Nashenden Valley, Borstal, Kent - Post Excavation Assessment Report

Oxford Archaeological Unit (OAU) was commissioned by Union Railways (South) Limited (URS) to undertake detailed archaeological investigation at the site of Nashenden Valley, Kent. This work formed part of an extensive programme of archaeological investigation carried out in advance of the construction of the CTRL. A stepped trench was excavated to a maximum depth of 3.50 m, at the location of an evaluation trench in which a possible Allerod soil was identified (Trench 1497TT). The section revealed a Holocene colluvial sequence and Pleistocene Coombe rock deposits which were of some geological interest but produced no significant archaeological results. The possible Allerod soil horizon recorded in the evaluation was not identified. Mollusc and pedological samples were taken at 0.10 m intervals from the topsoil to a depth of 1.3 m, which have yet to be assessed. Only two retouched and utilised flint flakes were recovered during sieving of spoil from a section excavated by hand through the Holocene colluvium. In spite of the largely negative results, further assessment of the samples recovered from the sequence, in conjunction with scientific dating techniques, may reveal some potential for palaeo-environmental reconstruction.

牛津考古项目部（Oxford Archaeological Unit, OAU）受联合铁路（南部）有限公司（Union Railways (South) Limited, URS）委托，对肯特郡纳申登谷遗址开展详细考古调查。本次调查为CTRL建设前期实施的大规模考古调查计划的组成部分。研究人员在曾发现疑似阿勒罗德土层（Allerod soil）的勘探探沟（编号1497TT）位置开挖阶梯式探沟，最大开挖深度达3.50米。该探沟剖面揭露了全新世坡积序列与更新世库姆岩（Coombe rock）沉积层，虽具备一定地质研究价值，但未取得显著考古成果。此前勘探中记录的疑似阿勒罗德土层（Allerod soil）地层未被本次发掘确认。研究人员以0.10米为间隔，从表土至1.3米深度处采集了软体动物标本与土壤学样本，目前尚未开展评估。在人工开挖全新世坡积层所产生弃土的筛分过程中，仅回收得到两件经修整且带有使用痕迹的燧石片。尽管本次发掘整体成果有限，但结合科学测年技术对本次采集的序列样本开展进一步分析，或可为古环境重建提供潜在研究价值。