Late Iron Age/early Roman ditch on land at Hempstead Farm, Hempstead Lane, Tonge, Sittingbourne. During an evaluation on the land in advance of agricultural development, Canterbury Archaeology Trust were commissioned by G. H Dean and Co Ltd to excavated two trial trenches between 18/06/2014 and 20/06/2014.
In trench 1 was observed an east-west running cut, most certainly a ditch which cut the natural at the southwest end of the trench. Measuring 0.88m wide and 0.70m deep with steep sloping edges and shallow curved base. Within the ditch deposits were two worn sherds of pottery of late 1st century BC to 1st century AD date. The pottery was of a thick walled form most likely from a jug or a bowl with a fine grog-tempered fabric (Belgic). The largest sherd had comb printed decoration on the outside and both appear to be of local manufacture. Also found was a single copper alloy object measuring 20mm by 20mm and approximately 2mm thick with a roughly sub-circular shape, one side of which was distorted. Although not positively identified it could be a potin coin of late second to first century BC date. A small amount of struck flint with no diagnostic features and some burnt flint were also within the ditch fill.
The ditch is probably part of a field system or enclosure of Late Iron Age/early Roman date and runs roughly parallel to the Roman road of Watling Street. (1)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust LTD, 2014, Land at Hempstead Farm, Hempstead Lane, Tonge, Sittingbourne, Kent: Evaluation Report (Unpublished document). SKE30280.