Little Stock Farm, ARC LSF 98
Wessex Archaeology, 2004. (updated 2017) https://doi.org/10.5284/1044725. How to cite using this DOI
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Stuart
Foreman
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Oxford Archaeology (South)
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- ADS Collection: 1789
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1044725
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Union Railways (South) Limited to carry out an archaeological evaluation of a site at Little Stock Farm, alongside the Ashford to Folkestone railway, near the village of Mersham (centred on TR 06400 38625). The site is known as Little Stock Farm (site code ARC LSF98). The evaluation comprised seventeen 30m x 1.8m evaluation trenches within an area totaling 5.8 hectares, and was carried out between the 25th and 28th of January 1999.
An Environmental Assessment, geophysical survey and fieldwalking had identified the potential for archaeological remains within the evaluation area. The potential appeared to focus on a diffuse scatter of worked and burnt flint, including an Early Bronze Age barbed and tanged arrowhead, within the eastern portion of the evaluation area. The geophysical survey noted zones of increased response towards the western end of the evaluation area and within the coombe crossing the central portion of the site.
The evaluation has revealed a total of 27 archaeological features, including ditches, pits, post- and stake-holes and other structural remains. These features were grouped together on the south-east brow of a slight promontory overlooking the East Stour River valley to the south, and in particular within one trench (trench 3627TT). Dating evidence suggests that the features in this area represent both Late Bronze Age and Late Iron Age settlement activity, both focussing on what appear to be subrectangular enclosures. Medieval and/or post-medieval activity appears to be concentrated to the west of this prehistoric activity, and may include substantial structural remains.
Colluvial deposits recorded at the site, although extensive, were generally thin and probably of post-medieval origin. The deeper profiles, recorded within a coombe crossing the central portion of the site, produced evidence to suggest phases of deposition broadly contemporaneous with the phases represented by features elsewhere. It is possible that some of the worked flint recovered from the very base of the colluvial sequence may be Mesolithic or Early Neolithic in origin.
An Archaeological Excavation (ARC LSF 99) and Geophysical Survey (ARC LFM 95) were also undertaken at Little Stock Farm as part of CTRL phase 1.
N.B. Much of this work here has been superseeded by works associated with the Phase Two and Schemewide programmes, but are included here for completeness. Those wishing to use the most current data are urged to view the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Section 1 Project pages.
