Archaeological investigations at Highstead Farm Quarry, Chislet, Canterbury, Kent

Archaeological investigations were undertaken by Archaeology South-East at Highstead Farm Quarry, Chislet, Kent between 2001 and 2002 in advance of aggregate extraction by Brett Aggregates Division. The archaeological results identified a Middle Bronze Age barrow (B1), a later prehistoric field system (FS1) and cremation burials likely associated with a known prehistoric settlement previously excavated c 1km to the south. Later activity consisted of a Roman field system (FS2) and a poorly-understood medieval enclosure (ENC1). Overall, the chronological narrative can be understood as a site located on an attractive location on a de facto peninsula on high ground bounded by the River Thames to the north and the former Wantsum Channel to the east and south-east. This relatively prominent location was chosen for Middle Bronze Age barrow (B1) and in the later prehistoric period settlement and farming (FS1). This close juxtaposition of fertile land, river and marshes allowed the exploitation of various resources including arable, pasture, wildfowl and fishing. Despite a later Iron Age hiatus, this location remained attractive for settlement and farming in the Roman (FS2) and medieval periods (ENC1).