An archaeological evaluation took place at what is now Thanet Earth in 2007 and 2008.A large amount of material from numerous features associated with the Iron Age were recovered and recorded from Thanet Earth. The vast majority of features were part of a settlement. The settlement consists of over 300 pits and 90 isolated postholes together with associated ditches and four ring ditches. Two phases of rectilinear enclosure were imposed on the settlement at some point during its development, possibly in the mid to late Iron age though a large number of domestic features lie outside these boundaries. This perhaps suggests that the settlement was, for the majority of its lifetime unenclosed. The majority of the pits, some of which were exceptionally large, appeared to have been cut for storage, probably mostly of grain. A total of thirty three structures were identified on the site with most formed by either four or six posts; structures like this have been found on many site of this period across the county and further abroad. A relatively large number of burials were attributed to this period virtually all of which were located on Plateau 8. Two of these lay in pits (Plate 21), with eight cut into the top of ditches within the main settlement and although one contained two halves of an Iron Age pot carbon dating suggests that some of the latter examples may in fact be Roman.

<1> Canon Scott Robertson, 2011, Excavations at Thanet Earth 2007-2008: Assessment Report Volume 1 and 2 (Unpublished document). SKE29447.

<2> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2011, Excavations at Thanet Earth 2007‐2008: Stratigraphic Report Volume 1 (DRAFT)
Stratigraphic Report, 12 (Unpublished document). SKE29450.