From the report "A pattern of five trenches were excavated across the site to a cumulative length of 100m. Archeological features were discovered in three of the trenches. Most notably a Roman cremation burial was discovered in Trench 2. This burial was dated between the 2nd-3rd Centuries AD. The cremated bone was not in a ceramic container, but placed as a deposit within a pit. The pit also contained associated grave goods. These included an accessory vessel and a stylistic brooch. The brooch was made from a copper alloy and was enameled with an orange coloured design. It was in a very good state of preservation. Trench 2 also revealed two ditches orientated approximately East-West. It is likely that these ditches were ancient in origin. Trench 1 revealed another ditch. This ditch contained pottery of a prehistoric date and therefore may indicate prehistoric activity in this area of the proposed development. No palaeolithic finds were made during Geoarchaelogical work."


The probable prehistoric ditch in trench 1 was c. 1.5 m wide and 300 mm deep.

The probable Roman ditches were in trench 2 and ?

The ditch in trench 2 was 1.8 m wide by 250 mm deep. (1)

<1> Archaeology South-East, 2006, An archaeological evaluation and geoarchaeological test pits on land at Maidstone Hospital, Hermitage Lane, New Renal Unit, Maidstone, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE15726.