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Thanet Archaeological Landscape Mapping Project

Thanet has many important archaeological remains, making it one of the most archaeologically sensitive areas in England. This area of outstanding archaeological potential is home to important late-prehistoric to medieval landscapes and Palaeolithic heritage.

The archaeology of the district has a distinct character and its location makes it a gateway region helping us understand the historic relationship between England and continental Europe.

Some of the earliest events in Britain’s history took place on the Isle of Thanet, including the arrival of:

  • the Romans
  • the Anglo-Saxons
  • Christianity.

Recent archaeological investigations have revealed some of this rich archaeological landscape. We now have a huge amount of raw archaeological data thanks to the following large-scale development projects:

  • Thanet Way 7A.
  • East Kent Access Road.
  • Thanet Earth.
  • Ramsgate Harbour Approach Road.
  • Westwood Cross and others.

Our investigations

Historic England has commissioned our heritage conservation team to:

  • improve the representation of Thanet’s archaeological heritage in the Kent Historic Environment Record to support development management research and community activities in the district
  • develop an archaeological characterisation for Thanet and reach a comprehensive understanding of:
    • the development of Thanet’s archaeological heritage across time
    • the role that different parts of the district played in different periods
    • how these roles are interconnected
    • the outstanding research questions.
  • improve the management of Thanet’s archaeological heritage with better advice for planners, developers and archaeologists
  • help people enjoy their archaeological heritage by contributing to, and sharing in, the stories of the district’s archaeological past including talks, trails and a newsletter.

The project is funded by Historic England with contributions from Kent County Council and Thanet District Council.

It began in March 2023 and will continue until 2026.

Newsletters

Issue 1 - October 2023 (PDF, 11.0 MB)

Issue 2 - March 2024 (PDF, 14.4 MB)

Who to contact

For more information about the project email heritage@kent.gov.uk or call 03000 41 50 18.