Lady Dane Farm, Faversham, Kent - Archaeological Evaluation Report and Post-excavation Assessment

Wessex Archaeology

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned to undertake an archaeological strip, map and sample excavation and additional trial trench evaluation of a 1.5 hectare parcel of land located south of Graveney Road at Lady Dane Farm, Faversham, Kent. The investigation area is centred on NGR 602596 160873.

This report details the findings of the archaeological excavation and evaluation, with the results presented in chronological order. A degree of truncation caused by a continued agricultural activity from antiquity to the present day and unexpected groundworks, specially within Area 1, carried out before the archaeological investigation commenced.

As mentioned above Area 1, located in the south-western corner of the site, was subject to significant truncation, which was evident during the excavation. Despite this, archaeological remains, primarily dating to from the Prehistoric and Romano-British periods, were recorded. The archaeological features, comprising 46 ditches, 69 pits/postholes and two material spreads, were focussed primarily in the western half of the area and contained at least one distinct Late Iron Age/Early Romano-British
enclosure. The ditches recorded within the area showed multiple differing alignments, indicating that land management changed throughout the Prehistoric and Romano-British periods.

Area 2 was located in the north-western corner of the site and contained archaeological remains dating from the Prehistoric to medieval periods. Two distinct field systems were present within the area, one dating to the Late Iron Age/Romano-British and one dating to the medieval period. Both field systems appear to correlate to some extent with the field systems found in Area 1. A total of 15 ditches and 34 pit/postholes were recorded within the area, along with numerous tree throws/areas of bioturbation. The majority of the dating pits and postholes related to the Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age.

Area 3 was located in the north-eastern corner of the site and contained far less archaeological evidence than the other three areas. A total of 3 ditches, 11 pits and 1 large medieval quarry pit were recorded in the area. Three features that were recorded in the evaluation as linear ditches were not found in the excavation. One of the undated linear ditches within the area appeared to be on the same alignment and the Late Iron Age/Romano-British field system recorded in Area 2.

Area 4 was located in the centre of the site and contained archaeological remains dating to the Prehistoric and medieval periods. A total of 7 ditches, comprising at least two field systems, and 13 pits/postholes were recorded in the area. The medieval ditches and two of the large undated ditches appear to share an alignment with the medieval field system recorded in Area 2. A substantial cluster of Prehistoric pits were present in the western half of the area, indicating sustained reuse of the area over time.