EVENT_NAME,EVENT_CODE,EVENT_TYPE,CONTRACTOR,DATE,GRID (NGR),PROJECT,COUNTY,DISTRICT,PARISH,SMR,SITE_TYPE,PERIOD:,METHOD:,PHASING:,ENVIRO:,FINDS:,GEOLOGY:,CONTEXT_NUM:,THREAT:,SAMPLE:,SUMMARY:,ARCHIVE:,ACC_NUM:
West of Leda Cottages,ARC 430/83+200,WB,OAU,07/2000,596500147450,CTRL 430,KENT,Ashford,Westwell,,Late Iron age-Roman settlement,LIA; RO,Previous evaluation trenching and monitoring of the work durring the stripping of the trace had shown no significant archaeology and the site was earmarked for a watching brief only. The WB covered an area c. 240m x 120m (2.88ha). Machine stripping under archaeological supervision and excavation of feature by hand.,"3 major phases at assessment stage: phase 1-LIA; ERO, phase 2: late 1st-late 2nd, phase 3: mid to late 2nd-AD270",61 samples on a total of 66 were submitted for assessment of charred plant remains and charcoal. 41 produced seeds and/or chaff and 51 produced charcoal. Cereal species dominated by Triticum spelta with occasional Hordeum vulgare (barley) and Avena sp. (oats). Weed seeds also present in 24 samples. The large deposits of cereal grain and chaff suggest cereal processing activities were taking place. The two furnaces samples and hearth associated feature produced frequent or abundant charcoal representing fuel for firing. Total of 315 fragments of animal bones in very poor condition.,"Excavation yielded 1982 sherds (2087g) of late Iron Age and Roman pottery from 115 contexts and a further 281 sherds (1542g) from environmental sieving. The pottery data suggest fairly limited occupation during late Iron Age and period c. AD 50-150, followed by a great increased in activity during period c. AD 150-270. No pottery after AD 270. Late Iron Age and early roman pot came from the ditches forming the earliest enclosure. The larger quantities of late 1st and 2nd century came from the new enclosure, the south-east corner of this one and various scattered pits. A total of 17 kg of CBM and fired clay was recovered. Most of the CBM is of Roman date. Some of the fired clay is associated with iron smelting. Some appears to be from wattle-and-daub structures. A total of 83 pieces of worked flin, all residual, and 245 pieces of burnt flint were found. Worked flints were dated roughly to the late Mesolithic/early Neolithic and Bronze Age. 300 fragments of stone were recovered of which 10 pieces were worked. Five of these were fragments of rotary querns, the remaining were a possible tessera, two possible building blocks and a sling shot. 8 small undiagnostic fragments of glass and 5 iron nails were also recovered.","The site lies on the eastern edge of the Folkestone Beds, bordered to the east by Gault Clays. It was sealed by sandy silt  soils.
 The area of the watching brief lies between the existing A20 and the embankment of the Maidstone to Ashford railway line. The site slopes gently down from south-east to north-west with a stream forming the northern boundary of the site. The southern extent of the site  is defined/truncated by a post-medieval sunken lane associated with the occupation bridge under the railway. 
Prior to work on the CTRL the area of the site had been under arable cultivation.",636,Channel Tunnel Rail Link construction and associated working area will result in extensive ground disturbance.,66,"As part of an extensive programme of archaeological investigation carried out in advance of the construction of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL), the Oxford Archaeological Unit was commissioned by Union Railway (South) Limited to undertake a watching brief during soil stripping of mitigation land West of Leda Cottages (Chainage 83+200). 

The watching brief recorded a sequence of late Iron Age and Roman activity dating from the late Iron Age to c. AD 270. In summary, the following dated occupation has been established:

Evidence of late Iron Age represented by the establishment of a rectilinear enclosure with two well defined entrance and subdivided by a small gully.
Occupation during late Iron Age into the early Roman period included two 4-posts structure, probably associated with cereal processing and evidence for iron smelting activity. One furnace was located within the enclosure and a second focus of activity, comprising 3 furnaces and 2 associated features, was situated 150m north-west of the enclosure near the present day stream.
The construction of a second rectangular enclosure, respecting the alignment of the earlier one which was therefore probably still in use. This is probably datable to the late 1st century. Dating evidence suggest the earlier ditches were deliberately backfilled shortly after. Various features containing 2nd century pottery were recorded, including a number of pits, a rectangular flint lined structure of unknown purpose and a possible 6 posts structure. The south-east corner of the new enclosure might have been the centre of industrial activity of unknown nature. 
The focus of iron smelting activity, north-east of the main area, might have still been in use, however the dating evidence is very slight.
Evidence for continuing occupation into the 3rd century, mostly represented by discrete features. The second enclosure was possibly still in use. The nature and the foci of activity do not seem different from the previous phase. Another rectangular structure, with stone and daub lining, of unknown purpose was recorded. All activity seems to have ceased around c. 270 AD.",OAU,