In 2007-8 Archaeology South-East carried out a strip, map and sample excavation in 2007/8 ahead of the development of a site off Manston Road. these investigations revealed three sunken floor buildings, pottery dating from the late 5th to the 7th century AD. One had two central post holes and 27 stake holes in the base of the pit. The second building may have been re-dug during its lifetime and numerous post holes and stakeholes were found in the base of the pit, relating to one or both of these phases of use. Pottery of the 6th to 7th century was found. The third building was similar to the first two. Pottery of the 6th to 7th century, a bone comb with a double-sided tooth plate and a fragment of a knife were found. It is thought that the three structures were possibly contemporary.

These buildings almost certainly form the continuance of the Anglo-Saxon settlement first identified at the Tesco site, some 210m to the south-west. All of the buildings are similar in size, and share a similar alignment. The two post buildings the most predominant type of sunken-featured buildings and the six post structure is a type well-known in the south-east of England. From the Tesco site, it was proposed that the settlement extended eastwards and westwards but that the northern and southern limits were likely to have been defined within the site boundary. The evidence from Manston Road shows that this was not the case and it is clear is that the Anglo-Saxon settlement was in fact spread out over an area of at least three hectares with large open areas between the buildings, or possibly two distinct settlement areas. There is a notable absence of rubbish pits and enclosure ditches at both sites. Rubbish was probably dumped in middens rather than buried and it has recently been argued that the contrast between the scarcity of rubbish pits on early and middle Anglo-Saxon settlements and their growing abundance in the late Anglo- Saxon period relates to the relative stability of the settlements. Charred macrobotanical remains and animal bone give an indication of the mixed diet, exploitation of local resources and of contemporary subsistence practises. Over 2.5kg of oyster were recovered from buildings B2 and B3 and some Great Topshell fragments, which may have been used for decoration rather than as a food source. The animal bone assemblage of 102 fragments was dominated by sheep with chicken, pig, cow, horse and cat also present. The macrobotanicals provide evidence for the cultivation of glume wheat, six-row hulled barley, peas, beans and flax. The charcoal analysis suggests that oak, blackthorn, wild cherry, Maloideae group taxa and hazel appear to have been important fuel resources. (information summarised from source) (1-2)

<1> 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.

<2> Archaeology South-East, 2011, Archaeological Investigations at the former Allotments Site, Manston Road, Ramsgate, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE18206.