Pipelines Reveal 10,000 Years Of History

Archaeologists working for Folkestone & Dover Water on a major pipeline construction project have turned up finds that throw light on 10,000 years of local history. Stone age tools, bronze age pottery cups and medieval pottery were just some of the fascinating discoveries made as 20 kilometres of new strategic mains were laid.

One main has been built down the Alkham Valley to Dover and the other from Folkestone to Dungeness. Archaeological surveys were carried out to help decide the best pipeline routes and test excavations checked that sites of importance would not be disturbed. But even with this preliminary work it was realised that crossing ancient landscapes would inevitably produce interesting finds and an archaeological team was on hand to record them.

From the chalk downland valley of Alkham came evidence of flint tools being made with the earliest dating from around 10,000 years ago. The valley seems to have been rich in flint and it became Dover's first industrial area where tools for cutting and scraping were made for thousands of years. On Romney Marsh traces of early medieval sea defences were found together with fragments of medieval pottery. These fragments may date from the very beginning of marsh reclamation.

Finally the most exciting find was to the north of Hythe where a group of 3,000 year old Bronze Age pottery cups was found. The vessels were found in a small pit near an area where finds have previously been identified dating from the bronze and iron ages. To find any cups from this period is rare and a number packed together shows that the site was significant and important for our Bronze Age ancestors.

The Folkestone and Dover area is acknowledged as having a very rich archaeological heritage, with finds including the spectacular Dover Bronze Age Boat discovered by road building contractors in 1992. Folkestone & Dover Head of Capital Investment Ian McAthy said that great care was taken to ensure that heritage and wildlife sites were protected and that construction work had only proceeded after thorough assessment and evaluation.

He said: "In planning the routes for new mains we have brought in both experienced ecologists and archaeologists whose advice has been invaluable. Detailed assessments have been undertaken and we have frequently made changes in planned routes following ecological and archaeological advice.

"In building any major pipeline in an area such as Folkestone and Dover you can expect to make some archaeological finds and our experts were on hand to recover and record them, working closely with the Kent County Archaeologist's team."

Reports detailing the finds made on the pipelines routes will be made available to local archaeologists.