Monument record TR 15 NE 1067 - Enclosures, trackways and other features, Littlebourne

A rectilinear enclosure visible as a cropmark in aerial photos of 1990 and Google Earth image of 2007, to the west of Littlebourne.

It consists of a rectilinear enclosure measuring 105m x 60m. There is a linear feature within the west end, which could either be an internal division or an feature of another date. There are further linear features outside the enclosure on various alignments. One feature is a possible earlier enclosure measuring 75m x 65m+ which has been cut by the rectilinear enclosure. Other linear features could be possible trackways. (1,2)

Cropmarks of an extensive settlement and trackway of probable later prehistoric or Roman date located to the south-east of the Swanton Lane. The settlement was seen on aerial photographs and comprises a number of coaxial rectilinear enclosures attatched to a sinuous double ditched trackway which continues into the adjacent modern field to the north where the faint cropmarks of further enclosures can be seen. The settlement enclosures appear to be sub-divisions into narrow strips of larger enclosures suggesting a number of phases of development of the site. Numerous pits can be seen throughout the field which may be associated with the settlement. (5)

A geophysical survey (magnetometry) carried out in 2013 identified a large enclosure and probable trackways and other features. (3)

. Subsequent trial trenching evaluation suggested the majority of the features, including the enclosure were late iron age/Roman in date with a significant number of early iron age features too.(4)

Google Earth, 2007 (Graphic material). SWX15704.

<1> 1990, 1990 collection of vertical aerial photographs of Kent (Photograph). SKE31386.

<3> Wessex Archaeology, 2013, Littlebourne Solar Farm Canterbury, Kent Detailed Gradiometer Survey Report (Unpublished document). SKE52388.

<4> Wessex Archaeology, 2013, Land at Littlebourne Nr. Canterbury, Kent, Archaeological Evaluation Report (Unpublished document). SKE52398.

<5> 2011, Oblique aerial photograph NMR 26979_037 01-JUN-2011 (Photograph). SKE59076.