Thanet Developments

Early last year the now defunct Archaeological Unit negotiated with the Thanet District for the purpose of setting up a Trust for Thanet Archaeology, and this body was inaugurated last July with the appointment of Mr. D.R. J. Perkins B.Sc. ALF.A. as Director.

Since that date a number of 'Developer Funded' contracts have been negotiated with the Kent County Council and private developers and this has made it possible to put a small workforce in the field, and to date a number of significant archaeological sites have been either evaluated or excavated prior to development. In all cases, except where specialist reports are awaited, published reports have kept abreast of excavations.

Two sites at St. Mildred's Bay Westgate, are of more than local interest. The sites were originally revealed by the hurricane force winds of the Autumn of 1987, and suffered some damage during the gales of early 1988. They are of Middle Bronze Age date, c.1250 B.C., while the other quite nearby is of the Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age c.700-600 B.C.

In the first instance, a hoard of 10 bronze palstaves were found. This is the third known hoard of these implements in this part of Thanet.

The later site yielded large quantities of pottery and animal bones, while from the black silt of a presumed ancient stream bed a great deal of pollen rich organic material was recovered, marvellously preserved, cut timbers still retaining the clearly identifiable bark of silver birch, even leaves and blades of grass surviving intact.

The Trust team were able to investigate and sample what appears to be a large circular storage pit with surviving wattle lining still in situ!

Over a ton of environmental evidence from pit, post hole and ditch sections was obtained and sent to English Heritage for analysis.

Lower down the beach near the low tide mark, the fragmentary remains of a badly sea damaged dug out canoe was discovered, although too far gone for effective conservation, the dimensions were recorded and a tree ring date from the timber may be possible.

Although an uncomfortable and difficult site, time available for investigation is determined by the tides, it is hoped that when English Heritage have completed their analyses further work here will be supported into what is undoubtedly another important estuarine site probably involved in the traffic of bronzes to and from Europe.