The Isle of Thanet is located at the eastern tip of Kent and was once separated from the East Kent mainland by the Wantsum channel. With its unique position which made it part of a key trade route in the Romano-British period, the island has a long and diverse history. The Isle of Thanet explores that history from Prehistoric times up to the Norman Conquest, through the story of the rich and varied archaeological finds and a study of the key sites identified on the island, including Bronze Age Barrows, the Roman Minster Villa and Saxon monastic settlements. It also provides a historical study of the individuals and institutions that pioneered the exploration of archaeological sites on Thanet from the eighteenth century to the present day.