An evaluation ahead of quarrying found an area of occupation. This consisted of truncated ditches and pits, post holes and two hearths. Possible traces of a house in an enclosure were recorded but were heavily truncated by modern ploughing. (1)

The area was subsequently excavated. A curvilinear enclosure of Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age date was found. The enclosure consisted of two curving parallel ditches, one containing a large quantity of Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age pottery. Both ditches were interrupted by an entranceway on the north side. Outside of the enclosure, and possibly associated with this entrance, were a large interrupted gully and an undated double post hole, and two further post holes, all more than 0.6m in diameter. A number of ditches and gullies were possibly associated with this phase of activity on the site. These included a line of pits or post holes, perhaps representing a fence. A loose arrangement of eight post holes could relate to a light structure. A number of features contained Middle Bronze Age to Late Bronze Age pottery, and potentially relate to the extensive cremation cemetery to the east. (2)

Archaeology South-East, 2002, Post-Excavation Assessment of Archaeological Investigations at Highstead Farm Quarry (Extraction Area 4, Phases 1 and 2), Chislet, Canterbury, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE18205.

<1> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 1990, Phase IV-V Highstead Farm, Chislet Archaeological Assessment (Unpublished document). SWX6919.