Monument record TR 26 NE 1403 - Ring ditch 2 - Monkton

During excavations conducted in 1994-5 in advance of dualling work on the A253 a small ring ditch was exposed (Ring Ditch 2). This lay approximately 35m to the north-east of Ring-ditch I, and was represented by a single ring-ditch 20m in diameter. This cut (3001) was between 1.15 and 1.4m in depth, with a flat-based, truncated v-shaped profile, 3m wide at the surface and between 0.65 and 1.0m wide at the base. Four 2m wide sections were excavated through this ditch at its cardinal points. The fills observed in section throughout the ditch suggested the following sequence of deposition. Shortly after its initial excavation, the ditch began to fill with chalk rubble from its upper edges. This accumulation continued, probably with the redeposition of mound material until the cut was approximately two thirds full. The upper third of the ditch contained what has been interpreted as hillwash. There was no significant recovery of artefacts from any of the fills associated with this feature. The eastern half of the monument was subsequently bisected by a much later, possibly post-medieval trackway. No other internal features were located.(1-2)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1996, Canterbury's Archaeology 1994 - 1995 (Serial). SKE11882.

<2> Trust for Thanet Archaeology, 1993, An Archaeological Evaluation Ahead Of Improvements To The A253, Monkton To Minster (Unpublished document). SKE17233.

<3> Historic England Archive, 1949-1976, Historic England Archive CUCAP oblique aerial photographs, CUCAP CW65 19-JUL-1949 (Archive). SKE57107.