Snarkhurst Wood (South of) SNK 95
Oxford Archaeology (South), 2004. (updated 2017) https://doi.org/10.5284/1044754. How to cite using this DOI
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- ADS Collection: 1839
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1044754
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
As part of a larger programme of archaeological investigation along the route of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, Union Railways Ltd commissioned the Oxford Archaeological Unit to undertake a field evaluation of approximately 4 ha of land south of Snarkhurst Wood and parallel to the north side of the M20 at Hollingbourne, Kent in November 1995. The evaluation area is adjacent to a 11 ha site, recently granted permission for a Motorway Service Area (MSA), which has been evaluated and excavated by the Oxford Archaeological Unit in the summer and autumn of 1995 on behalf of Esso Petroleum Ltd.
Earlier prehistoric activity is evident on the site from a thin general scatter of worked flints, and one pit containing a moderate sized group of worked flint probably of mesolithic or earlier neolithic date, which was found towards the western end of the area.
There was less evidence of late Bronze Age settlement within the CTRL corridor than had been found on the adjacent MSA site, but redeposited pottery of this character was found in later features and was also recovered from colluvial ploughwash deposits in two small dry valleys.
The main archaeological features identified by the CTRL evaluation are a group of late Iron Age or early Roman ditches and a pit, situated on an area of sloping ground within the CTRL corridor, about half way along the section of route under investigation, corresponding to a pottery scatter identified by the surface collection survey as potentially significant. The quantity and quality of the late Iron Age pottery from the largest of the ditches, along with slag and charred plant remains may be taken to indicate settlement activity in close proximity to the CTRL corridor. The late Iron Age activity is concentrated in a limited area directly north of a late Iron Age/Romano-British settlement site containing evidence of burial urns, which was uncovered during the construction of the Maidstone Bypass in the 1950s. It is likely the features on the CTRL route are the northern limits of this activity.
The absence of later Roman pottery reinforces the evidence from the MSA evaluation that there was no significant occupation of the site after the early Roman period. A small number of medieval sherds were recovered from the site, but in general there was no significant level of medieval activity.
A rectilinear pattern of small gullies in the central part of the area studied continues a pattern identified in the MSA evaluation. The dating of these gullies, which produced only a few small sherds of late prehistoric pottery and the isolated piece of worked flint, remains problematic.
An Archaeological Excavation (ARC SNK 99) was also undertaken South of Snarkhurst Wood 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.
