SURVEY RESULTS

2005 / 27 Eastry, Kent

1.	Survey Areas

1.1	Two locations within the village (Survey Areas 1-7) were investigated by resistance survey using a Geoscan RM15 resistance meter and one Area (8) at Highborough Hill was surveyed magnetically using a Bartington Grad 601-2 fluxgate gradiometer.  The location of these areas is shown in Figure 1 at a scale of 1:5000.

1.2	The survey grid was set out by Dr Henry Chapman and tied in to the Ordnance Survey grid using a Trimble real time differential GPS system.

2.	Display

2.1	Figures 2 and 3 show summary greyscales and interpretations for the gradiometer and resistance data respectively, at a scale of 1:2000 and 1:1000.

2.2	The gradiometer results are displayed as X-Y traces, greyscale images and interpretations, all at a scale of 1:500.  Resistance data are displayed as greyscale images and interpretations, at a scale of 1:250 or 1:500. These figures can be found on the accompanying archive CD. 

2.3	These display formats and the interpretation categories used are discussed in the Technical Information section at the end of the text.

3.	General Considerations - Complicating factors

3.1	Conditions for survey were generally good for both the magnetic and resistance survey as the grass had been cut on Highborough Hill and the resistance was carried out over lawns and a recreation ground.

3.2	Some of the resistance areas were conducted in gardens; the limited extent of the survey in these small areas has made interpretation difficult, as it is impossible to assess the background levels or put the anomalies in a wider context.

4.	Results of Survey

Resistance Survey - Eastry Court (Areas 1-4 and 6-7)

4.1	It was thought that the gardens of Eastry Court might contain an Anglo-Saxon palace. Although the evidence is tentative and the potential target very difficult from a geophysics point of view, resistance survey was carried out in the small areas available for investigation; the results proved largely inconclusive. 

4.2	Some of the high resistance anomalies in the data correspond to paths, trees, flowerbeds and other modern garden features, and have been identified as such on the interpretation diagrams.  Other high resistance anomalies have a greater archaeological potential.  Excavation confirmed this in Area 3, where the western end of the anomaly was revealed to be a possible floor surface; this could support an archaeological explanation for the other anomalies in this area. 

4.3	A trench over the high resistance anomaly in Area 6 revealed a section of Victorian wall that accounted for the response and a large quantity of brick rubble was also excavated from a trench in Area 5.

Resistance Survey – Recreation Ground (Area 5)

4.4	The recreation ground occupies an area of short grass opposite St Mary's church.  A linear high resistance anomaly probably indicates a former path crossing the recreation area and perhaps leading to Eastry old school.  This interpretation is supported by the presence of a trend in the data that continues towards the present entrance into the ground. Excavation revealed a thin band of gravel and little else.

4.5	A small high resistance anomaly on the south-western edge of the survey area may have some archaeological significance as an excavation trench located here revealed archaeological features.  Other trends show some regularity, however they are weak and any archaeological interpretation is tentative.

4.6	Flower beds and trees forming a border around the recreation ground have also caused a band of high resistance in the data.

Magnetic Survey – Highborough Hill (Area 8)

4.7	The most exciting discovery was in the centre of the survey area and comprised a cross-shaped anomaly. This indicated the location of a former windmill on the site and the interpretation was confirmed by excavation.  A slightly curving ditch type anomaly to the east of this may be associated with the windmill, however, it is thought to be too far away from the centre to be the guiding wheel and therefore an alternative, archaeological, explanation is possible.

4.8	A series of strong magnetic anomalies forming a band to the north and west of the hilltop is visible on the aerial photograph (AP).  Initially, on the basis on the AP, the band was identified as part of a possible Anglo-Saxon enclosure. Subsequent map evidence suggested that the band coincides with the course of a track (hollow-way) and boundary; this was later confirmed by excavation. 

4.9	Outside of this hollow-way there is a higher level of background magnetic response and the mound of the hill itself is noticeably magnetically quieter.  An area of increased magnetic response on the south-facing side of the hill was thought to have some archaeological significance and on excavation a series of ditches and pits was revealed.

4.10	A linear anomaly on the eastern side of the hill is likely to correspond to a field drain or old field boundary, although an archaeological explanation cannot be discounted. An amorphous anomaly at the southern end of this linear was found to indicate a dark patch of soils containing some charcoal.  A negative linear anomaly parallel to the western edge of the survey area may be a ploughing / headland feature.

4.11	A pylon and an old railway line have produced the large ferrous anomaly in the northwestern corner of the survey area.  Two large isolated ferrous anomalies are likely to be modern in origin and may indicate the location of bomb damage dating from WWII.

5.	Conclusions

5.1	Resistance survey in the village failed to find any clear evidence for features of interest that might be associated with the postulated Anglo Saxon palace or settlement. Subsequent excavation also failed to provide any positive results.

5.2	Magnetic survey over Highborough Hill located the site of a former windmill and hollow way.  An area of increased magnetic response was resolved by excavation into a group of large pits and ditches.  The hill itself showed a very low level of background response and no anomalies indicative of settlement were noted in the survey.

Project Co-ordinator:	J Gater and F Robertson
Project Assistants:	D Shiel and E Wood

Date of Survey:		26th – 28th April 2005
Date of Report:		19th May 2005

References:

SSEW 1983.	Soils of England and Wales. Sheet 6, South East England. Soil Survey of England and Wales.

Twinch O, 2005 	Proposed archaeological evaluation at Highborough Hill and Eastry Court, Eastry, Kent. Project Design April 2005, unpublished.

SITE SUMMARY SHEET

2005 / 27  Eastry, Kent

NGR: SJ 285 555

Location, topography and geology 

The village of Eastry, Kent, lies approximately 3km southwest of Sandwich and 6km northwest of Deal.  Two areas were investigated: first around St Mary’s church in Eastry village and second at Highborough Hill on the northeastern outskirts of Eastry.  The soils comprise well drained calcareous fine silty soils over chalky drift and chalk; they are classified as being of the Coombe 1 (511f) association (SSEW, 1983).

Archaeology

Four Anglo-Saxon cemeteries have been identified around Eastry village and an Anglo-Saxon warrior grave was discovered within the village (Twinch, 2005).  Metal detectorists have found several Anglo-Saxon brooches on the side of Highborough Hill and aerial photographs suggest enclosure ditches encircling the hill.  The quantity of high status finds from around this area suggests the village may have been a Royal Anglo-Saxon centre. 

Aims of Survey

The aims of the survey were to investigate the possible location of an Anglo-Saxon palace within the confines of the village and at Highborough Hill, to define the nature of the buried archaeology.  The work formed part of a wider investigation carried out by Channel 4’s Time Team.

Summary of Results 

Resistance survey in the village failed to show conclusive evidence for Anglo-Saxon settlement.  However, a few high resistance anomalies in these areas have some archaeological potential.  In fact, excavation of one of these anomalies immediately adjacent to Eastry Court revealed a possible floor surface and other responses elsewhere in the gardens were associated with masonry of varying dates.  Modern garden features were also detected.

The magnetic survey over Highborough Hill indicated a low level of background response.  A band of strong anomalies curving round the hill to the north and west corresponded to a cropmark visible on aerial photographs; this was revealed by excavation to be the filled-in remains of a hollow way.  An unexpected and exciting find was the discovery of a cross-shaped anomaly in the centre of the survey area. This proved to be the location of a former windmill probably of medieval date.  An area of increased magnetic response coincided with a group of large pits and ditches also medieval in date.

* Background information taken from Twinch, 2005.

List of Figures

Figure 1		Location of Survey Areas						1:5000
Figure 2		Summary Gradiometer Greyscales & Interpretation			1:2000
Figure 3		Summary Resistance Greyscales & Interpretation			1:1000

Archive Section on CD

Figure 4		XY Trace of Gradiometer Data - Area A				1:500
Figure 5		Greyscale of Gradiometer Data – Area A				1:500
Figure 6		Interpretation of Gradiometer Data – Area A				1:500
Figure 7		XY Trace of Gradiometer Data - Area B				1:500
Figure 8		Greyscale of Gradiometer Data – Area B				1:500
Figure 9		Interpretation of Gradiometer Data – Area B				1:500
Figure 10	Resistance Data: Area 1						1:250
Figure 11	Resistance Data: Area 2						1:125
Figure 12	Resistance Data: Area 3						1:250
Figure 13	Resistance Data: Area 4						1:250
Figure 14	Resistance Data: Area 5						1:250
Figure 15	Resistance Data: Area 6						1:250
Figure 16	Resistance Data: Recreation Ground				1:500