Iron Age ditches and middens, found in Area A during archaeological evaluation of land south of Cottington Road, Cliffend. Neighbours an area of Late Bronze Age enclosures.

From the report: regarding fired clay found, "some pieces (three in ditch 712, one in ‘midden’ layer 610…) had possible withy impressions thus indicating the presence of some structural debris".

"Eleven fragments of fuel ash slag (highly vitrified clay; 19 g) were recovered from ‘midden’ layer 610 and ditch 1305. This material – which is not a residue of metalworking – is most commonly found on later prehistoric sites." (1)

in detail in trench 1 there was a A large Iron Age oval shaped rubbish pit 110, at least 2m long and at least 1m wide, with steep stepped concave sides, was investigated to a depth of 0.83m below trench base, was not bottomed due to health and safety concerns. The feature contained several fills including a dark brownish grey backfill 112 containing abundant marine and oyster shells, Iron Age pottery and animal bone was recovered from this context. An iron object, possibly a nail fragment, was retrieved from dark greyish brown deposit 113, which also included animal bone and charcoal flecks.

In trench 3 a Gully 317, which was located within the northern extent of the trench measured 0.14m in
depth on an east-west orientation and has been assigned a provisional Early-Middle Iron Age date.

In trench 4: a pit that extended beyond the limit of excavation at the west end of the trench contained contained Early to Middle Iron Age pottery, fired clay, burnt flint, animal bone and charcoal throughout.

In trench 7: three ditches were present, all positively dated to the Early to Middle Iron Age. The largest of the three 712, coincided with a north east-south west orientated geophysical anomaly as did 719 further to the south. Both of these features, along with gully 716 and post hole 709 have been dated to the Early to Middle Iron Age while a smaller, partially exposed gully 706 has been assigned an Early Iron Age date.

In Trench 8: A large quarry pit was recorded in this trench 806, similar in shape and form to that
revealed in Trench 6. This feature was also dated between the Early-Middle Iron Age. (information summarised from source) (1)

<1> Wessex Archaeology, 2016, Land South of Canterbury Road West and adjacent to Cottington Road, Ramsgate, Kent, Archaeological Evaluation Report (Unpublished document). SKE31767.