Further Palaeolithic Evaluation East Hall Farm Sittingbourne Kent

In March 2011, Oxford Archaeology South undertook an evaluation at East Hall
Farm, Sittingbourne, Kent for URS Scott Wilson Ltd on behalf of Countryside
Properties, Ltd.
The evaluation took the form of five test pits excavated through a sequence of
brickearth and Pleistocene gravel deposits believed to have significant potential for
the recovery of palaeolithic artefacts.
The evaluation showed that the area had been extensively quarried for brickearth.
Only one of the five test pits contained significant quantities of in situ brickearth,
although three others displayed heavily truncated remnants/redeposited material.
Where sufficient brickearth survived in situ, samples were dry-sieved on site to
establish the presence/absence of artefacts. Previous geoarchaeological
assessment suggested that the highest potential for artefacts lay at the interface
between the brickearth and gravel. 100 litre samples were therefore taken from
three levels in each test pit, comprising the interface zone, the immediately
overlying brickearth (where present), and the underlying gravel.
Sieving failed to recover any palaeolithic artefacts. A small number of probable later
prehistoric struck flints were recovered from the disturbed brickearth/gravel interface
in Test Pit 2, comprising five flakes. The level of truncation and disturbance to the
brickearth in this test pit makes it clear that these finds were not in situ.