Monument record TQ 75 NE 901 - Late Iron Age and Roman ditches, Church Street, Maidstone

Summary

During an archaeological evaluation in 2011, two ditches were found containing Late Iron Age and imported Roman pottery. A Roman ditch followed the same alignment. There were also a number of pits of Roman date.

Location

Grid reference Centred TQ 7624 5585 (14m by 22m)
Map sheet TQ75NE
County KENT
District MAIDSTONE, KENT
Civil Parish MAIDSTONE, MAIDSTONE, KENT

Map

Type and Period (2)

Full Description

In 2011 an evaluation was carried out on the former tennis court site in Church Street, Maidstone by the Canterbury Archaeological Trust. Three ditches were found, each containing Late Iron Age and imported Roman pottery. (1)

In 2012 Canterbury Archaeological Trust carried out an excavation. The ditches were found to cross the site, serving either as boundary ditches or as part of a field system. Three undated post holes could also be of Iron Age date. In the Roman period a ditch was dug following the same alignment as the Late Iron Age ditches. Five pits were also dated to the Roman period. Their contents suggest that they were used as cess pits. A key and a pipeclay figurine were also found within them. The pottery dated from the Late Iron Age through to the 3rd century AD. It is likely therefore that settlement of this date was located in the immediate area. (2-4)

An analysis of molluscs found on site suggested that shellfish were harvested from several different locations. Cockles, mussels, oysters, Baltic tellins and peppery furrow were found (5) A bird bone analysis concluded that "little can be said of the few bird fragments relating to the earliest phase of activity on the site, except to say that their presence with other domestic waste in a ditch suggests that medium-sized birds were probably exploited for their meat and eggs." (7)


<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2011, An archaeological evaluation at The Former Tennis Court Site, Church Street, Maidstone, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE17291.

<2> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2012, Church Street, Maidstone: Assessment Report (Unpublished document). SKE18102.

<3> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2012, An archaeological excavation at The Former Tennis Court, Church Street, Maidstone, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE25070.

<4> Laura O'Shea, 2013, Excavations at Church Street, Maidstone (Unpublished document). SKE29577.

<5> Canterbury Archaeological Trust Ltd, 2012, The former Tennis Court site, Church Street, Maidstone, Kent, Interim report (Unpublished document). SKE52816.

<6> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2013, Marine mollusc shell from excavations at Church Street, Maidstone, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE52919.

<7> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2013, Bird remains from excavations in Church Street, Maidstone, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE52920.

Sources/Archives (7)

  • <1> Unpublished document: Canterbury Archaeological Trust. 2011. An archaeological evaluation at The Former Tennis Court Site, Church Street, Maidstone, Kent.
  • <2> Unpublished document: Canterbury Archaeological Trust. 2012. Church Street, Maidstone: Assessment Report.
  • <3> Unpublished document: Canterbury Archaeological Trust. 2012. An archaeological excavation at The Former Tennis Court, Church Street, Maidstone, Kent.
  • <4> Unpublished document: Laura O'Shea. 2013. Excavations at Church Street, Maidstone.
  • <5> Unpublished document: Canterbury Archaeological Trust Ltd. 2012. The former Tennis Court site, Church Street, Maidstone, Kent, Interim report.
  • <6> Unpublished document: Canterbury Archaeological Trust. 2013. Marine mollusc shell from excavations at Church Street, Maidstone, Kent.
  • <7> Unpublished document: Canterbury Archaeological Trust. 2013. Bird remains from excavations in Church Street, Maidstone, Kent.

Finds (10)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (2)

  • Intrusive Event: Evaluation at the former tennis court site, Church Street, Maidstone (Ref: CSM-EV-11) (EKE11555)
  • Intrusive Event: Excavation at the former Tennis Court site, Church Street, Maidstone (Ref: CSM-EX-12) (EKE12559)

Record last edited

Dec 10 2020 3:25PM