Watching brief and subsequent excavation at Bower Road undertaken by OAU in 1999-2000 as part of CTRL works revealed evidence of Late Iron Age to 4th century rural activity.

The Late Iron Age is represented only by a large pond fed by two drainage ditches. In the mid to late 1st century AD an enclosure ditch was dug; the first obvious field system on the site. This field system was replaced by another in the late 1st century, which continued in use until the late 2nd century. Its abandonment coincides with the construction on a substantial post-built structure, assumed to be associated with farming activity. Another truncated post-built structure may date to the same period. A waterhole and a cremation date to the 3rd century. The main post-built structure was modified in the 3rd century and remained in use until the end of the 3rd century or early 4th century. However 4th century coins were found in the location of the (now former) building, and other 4th century activity is represented by three pits and a wall in the north of the excavated area. Two ditches are stratigraphically later than other features on the site but contain no dating evidence; it is reckoned they are late Roman or early medieval. (1-6)

<1> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 2002, Bower Road: Post Excavation Assessment Report (Unpublished document). SKE16505.

<2> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2004, Bower Road, Smeeth, Kent: Integrated Site Report (Unpublished document). SKE16506.

<3> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2006, The Roman settlement at Bower Road, Smeeth, Kent: CTRL Integrated Site Report Series (Unpublished document). SKE16507.

<4> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2005, The Late Iron Age and Roman Pottery from Excavations Along Section 1 of the CTRL (Unpublished document). SKE16488.

<5> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2005, The Post-Roman Pottery from Excavations Along Section 1 of the CTRL (Unpublished document). SKE16487.

<6> Oxford Archaeology, 2003, CRTL Project Area 440 Archaeological Watching Briefs ARC 440 99 (Unpublished document). SKE16618.