Monument record TR 13 NE 226 - Medieval settlement foci (11th-13th century), Saltwood

Excavations carried out between 1998-2001 at the Saltwood Tunnel and Stone Farm Bridleway sites, by Canterbury Archaeology Trust and Wessex Archaeology, as part of the CTRL works.

Medieval (11th-13th centuries) settlement at the junction of two trackways (TR 13 NE 220). This is the site of the Late Iron Age - Mid Roman settlement (TR 13 NE 217) and the Early Saxon settlement (TR 13 NE 225). It seems that there were gaps in occupation between each phase, and that each settlement was placed in the same place to take advantage of the trackway junction, though it is not impossible that some form of activity remained at the site throughout but left no archaeological trace for the intermediate periods.
A series of ditches, pits and post-holes form a sub-rectangular enclosure measuring 33m x 22m and containing possible structures of indeterminate form. This settlement enclosure is in the NE corner of a larger enclosure measuring 75m x 62m which contains some internal divisions. This larger enclosure overlaps the western-most trackway, suggesting it is no longer in use. Likewise, it seems improbable that the trackway running SW is still in use by this point. (1)

See also TR 13 NE 227 and TR 13 NE 228

Additional bibliography. (2-5)

<1> Wessex Archaeology, 2002, Saltwood Tunnel Post Excavation Assessment Report (Unpublished document). SKE16613.

<2> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2005, The Medieval Pottery from Excavations Along Section 1 of the CTRL (Unpublished document). SKE16557.

<3> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1999, North of Saltwood Tunnel, Kent. Detailed Archaeological Works Interim Report (Unpublished document). SKE6873.

<4> Oxford Archaeological unit, 1997, North of Saltwood Tunnel, Kent Archaeological Evaluation Report (Unpublished document). SKE6875.

<5> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1999, North of Saltwood Tunnel Kent (Unpublished document). SKE6883.