Fig. 2 Site Plan- Phases 1 and 2 (Phase 1 features labelled in italics). Fig. 3 Plan and sections of Neolithic pit 1092 and Bronze Age ditch 1094; Bronze Age ditch 1134; and Bronze Age ditch 12 (cuts 1375 and 1377). Fig. 4 Plan and section of Neolithic pit group. TABLE 1. SUMMARY OF WORKED FLINT BY TYPE identified by a thick white cortex, were also present. The site is located on chalk bedrock and these pieces are therefore also likely to be locally derived. The assemblage includes over 40 pieces (7 per cent) of Bullhead flint. This is found in the Bullhead Bed and is identified by a green cortex with an underlying orange-coloured band. In north Kent the Bullhead Bed overlies the chalk beneath the Thanet sands (Dewey and Bromehead 1921, 18; Shepherd 1972, 114) and runs to the south of Broadstairs. However, afew small outliers of the Thanet sands are located just to the west of the town and appear to be the closest possible source of Bullhead flint. TABLE 2. SUMMARY OF THE WORKED FLIN’ FROM EARLY NEOLITHIC PIT 1524 TABLE 2. SUMMARY OF THE WORKED FLINT FROM EARLY NEOLITHIC PIT 1524 and well within the range suggested for an assemblage of this date (Ford 1987, 79, table 2). TABLE 3. PROPORTIONS OF BUTT TYPES SEEN IN THE EARLY NEOLITHIC AND LATER BRONZE AGE ASSEMBLAGES The results of the assessment of termination type indicate that the majority of pieces displayed a feather termination (Table 4). Hinge, plunging and step terminations, which are usually associated with less skilled knapping, were present, but only in small numbers. The majority of assessed pieces are secondary removals (58 per cent), that is pieces that exhibit the scars of previous removals on the dorsal surface but still retain some dorsal cortex. In contrast, only one primary flake (a removal whose dorsal surface is entirely cortical) was recovered. The remaining 40 per cent are tertiary flakes (those with no remaining dorsal cortex). The core, recovered from ‘pit 1524, is minimally worked with a few Bae es = ee ee >a es (coe nae Ses, wale SE GA | - koe Aa 4 eee a TABLE 4. PROPORTIONS OF TERMINATION TYPES SEEN IN THE EARLY NEOLITHIC AND LATER BRONZE AGE ASSEMBLAGES A total of 149 pieces of worked flint were recovered from contexts dating to the middle to late Bronze Age (Table 1), comprising 22 per cent of the assemblage. Like the early Neolithic assemblage, unretouched debitage dominates (133 pieces, 89 per cent). This includes only asmall proportion (7 per cent, excluding irregular waste and chips) of blades, which confirms the suggested dating (Ford 1987, 79, table 2). ne suggested Galg (POrd Lgo/, /J, taDLe 2). The material from 12 contexts (55 pieces) was subject to metrical and technological analysis. Like the early Neolithic material, the high instance of breaks meant that only 37 pieces were measured. Over 75 per cent of the sample comprised short, squat flakes (ratio < 1.6), supporting the suggested Bronze Age date. However, somewhat surprisingly, a relatively high proportion of pieces with a ratio of more than 2.1 were also present. It is therefore possible that the assemblage incorporates some material that derives from earlier industries. Many of the blades do not have technological characteristics consistent with an earlier industry though, and so appear to be later in date, possibly being unplanned blade removals from otherwise flake-based cores. Fig. 6 Flints 1-3. 1. Pit 1524, ctx 2704. Serrated flake. Proximal break, fine serrations on both lateral edges. Early Neolithic; 2. Ditch 1211, ctx 1221. Multiplatform flake core. Small flake removals from many platforms, cortical base, 122g. Bronze Age; 3. Pit 1024, ctx 1025. End and side scraper. Direct retouch on distal end and sides, inverse retouch on proximal end to thin the bulb. Bronze Age. Fig. 7 Flints 4-6. 4. Ditch 1213, ctx 1251. Leaf-shaped arrowhead. Irregular retouch covers both surfaces, intact tip, but damage just below. Early Neolithic (residual in Bronze Age ditch); 5. Ditch 1213, ctx 1250. Knife. Large flake, platform edge abrasion, abrupt direct retouch narrows proximal end, thinned bulb, probably hafted, heavily used. Early Bronze Age? 6. Ditch 1049, ctx 1050. End and side scraper. Direct retouch on proximal end and sides, hinge termination. Bronze Age. TABLE 5. SUMMARY OF POTTERY ASSEMBLAGE Fig. 8 Pottery finds 1-6. 1. Pit 1421, ctx 1422. Fabric: AF1. Early Neolithic. 2. Pit 1524, ctx 2704. Fabric: AF3. Early Neolithi 3. Pit 1524, ctx 27704. Fabric: AF3. Early Neolithic. 4. Pit 1524, ctx 27704. Fabric: AF3. Early Neolithic. 5. Ditch 1211, ctx 111€ Fabric: AF2. Later Bronze Age. 6. Ditch 1211, ctx 1107. Fabric: AF1. Profile uncertain. Later Bronze Age. TABLE 7. SUMMARY OF CHARRED PLANT REMAINS TABLE 8. SUMMARY OF CHARCOAL (1024) were both dominated by charcoal from the fruit trees Prunus and Maloideae (Table 8). It is interesting to note that as well as wood from Maloideae, which includes hawthorn, small, crushed fruit-stones from Crataegus sp. (hawthorn) were also found in the cremation burial. This could however have been associated with the fuel for the pyre, rather than being a food offering. There are slight signs of woods typical of a more open landscape being used in the Bronze Age as compared to the Neolithic.
