A series of ditches, which were discovered near the northern limit of excavation during an archaeological investigation on land at Cliffsend Farm, Ramsgate, probably form the southern side of an enclosure (the ‘northern enclosure’). Most of the enclosure lay outside the excavated area but its dimensions may have been c. 45m x 45m. the feature had two phases of use and development; The first phase of this enclosure consists of the original cut of (outer) ditch, a series of linear features within and outside the entrance, a midden pit in the interior and a scatter of smaller features. A series of slots and pits or postholes, possibly a palisade, were found c. 4.5 m inside the enclosure and these may date to this phase. One contained 12 teeth crowns from a juvenile of c. 10-14 years old. Isotope analysis of these suggested that the person had come from Scandinavia. This was constructed towards the end of the 10th century BC and continued in use into the 9th century BC with a second phase where the outer ditch was recut, an inner ditch was added and the entrance altered. Too little of the central area lay within the excavated area to identify any internal features. A consideration of the evidence suggested, though, that the enclosure may not have been related to settlement but rather to some ceremonial purpose associated with feasting and the disposal of the dead. During the first phase of use late bronze age pottery was found close to the entrance to the enclosure together with struck flints, animal bone, fired clay, quern stones, bone implements and human bone. The finds assemblage for the second phase was similar to Phase 1 although four small copper alloy ingots were also found. Among the human bone found, one was a rib showing a weapon trauma. (1-2) (information summarised from source)

<1> Wessex Archaeology, 2005, Cliffs End Farm, Ramsgate, Kent: Archaeological Assessment Report (Unpublished document). SKE13692.

<2> Wessex Archaeology, 2014, Cliffs End Farm, Isle of Thanet, Kent: a mortuary and ritual site of the Bronze Age, Iron Age and Anglo-Saxon period (Bibliographic reference). SKE30562.