TR 334 633 Iron Age pottery was uncovered during rescue excavations by the Thanet Archaeological Unit in 1977, at Cottington in Cliffsend. This may indicate the site of a settlement c1000 BC. (1) (a) TR 334 634 During the cutting of a pipe trench in 1977 Early Iron Age pottery (c200-300 BC), Belgic and Romano-British (1st-2nd century) pottery were found.

(2) Evaluation prior to the construction of a golf course in 1990 produced a Beaker burial (part of the skeleton was already destroyed by the pipe trench and the rest was in poor condition) and pottery scatters of Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age date. Crouched burial, left side down facing north, head to the west with beaker in front of face. Subsequent watching brief observed parts of the walls of an unidentified Roman building. Parts of limestone nodule walling (some robbed) found and areas of floor. A mixture of charcoal, burnt chalk and pottery sherds inside the walls were seen to be overlain by midden refuse. Coin and pottery finds suggested a date in the last three quarters of the 2ndC AD. (3)

Work in July-August 1990 showed that the site extended to the west on the other side of the track. within the trench lengths of wal foundation were found . If the evience from both sides of the track relate to one building then it extends for at least 21m on one angle. Possibly a villa existing in the late 2nd century. (6)

Description from record TR 36 SW 94:
Evaluation trenching in 1990 found a Bronze Age crouched burial and accompnaying beaker; late Iron Age site (c200-50 BC) comprising pits, ditches, a possible hut and occupation layers underlaying a substantial Roman building, the occupation of which peaked during the last three quarters of the 2nd C AD. Roman remains consisted of wall footings of rammed chalk with some large flint nodules on top and patches of pebble flooring. Extent of site possibly up to 21m long on one side. Interpreted as possible villa. Large amounts of surface evidence found nearby including Roman-British pottery, brick, tile, coin, rotary quern, buckles etc. (1)

<1> Nigel Macpherson Grant, c/o Canterbury Arch Trust, 92a Broad St, Canterbury (OS Card Reference). SKE47567.

<2> RCHME Excav Index Thanet Kent 13 PRN 15318 (OS Card Reference). SKE48982.

<3> Isle of Thanet Arch Unit Sites and Mons Archive 1988 rec no 253 (OS Card Reference). SKE44617.

<4> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, Trust for Thanet Arch 1990 Cottington Hill Evaluation Report (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

<5> Trust for Thanet Archaeology, 1989, Weatherlees Hill and Ebbsfleet Farm, Minster, Thanet: The Archaeological Implications (Unpublished document). SKE6721.

<6> Trust for Thanet Archaeology, 1990, Archaeological Remains at Ebbsfleet Farm, Ebbsfleet, Ramsgate (Unpublished document). SKE6724.

<7> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, Trust for Thanet Arch 1990 Evaluation at Ebbsfleet Farm, Ramsgate (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.