottery and the low pottery sherd count for most of the non-burial pottery assemblages. (see appendices 12.2 and 12.3).

Zone A, which was predominantly Roman in date, contained evidence of both settlement activity (salt-making?) and cremation burial features. Zone B, containing only cremation burial features, was also predominantly Roman in date. Likewise, Zone C was predominantly Roman and with the exception of one feature contained only cremation burial features. Settlement features excavated in Zone D1 were mostly undated but possibly of Iron Age date. Zone D2 was negative in terms of archaeology. Zone D3 contained an area of intensive multi-phase settlement activity focused on the Middle to Late Iron Age. Zone D4 was also predominantly Roman in date but also contained a high level of prehistoric activity and evidence of disturbance.

The results suggest that both the Prehistoric and Roman activity (including the cremation burial activity) was focused on areas of higher ground. This is generally the norm for the later Prehistoric period, particularly from the Middle Iron Age when hillforts become more common. Roman activity and cremation burials on the other hand, are not usually confined to higher ground. Another dissimilarity is the lack of associated Roman inhumation burials at the site - in east Kent a localised tradition of inhumation burials has been observed alongside the cremation rite. (East Sussex C.C. et al 2007)

The ephemeral prehistoric and Roman settlement/salt-making activity on the A249 Iwade bypass was confined to the lower ground in Zone A, close to the edge of the marsh. No further evidence was found for Late Iron Age (or other) features recorded by the Stage 4 evaluation trenches at the northern extent of Zone A, south of Cowstead roundabout. Similarly, in contrast to the results of the initial desk based assessment and Stage 2 survey, virtually no evidence was found for Medieval or Post-Medieval activity anywhere across the stripped area of the road scheme.

Evidence of small scale Early - Middle Bronze Age activity across the site was recorded by the current flint assessment (see Appendix 12.1). This was not confirmed by the results of the prehistoric pottery assessment however, which, with the exception of a small number of possible Middle or Late Bronze Age sherds, found no secure evidence of activity between the Early Bronze Age and the Middle Bronze Age. The bulk of the prehistoric pottery was dated to the latter period. The prehistoric pottery assessment suggested a similarity of forms with assemblages found north of the Thames, as opposed to further west; but also found similarities with Essex in terms of adopted decoration of pottery vessels.

A consideration of the importance of the archaeological remains recovered from the A249 strip, map and record suggests that the site may be of local or regional significance. (Williams & Brown 1999); East Sussex C.C. et al) The latter may be true in terms of the artefacts: although Iron Age settlements (both enclosed and unenclosed) are widespread across the Greater Thames Estuary (Williams & Brown 1999, 17) very little Middle Iron Age pottery fro kent has been published, even though large assemblages have been excavated (see Lavender, Appendix 12.2) The rare Iron Age oven flors recovered from the A249 site are another example of its potential significance. The effect of the road scheme on the area's potential of the site to contribute further to the regional archaeological research frameworks, including those of the Greater Thames Estuary and Southeast England (Williams & Brown, 1992; East Sussex C.C. et al) might therefore be elucidated by further analysis and publication of soe of the artefact assemblages, as proposed in a number of the specialist assessment reports contained within this document."

(1)

<1> CgMs Consulting, 2008, A249 Iwade Bypass to Queenborough Improvement, Isle of Sheppey: Report on the Archaeological Strip, Map and Record Excavation (Unpublished document). SKE13371.