Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Palaeolithic hand-axe from Swanscombe Wood clay pit found by Roe and later described by Wymer. Location is approximate based on available information.

Monument Types

• FINDSPOT (Lower Palaeolithic - 500000 BC to 150001 BC)

Associated Finds

• HANDAXE (Lower Palaeolithic - 500000 BC to 150001 BC)

Full description

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Roe lists one handaxe from Swanscombe wood Clay Pit (1), then held at Passmore Edwards Museum, also described by Wymer (2). There was a major clay pit on the higher ground at the south side of Swanscombe Wood (aka Swanscombe Park), which was later incorporated in the 1970s into the expanding Eastern Quarry and is the most likely source, but there were also another minor clay pit within Swanscombe Wood at TQ 60490 73640 which is another possible source location. The site was assessed for the ME survey (3).

Location is approximate based on available information.

<1> Roe, D.A., 1968, Gazetteer of British Lower and Middle Palaeolithic Sites, p 185 (Monograph). SWX6570.

<2> Wymer, JJ, 1968, Lower Palaeolithic Archaeology in Britain as represented by the Thames Valley., p 352 (Monograph). SKE29697.

<3> Essex County Council & Kent County Council, 2003, Archaeological Survey of Mineral Extraction Sites around the Thames Estuary, KT583 (Unpublished document). SKE12012.

Sources and further reading