Monument record TR 06 SW 1544 - Mid-Late Bronze Age trackway, pond, and ditches, Preston Fields, Salters Lane

A Mid-Late Bronze Age trackway, pond, and ditches possibly forming part of a large field system were identified during an excavation carried out in 2022-2023 at Preston Fields, Salters Lane. The trackway was located to the south of the site and was aligned NW-SE. The feature measured 2,66m in width and 0.57m in depth, with evidence for wheel ruts and a trample deposit.

The trackway was associated with a pond located 5m to the south west. This feature measured around 6.8m in width and 0.7m in depth, containing pottery, and worked and burnt flint within its fill. Another large pond-like feature had been recut to the south. These features are interpreted (1) as potentially representing watering hollows for livestock.

A series of ditches possibly forming part of a large field system were also identified across the site. At least three ditches appear to have been cut when the trackway was in use as their alignment respects that of the trackway. However, a north-south aligned ditch measuring over 144m in length was seen to cut the infilled trackway, suggesting that the trackway went out of use at some time in the later Bronze Age. The field system may have included a large entrance or stock control to the south east formed by two ditches. (information from an interim report on excavations, 1)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2023, Preston Fields, Salters Lane, Faversham, Kent ME13 8YD, Archaeological Excavation: Interim Report (Unpublished document). SKE57854.