Archaeological Timeline

A flint blade discovered at the end of the 2016 excavation season provides some of the earliest evidence of human activity at East Wear Bay.

Flint microliths and blades have been recovered from the site, which show that people were hunting and fishing in the area.

Neolithic pottery sherds and flint tools found at East Wear Bay suggest that there was a settlement in the immediate area. This settlement is yet to be found by archaeologists.

The Bronze Age is represented at the site by metalwork and pottery. Several undated post-holes may be evidence of Bronze Age structures, although further analysis needs to be done to confirm this.

Occupation appears to have continued at East Wear Bay throughout the early and middle Iron Age. Our recent excavations have established that from the 2nd century BC the site flourished as a major coastal trading and production settlement.

During the Late Iron Age, East Wear Bay served as the focus for large-scale quernstone production and also functioned as a port of trade with continental Europe and the developing Roman Empire. The quernstones were made from the local Greensand, which was brought up from the cliffs and beaches around Folkestone.

Following the Roman conquest, the site transitioned from an Iron Age settlement to a Romanized villa complex.

This first villa was demolished in the late first or early second century and a bigger structure was built with deeper foundations. Roof tiles stamped by the 'Classis Britannica' (the Roman fleet in British waters), suggests a link to this unit. The villa was abandoned in the late third century and was reoccupied in the fourth century when it may have been semi-derelict. The villa is finally abandoned by the early fifth century.

By the early 5th century, the villa was abandoned and was gradually forgotten. Although no evidence of occupation during the early Anglo-Saxon period has been found at East Wear Bay. By the mid-seventh century a monastic site had been established by St Eanswythe on Folkestone's west cliff, forming the focus for the later town. Excavations have recovered pottery and a coin of Alfred the Great dating to the ninth century AD, implying some people had re-occupied the site at this time.

Local residents noticed Roman building materials eroding from the cliff face above East Wear Bay, sparking archaeological interest.

SE Winbolt excavated the site with his daughter Rosalind.

The uncovered Roman villa was visited by thousands of holidaymakers. A tea room and toilet facilities were built to serve visitors. Many postcards and photographs from this period survive.

The army dug slit trenches and weapon pits across the site, causing some damage to the archaeology. The site formed part of the coastal defenses against potential invasion.

With tourists heading to sunnier climates and maintenance costs rising, Folkestone Council made the decision to cover the exposed ruins with soil for their protection.

KARU excavated part of the villa to assess erosion since 1924. They found that up to 10 metres had been lost to the sea and discovered intact Iron Age features beneath the villa.

This project involved re-excavating the northern part of the villa to reveal complex and well-preserved Iron Age deposits beneath the Roman period remains. Featured on BBC's 'Digging for Britain' and won Current Archaeology's 'Rescue Dig of the Year'.

The East Wear Bay Archaeological Field School investigated land north of the villa, establishing the extent of Iron Age features. An extensive quernstone production area was discovered.

Local volunteers and University of Kent students re-excavated Room 40 of the villa to assess the condition of the mosaic floor. It was found to be better preserved than expected. Trenching to the north-west revealed undisturbed Roman period deposits.

With funding provided by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and other funding partners, CAT has undertaken excavations that have focused on areas most at risk of coastal erosion. Run as a community excavation and field school, the project has engaged with many people in the local area.

Plans include further excavations of areas at risk, comprehensive digital documentation. Publication of results and expanded community engagement programmes to build on previous success. We are currently looking for funders to help us continue this important project.