RICH ARCHEAOLOGY

Firstly, an enormous thank you to all that support this Petition. It's hugely encouraging to see so many people are determined to protect our wonderful country side. Over a thousand Signatures!

There's another reason why we need to help protect this area. We've only just learnt of the extent of important archaeological remains lying beneath the planned Quinn Estates Development area. Evidently there are more than fifteen separately recorded Ancient Monument sites. Since Stone Age hunter-gathers made their way from Europe 500,000 years ago, the fresh water springs at Ham, Finglesham and West Street have supported human occupation. There is also a rare and nationally important Palaeolithic site at West Street, from around 150,000 BC. Mesolithic flint tools, dated c 4,600 BC have been found and indicate that construction of dwellings took place here. From the Neolithic period, 3500-2,000 BC, there is evidence of the beginnings of land cultivation, however, rising sea levels then witnessed a change. It is after c AD 425, with the arrival of the Anglo Saxon Kings that we then begin to see further settlements and important burial sites associated with the Anglo Saxon Principality of Eastry.