Monument record TR 15 NW 2777 - Late Pleistocene and Holocene Dry Valley system with Neolithic to medieval artefacts, Cockering Farm, Thanington

A geoarchaeological mitigation carried out in 2021 identified a Late Pleistocene and Holocene Dry Valley system to the north east of the site. Artefacts recovered from associated deposits included later prehistoric worked flint and pottery, alongside a slag hearth lining recovered from layers dating to between 220-930 AD, and pottery and ceramic building material from the 13th century.

The interpretation of this area was that, prior to the Mesolithic period, the site comprised an open, spring-fed stream within a valley, with colluviation beginning during the Mesolithic period and continuing into the post-medieval period. During the Roman period, there was an intensification of landscape use on the valley sides, which became probable agricultural activity during the medieval period (with evidence for marling and manuring identified during the mitigation).
This appeared to have continued into the post-medieval period, with a reduction in colluvium attributed to pastoral activities taking place during this time. (1)

<1> Archaeology South-East, 2022, Geoarchaeological Mitigation, Post-excavation Assessment Report. Cockering Farm, Thanington, Canterbury, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE56915.