Laundry Road, Minster, Kent - Archaeological Excavation Report

Wessex Archaeology

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned to undertake archaeological mitigation works comprising an archaeological strip, map & sample excavation centred on NGR 631231 165570, at Laundry Road, Minster, Kent CT12 4AG.

The excavation identified a moderate quantity of archaeological features and deposits, with a concentration within the southern half of the site. The features comprised of 18 pits, 11 postholes, a curvilinear probable settlement enclosure ditch, a post medieval ditch, 7 tree throws and a quarry pit. The majority of the features have been dated to the Late Bronze Age which was represented by pits and postholes located within a large curvilinear enclosure ditch, with the exception of three pits located outside the enclosure. The archaeological evidence suggests features related to a settlement, as the pits, postholes and enclosure ditch contained a moderate amount of domestic waste such as pottery sherds, animal bone, worked flint and fired clay fragments. The artefacts also included flint tools, worked stone and perforated clay weights. In addition, disarticulated human remains representing a single individual were located within the enclosure ditch along with five copper alloy objects dating to the Bronze Age, all of which were located close to one another and are believed to represent grave goods from a possibly disturbed burial. A large sub-rectangular quarry pit occupied the majority of the excavation area which was also dated to the Bronze Age. Two features were dated to the post-medieval period, comprising a linear ditch and a single tree throw.