Housing Development in Kent leads to Roman Archaeological Discovery

In mitigation of the impact of a housing development at Hawkinge in Kent, AOC Archaeology Group was commissioned by the developers to undertake an archaeological excavation of 3.6 ha of the development site. This was done in a staged approach: ‘strip and map’ followed by hand excavation.

While the earliest significant phase of activity on the site occurred during the Late Bronze Age, consisting of an oval ‘aggrandised enclosure’ about 40m across, followed by activity in the Iron Age, the most substantial archaeological remains encountered related to activity between the Roman conquest in AD 43 and c. AD 120-150. A long boundary ditch was revealed, which defined an enclosure associated with a rectilinear field system, which was developed through time.

Subsequently the Roman enclosure was modified, clearly changing the way that the area was used. Within this period a circular roundhouse within a sub-square ditch was constructed, in an isolated position and possibly having a ritual or cult aspect. Also present were four-post structures (granaries?) and ovens, although other evidence for occupation was limited.

Following the completion of fieldwork and the Assessment Report, the fieldwork requirement of the planning condition was deemed satisfied by the Local Authority Archaeologist. Following the completion of the ongoing post-excavation analysis, publication and archiving, the full requirements of the planning condition will be signed off.

AOC Project Manager: Tim Carew
Client: Pentland Homes