Archaeology South-East carried out an evaluation in 2007. Features were recorded in four trenches: 3, 5, 11 and 13 which comprised of four shallow linear features, a probable pit and several small intercutting features. Only single linear features were recorded in trenches 11 and 1; two linear features were recorded in trench 5. Worked flint of probable Bronze Age date was found. (1)

In 2007-8 Archaeology South-East carried out a strip, map and sample excavation of the site. A Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age field system was found. A track or droveway flanked by two parallel ditches 8m apart ran for 160m across the site. The route way, which terminates at the Middle Bronze Age cemetery, seems to lead from the higher ground of the central plateau to the coast may have been used for the seasonal movement of stock from the higher pastures to the lower ground around Pegwell Bay. Alternatively, it may lead purposefully to the area of Middle Bronze Age cremations–especially if a marker such as an earthwork or cairn was located there. It is of course equally possible that route way served both a practical and a ritual function. A number of field ditches were found coming off from the droveway. On the western side of the droveway the field boundaries were small shallow features aligned north-west to south-east and south-west to north-east in a generally coaxial arrangement with the route way. Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age pottery sherds were found in these features. A scatter of pits were also dated to this phase of activity. These sub-circular pits were mostly small and shallow, containing occasional small and abraded sherds of Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age pottery and/or residual worked flint. One pit, contained a rich assemblage of macrobotanical remains including barley, oat and rye as well as glume wheat and free-threshing wheat varieties. Of great interest is a very large assemblage of mussel shells of at least 3,000 individual animals, interpreted as evidence of an Early Iron Age feast. The total quantity of mussel shells remains unknown as less than one-quarter of the ditch was excavated. The recovered assemblage therefore may only represent a fraction of a potentially huge shell ‘midden’ deposit. Located over 1.5km from the sea, this represents a significant quantity. (information summarised from sources) (2-3)

<1> Archaeology South-East, 2007, An Archaeological Evaluation at Former Allotments Site, Manston Road, Ramsgate, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE13053.

<2> Archaeology South-East, 2009, Archaeological Investigations at the Former Allotments Site, Manston Road, Ramsgate, Kent: Post-excavation Assessment and Project Design for Publication (Unpublished document). SKE17961.

<3> Archaeology South-East, 2011, Archaeological Investigations at the former Allotments Site, Manston Road, Ramsgate, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE18206.