Stone Farm Bridleway, ARC SFB 99
Wessex Archaeology, 2004. (updated 2017) https://doi.org/10.5284/1044749. How to cite using this DOI
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This work is licensed under the ADS Terms of Use and Access.
Primary contact
Stuart
Foreman
Senior Project Manager
Oxford Archaeology (South)
Janus House
Osney Mead
Oxford
OX2 0ES
UK
Tel: 01865 263800
Fax: 01865 793496
Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 1832
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1044749
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Union Railways (South) Ltd (URS) to undertake an excavation on land east of the Stone Farm bridleway, north of the village of Saltwood, Kent. The excavation forms part of a programme of archaeological investigation along the proposed route of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, and at the Site has been preceded by an Environmental Assessment.
The 4.3 hectare site straddles the Saltwood Tunnel stretch of the Ashford to Folkestone railway, is centred on NGR grid point TR 15950 36950, and is known as Stone Farm Bridleway. Other work in the immediate vicinity includes an evaluation (ARC SLT 97) conducted by the Oxford Archaeological Unit followed by an area excavation (ARC SLT 98) by the Canterbury Archaeological Trust, both located immediately to the west of Site.
Archaeological features recorded at the Site survived as cuts into the surface of either the natural geology or an overlying late medieval/post-medieval developed subsoil that was present across the Site. Overall, 192 features were identified, comprising 74 ditches, 54 pits and/or post-holes, 49 graves or suspected graves, one hollow-way, one ring ditch (barrow), one grubenhaus, and one confirmed and one suspected sub-square enclosure. Of the remaining ten features, the majority comprise modern intrusive features including ditches, pits, post-holes, road construction disturbance etc. that have been investigated and recorded. Numerous datable artefacts were recovered from these features, indicating the potential presence of Early Neolithic, Early Bronze Age, Late Bronze Age, Early Iron Age, Late Iron Age, Romano-British, Saxon and Saxo-Norman activity in the immediate area.
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.
