In 2000 Archaeology South-East carried out a watching brief during topsoil stripping at the Page Road development on the former Hawkinge Aerodrome.

Two cremation burials with pottery from the Late Iron Age-early Roman period were found, one cremation was found in an area of modern disturbance.

Five (possibly six) cremations were found dating from the Roman period. The first was found with sherds of an amphora and two flagons, with a pair of hobnailed shoes. Another shallow scoop 10m from this feature contained the remains of a dish, but no cremated remains. An oval pit contained sherds from a large storage vessel (AD 70-150) and an early 2nd century flagon. A cremation burial was found in a circular cut and was found with sherds of a butt beaker dated to the first half of the 1st century. Another such feature contained sherds from a butt beaker (AD 30-60). A third such feature had sherds from a vessel dated to the second half of the 2nd century. This was feature cut a large shallow feature measuring c.2m x c.1m which did not contain cremated remains but did have signs of in situ burning and may therefore have been the pyre site for this funeral. Stake holes associated with this may have related to the pyre structure.

A large feature c.4.3m in diameter and at least 1m deep was located during bomb clearance work. It contained a large quantity of 1st to early 2nd century pottery, a La Tene brooch, a 'potin' coin and a quantity of animal bone. (1)

<1> Archaeology South-East, 2002, Summary Report and Post-Excavation Assessment on a Watching Brief at the former Hawkinge Aerodrome, Kent ('Page Road Development') (Unpublished document). SKE12189.