During the East Kent Access Route excavations (2009-2011) a bronze age double ring ditch was found in zone 13. The ring-ditch was situated c. 25m north-west of a second, larger ring-ditch.

Barrow 1 was only partially exposed as much of the feature lay outside the excavated area. The remains of the ring-ditch to the north-west had been destroyed by a railway cutting. The outer ditch had a maximum width of c. 2.5m and a maximum surviving depth of 1.5m. It enclosed a circular area with a diameter of c. 30m. Six sections were hand-excavated and suggested that the ditch had originally been continuous. There was very little dating evidence. The fills did contain iron age pottery but this was likely to have been intrusive as the ring-ditch was cut by various iron age features.

The inner ditch was broad and shallow (up to 1.7m wide and 0.5 m deep). It had a different character to the outer ditch being both narrower and shallower as well as being either segmented or penannular. The ditches may not have been contemporary, but if one was later than the other it clearly took account of the first. The inner seems likely to be the earlier of the two if this is the case, as comparisons may be drawn between the size and morphology of this example and other segmented ditches of an early Bronze Age date.

At least eight graves comprising seven inhumations and one cremation were located between the inner and the outer ditches. Two of the graves, both adult males, were cut through the fill of the inner ditch, close to the terminal on the south east side. Most of the other graves contained infants or juveniles, including the only one to contain grave goods. Five of the graves were dated, the earliest was dates to 2030-1770 cal BC, and it is possible that this was contemporary with the construction of the monument. Two of the inhumations were early Bronze Age (1900-1660 cal BC). Two further graves may have been of a middle Bronze Age date (1610-1410 cal BC) and the final three were not dated. Park of a skull discovered elsewhere at the site (in an Iron Age building) was of a similar date and it is possible that it came from the same cemetery. (information summarised from source) (1)

<1> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2011, East Kent Access (Phase II), Thanet, Kent: Post-Excavation Assessment Volume 1 (Unpublished document). SKE29279.