Archaeology at Lydd New Quarry

In October 1991 Brett Gravel began work on a plant site (TR 024204) for a new gravel quarry to the west of Lydd. When eventually complete, the area will form one of the largest gravel quarries in south-east England. Nothing was known of the archaeology here before work began.

The topsoil was stripped by machine from two areas, Area A (approximately 200 m. by 10 100 m.) and Area B (230 m. by 200 m.), separated by a strip approximately m. wide, which was left for access and eventually covered by a spoil bank. An archaeologist watched the removal of the topsoil, to identify any remains present, and subsequently excavation took place in Area B.

Area A revealed traces of a system of ditches which appeared to form rectangular field boundaries. Towards the south-east these became more complex, but were severely truncated when the level of the underlying shingle rose to immediately below the top soi 1. In the northern corner an area approximately 35 m. by 20 m. contained two features which appeared to be domestic rubbish pits. These were adjacent to a ditch also with rubbish on the surface. These features represent a medieval settlement site, which probably continues to the east of the area excavated by the machines. It was agreed with Bretts that this area would be reburied to preserve it for future investigation. No archaeological excavation took place in Area A.

Area B revealed a complex system of ditches which preliminary analysis suggests can be divided into two phases. An earlier system lying mainly toward the centre of the area consist of a pattern of both curved and straight ditches. The former follow a meandering course and probably originated as natural marsh channels, but may al so have served as field boundaries. Several of the straight ditches, wh i eh turn or join other at right each Further work will determine if these were contemporary. Preliminary dating by angles, were clearly artificial. pottery suggests that the ditch systems were in use during the thirteenth century.

Superimposed on this pattern was a further system of straight ditches. These appear to form square or rectangular encloses with sides between 100 m. and 150 m. long. The fills of these were a brown humic silt, noticeably different to that of the earlier ditches. They appear to be related to two parallel ditches running approximately north-south across the south-east side of Area B, which mark the line of a medieval track or roadway.

At the southern and western corners of Area B traces of further settlements were found. The former consisted of a series of rubbish pits and possible enclosure ditches. The pits contained very large quantities of shell (mainly cockle and oyster), presumably food debris. Preliminary dating suggests occupation during the fourteenth century. No structures were found and it is possible that the buildings associated with the pits had been removed by ploughing or in the stripping of the topsoil.

The western corner was in many ways the most interesting, although the evidence was very fragmentary due to the combination of attrition by ploughing and damage caused by rapid machine-stripping in difficult conditions. The very truncated ditches here were not apparently part of the main ditch system. The area was of particular importance because it revealed evidence of a pre-medieval land surface. This was buried by a later sediment of yellow-brown sandy silt which covered the greater part of the side. This land surface, which lay over shingle ridges, was a brown to black sand containing a large amount of Roman pottery and a single late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age flint arrowhead. An in situ cremation, apparently of Roman date, was discovered nearby. Analysis of samples from the dark sand may in due course, elucidate its origin.

Preliminary conclusions

The sequence suggested by the excavations is that this area was occupied during the Roman period, but was subsequently inundated. It was resettled by the thirteenth century, and a system of regular field boundaries was laid out in the late thirteenth or early fourteenth century. Small-scale domestic settlements were established during the late thirteenth century. This interpretation is based on a preliminary analysis and may be modified when post-excavation work is complete.

We were particularly grateful to Dr. John Williams, for his assistance in setting up this project and his helpful suggestions during the course of it.

Ian M. Greig

Field Archaeology Unit, University College London

This work was not funded or carried out by the Trust. The project was set up by John Williams, Kent Archaeological Officer, and funded by Brett Gravel Ltd before they removed the area in the course of quarrying. The work was directed by Ian Greig.

[fg]png||Image[/fg]