TR 355 712 Iron Age and Romano-British Finds An extensive mixed site ranging from Iron Age to the Romano-British period was excavated in 1939 and in the 1980s. Rescue excavation was carried out in 1984-85. Some work in the same area behind Brittania Inn was done in 1939 and in the 1950s. In 1939 during building work at the rear of 18 Trinity Square, Romano-British pottery was found. This included amphorae, coarse and fine ware, fragments of jars and urns, flagons, Samian bowls and patera. These can be approximately dated as belonging to the early part of the 2nd century AD. During the1980s whilst workmen were clearing the site of the former Cobbs Brewery, further finds of Iron Age and Romano-British pottery were found. See illustration card no 1 for individual sites marked a to h. a. Roman remains discovered in 1900 b. Romano-British cremation burials discovered in 1894 (Margate Museum Ref Nos 5624, 5573) c. Romano-British remains found in 1940 (Margate Museum Ref Nos 5610, 5611, 5612) d. Pits and ditches with Romano-British material found in 1984 e. Belgic and Romano-British remains discovered in 1956 (Quex Park Museum) f. Late Iron Age and Belgic pits and ditches discovered in 1984, 1985 (J. Villetta). (1) A watching brief at Margate police station (TR 3549 7121) in 1996 revealed pits, ditches and a small post hole. Pottery evidence dated to Middle Bronze Age-Early Iron Age (c. 550-350 BC) was found in 2 pits/ditches, but the post hole contained a C16-C17 pot sherd and tile fragment. The features seem likely to form part of a large Early-Late Iron Age-Belgic-Romano-British settlement site occupying the hilltop, originally perhaps a promontory fort. (3)

In 1998 an evaluation by the Trust for Thanet Archaeology on the site located a post hole and a pit, both containing Early Iron Age pottery. A post hole, a pit and a ditch or palisade trench were also found but contained no datable material. (4)

An excavation in 1998 by the Trust for Thanet Archaeology exposed two post hole groups. These probably related to structures on the site, though what form they took was not discernable from their arrangement. Also found were five deep storage pits, two shallow flat bottomed pits, a possible hut floor and a ditch. Pottery from these features dated to the period c.550-350 BC. (5)

<1> Isle of Thanet Arch Unit Sites and Mons Archive 1988 Rec no 1 (OS Card Reference). SKE44552.

<2> Thanet The Arch Heritage 1982 4 (Thanet Dist Council and Isle of Thanet Arch Unit) (OS Card Reference). SKE49877.

<3> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, pers. comm. D. Perkins-KCC, 11/4/96, an arch. watching brief over work to construct a new cell block (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

<3> Trust For Thanet Archaeology, 1996, Watching brief at Margate Police Station, Fort Hill, Margate, pers. comm. D. Perkins-KCC, 11/4/96, an arch. watching brief over work to construct a new cell block (Unpublished document). SWX7096.

<4> Trust for Thanet Archaeology, 1998, The Police Station Extension, Fort Hill, Margate: An Archaeological Evaluation Report (Unpublished document). SKE17225.

<5> Trust for Thanet Archaeology, 1998, Archaeological Excavations at Fort Hill, Margate: An Assessment Report (Unpublished document). SKE17226.