In 2002 Compass Archaeology carried out an evaluation and excavation on a site at the northern end of Hawthorn Road. A prehistoric ditch and a large number of worked flints were located. The ditch ran roughly east-west and was slightly curved, suggesting a large enclosure, either wholly or partially circular in plan, perhaps a round barrow or hengiform monument of Neolithic or Bronze Age date. From the short section excavated, a total of 260 worked flints were recovered. Much of this was of Mesolithic date, and possibly from early in that period. Later material was also present, i.e. Neolithic to Bronze Age worked flints. Further flints were found in the subsoil elsewhere in the excavated area. (1)

<1> Compass Archaeology, 2004, Land at the northern end of Hawthorn Road, Sittingbourne ME10, Borough of Swale, Kent: An archaeological post-excavation assessment (Unpublished document). SKE17621.