In 2009 an excavation was carried out at Margetts Pit by Wessex Archaeology. Evidence for Bronze Age to Late Iron Age/early Roman activity was found across the site.

The earliest phase of activity was evidenced by flint working found as residual material in a number of later features. The quality and type suggest a Late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age date for this activity. Eight abraded and probably residual sherds of Beaker or Early Bronze Age pottery (two from Collared Urns) were found in later features.

Middle Bronze Age activity was attested by a small assemblage of pottery consistent with Deverel-Rimbury traditions. This was mostly spread across the western part of the site, from the ditches of a rectilinear field system, 19 pits and/or post holes and two placed vessels. There was considerable overlap with Late Bronze Age areas of activity so it is not immediately clear which features were certainly Middle Bronze Age in date. The Middle Bronze Age pits contained flints (worked and burnt) and animal bones. The post holes did not form any obvious groups or structures. The two deposited vessels appeared to be closely associated with the field system ditches. The better preserved of the two contained animal bone and worked and burnt flint. Another 65 sherds from four or five separate vessels were found in a small cut but it is not clear if they too represent vessel deposition. The rectilinear field system was orientated approximately north-northwest to south-southeast. Surviving traces included shallow ditches in both the western and eastern parts of the site. Two parallel ditches 3.5m apart may be a trackway. The absence of such ditches from the centre of the site may be the result of truncation by later ploughing. Late Bronze Age pottery was found in the ditches but could indicate simply increased activity in this later period or long-term maintenance of the field system.

The Late Bronze Age saw a considerable increase in activity on the site. Ditches were added to the Middle Bronze Age field system. Numerous pits were found across the site, these occurred in clusters, groups and as isolated features. Many of the pits contained apparent deposits of domestic rubbish – animal bone, pottery and worked flint. Some pits contained substantial deposits of shale-working waste, dating from later in the Late Bronze Age. In total nearly 10kg of shale was found, including bracelet blanks, roughouts at all stages of manufacture, broken finished pieces and debitage from working. This material was associated with Late Bronze Age pottery but also with Iron Age material, and the working may therefore have been occurring at the transition of the Late Bronze Age into the Iron Age. Other pits contained instances of structured deposition, such as one pit with a pair of large red deer antlers and an amber bead fragment. A sheep/goat was buried in one pit and a possibly lead miniature wheel-shaped object was found from the top of or just above an adjacent pit. Other partial-animal burials from the site dated to this period and it is possible that several other undated examples also did. Elsewhere, three Late Bronze Age vessels appeared to have been deliberately placed in the ground. Despite the number of pits and post holes, few clearly defined structures could be identified. There were a number of possible arcs and arrangements of four post holes in groups but none were certainly structures. It is likely though that there were structures of some form, notably there were two possible rectilinear structures towards the southeast of the site – one was a six-post structure and the other a four-post structure but both were undated. Lines of post holes may relate to rows of structures or fences. Their association with the field system suggests agricultural use. In addition to the agricultural, domestic, industrial and potentially ritual remains, evidence of funerary activity was found. Four crouched inhumations and 12 cremation-related deposits were found. Two of the inhumations were of adult females aged c.40-45 (one radiocarbon dated to early in the Late Bronze Age – 1120-970 cal BC), the third was of an adult female aged c.20-25 whilst the fourth was of an adult male aged c.25-35. There were no associated grave goods. A small cremation cemetery existed in the southwest of the site. It almost certainly extends further to the south beyond the limits of this excavation. Six (possibly nine) individuals, both male and female, are represented including children and adults. Fragments of amber, probably from beads were found in two of the graves. A radiocarbon date in the Late Bronze Age (1010-840 cal BC) was obtained from one burial. Seven of the burials were possible or likely urned cremation burials.

The site appears to have continued in use, though on a reduced scale, into the Early and Middle Iron Age. A total of 23 features of this date were found within the distribution of the Late Bronze Age features. Bronze Age and Iron Age pottery were found in a number of features, and, as noted above, shale working appeared to have occurred in both periods, strengthening the impression of continuity. At least two animal burials dated to the Early Iron Age. An Early Iron Age vessel was deposited.

In the Late Iron Age a subrectangular double-ditched enclosure was laid out to the northwest and became the new focus for activity on the site until the second half of the 1st century AD (see TQ 76 SW 475). (1)

8 sherds of prehistoric pottery found in two test pits during the test-pitting phase prior to the excavation. The "two test pits which contained pottery of this date were situated in the west of the Site which may indicate further prehistoric activity beyond the bounds of the proposed pond area, to the west" (2)

<1> Wessex Archaeology, 2010, Margetts Pit, Margetts Lane, Burham, Kent: Post-excavation Assessment Report (Unpublished document). SKE17384.

<2> Wessex Archaeology, 2009, Margetts Pit, Margetts Lane, Burham, Kent, Topsoil test pitting evaluation interim statement (Unpublished document). SKE32034.