A hoard of bronze sesterti were found on a building site near Pysons Road, in July 1969, numbering 34 coins, 27 of which were purchased by Ramsgate Museum. They include 2 of Hadrian, 1 of Sabina, 5 of Antoninus Puis, 1 of Faustina the Elder, 6 of Marcus Aurelius, 1 of Lucilla, 8 of Commodus, 1 of Crispina, 1 of Severus Alexander and 1 of Postumus. The coins were found scattered over an area of about 20 ft and mostly at a depth of about 14 inches. The majority of the coins were badly worn. (1-2)

A trial excavation of the site took place at TR 37306695 at the junction of Helmdon Close, adjacent to Pyson's Road, where two ditches were uncovered possibly relating to an enclosure or field system. Both ditches were filled with light brown loam containing 1st-2nd century Roman pottery, oyster shells and animal bones. (3)

A total of 394 sherds of pottery was recovered from the site plus four complete vessels. These represent a minimum of 70 different vessels which may be separated into 6 different groups. These groups comprise:
Flint gritted wares – 10 sherds very worn soft grey brown fabric with a flint grit temper, probably Iron Age date
Soapy grog tempered wares – 102 sherds representing 12 vessels of these six are cooking pots, six are jars. This typical is a typical native ware which parrallels the ‘Patch Grove’ wares of west Kent and dates to around AD 50-150.
Sandy Wares – a total of 217 sherds which represent a minimum of 40 vessels. These included two small dishes, a gallo-belgic bowl, five jars, a flagon, a storage jar and an amphora, these all had a date range of AD 75-120. A sub group of burnished sandy wares was identified in this group which included 11 bead rim dishes, 10 curved rim cooking pots, an upright grooved rim dich and four poppy head beakers, these all have a date range of Ad 180-350.
Samian wares – nine sherds representing three vessels with a date range of AD 150-200
Grog tempered wares – 44 sherds represent a minimum of five vessels: all jars with out-curved rims with a date range of AD 200-399
Colour coated wares – seven sherds representing two vessels, both a product of the Oxfordshire kilns and have a date range of AD – 240-400+ (4)

The coin hoard has since been stolen from Ramsgate Museum. (4-5)

A chance find of Roman pottery was made here during development work. (6)

TR 37306695. Romano British coin hoard. The hoard consisted of coins of the periods shown against the: Hadrian (117-138 A.D.) 2: Sabina (117-137) 1: Antonius Pius (138-167) 5: Faustina the Elder (c.141) 1: Marcus Aurelius (161-180) 6: Lucilla (164-169) 1: Commodus (180-192) 8: Crispina (180-192) 1: Severus Alexander (222-235) 1: Postumus (259-267) 1. The hoard contains a large proportion of badly worn 2nd century coins. The presence of the Postumus coin suggests that the hoard was deposited in the 3rd century. If the two coins of Severus Alexander and Postumus were not recovered, the worn condition of the coins alone would have been the only reason for suspecting that the hoard was deposited later than 200 A.D. Merrifield comments that it is very difficult to account for the presence of so many 2nd century Sestertii in late 3rd century hoard. He suggests that the hoard could have been someone's bullion-type investment hastily buried during a Saxon raid in the troubled times of the 3rd century. (7)

Proposed developments at Rose Farm, Haine [8]. Thanet Reach Business park Development: Archaeological Implications. Desk Based Assessment [9].

<1> Britannia 1 1970 304 (DR Wilson and RP Wright) (OS Card Reference). SKE38359.

<2> Num Chron 1971 199-201 (R Merrifield) (OS Card Reference). SKE47722.

<3> KAR 21 1970 2 (R Merrifield) (OS Card Reference). SKE45262.

<4> KAR 71 1983 2-8 illus (P Cullen) (OS Card Reference). SKE45415.

<5> KAR 19 1970 23 (P Cullen) (OS Card Reference). SKE45248.

<6> Trust for Thanet Archaeology, 1987, Isle of Thanet Archaeological Unit Sites and Monuments Archive, Isle of Thanet Arch Unit Sites and Mons Archive 1988 Rec No 192 (Collection). SKE11846.

<7> Trust for Thanet Archaeology, 1987, Isle of Thanet Archaeological Unit Sites and Monuments Archive, Isle of Thanet Arch Unit Sites and Mons Archive 1988 Rec no 193 (Collection). SKE11846.

<8> Trust For Thanet Archaeology, 1997, Proposed Developments at Rose Farm, Haine, Isle of Thanet: The Archaeological Implications (Unpublished document). SWX7103.

<9> Trust For Thanet Archaeology, 1995, Thanet Reach Business Park Development: Archaeological Implications. A Desk Based Study (Unpublished document). SWX7097.