The area of Folkestone has been occupied since at least the Neolithic, being
the shortest crossing point from France. The East Cliff area has recently been
excavated and produced finds from the Paleolithic period through to the Roman
Era, when settlement moved to the Bayle area of the town. On the East Cliff
there was an extensive Iron Age settlement and harbour which, amongst other
industry, produced thousands of quernstones over at least 200 years and traded
with the near continent for many commodities including pottery, wine and
quernstones. A Roman style villa was constructed in approximately AD100
followed by a
