Between 1st and 3rd February 2016 an archaeological evaluation was carried out involving the excavation of five trenches. Trench 4 revealed a large pit, measuring 9m in length, 6m in width, and more than 1m in depth. Archaeological finds were spread through four contexts. These finds were Late Iron Age/Early Roman pottery sherds, fragments of fired clay, fire-cracked flints, worked flints, animal bone and marine shell. The context containing the shell fragments and animal bone are dated as Roman, and is suggested as being the primary fill.

In total, across all four contexts, 29 pottery sherds (367g) were retrieved. Among these were 5 grog-tempered sherds (including a cordoned necked jar and a partial rim fragment with a simple neck profile). Large fragments of a south Gaulish samian Dragendorff 18 platter with a partial damaged stamp (probably reading 'OFLA……') were also recovered, as well as grey ware associated with distinctive sandwich firing of North Kent/Thameside products. These two wares were dated as 1st Century.
Two worked flint fragments (64g) were found in two contexts, alongside 2 fire cracked fragments from the same two contexts (177g).
The animal bone found consisted of 2 pieces (111g) which could be conjoined to form part of a large-mammal rib. The bone is weathered. Only two marine shells were recovered (single context) (16g) - One piece is an incomplete juvenile oyster shell and the other is a common limpet. They are recovered from roman dated context. (1)

Archaeology South-East, 2016, Archaeological Evaluation Report: St Margaret’s Holiday Park, St Margaret’s-at-Cliffe, Near Dover, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE31554.