Land at Albion Road, Marden, Kent - Post-excavation Assessment

Wessex Archaeology

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned to undertake an archaeological evaluation and strip, map and sample (SMS) excavation of a 4ha parcel of land at Albion Road, Marden, Kent, TN12 9EF, centred on NGR 575089 144409. The SMS excavation followed the results of the second phase of evaluation that revealed Prehistoric and Romano-British remains in the eastern half of the site.

The site showed no evidence signs of significant truncation and had a relatively uniform geological sequence throughout, with the exception of the northwest quadrant of the area which had been a layer of colluvium sealing the natural geology. The first phase of evaluation within the western half of the site recorded largely undated ditches pits and postholes, although five of the postholes were broadly dated to the prehistoric period. No further investigation took place within the western half of the site. The Phase 2 evaluation and excavation area contained three large enclosure ditches, parts of at least three roundhouses along with several other curvilinear ditches, and numerous pits and postholes. The roundhouses formed a cluster along the eastern boundary of the site, and appear to be enclosed within the enclosure complex, and are likely contemporary and reused on a seasonal basis. The roundhouses likely date to the Late Iron Age but are currently considered to be Late Iron Age/Romano-British due to the broad timescales associated with some of the recovered artefacts. The enclosure system is also dated to the LIA/RB period.

The archaeological remains probably represent low level animal husbandry or small scale farming activity on a seasonal basis evidenced by the reuse of the same area for the construction of roundhouses.