Exploring Kent's Past

It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument details

Summary

A globular pot of late Aylesford-Swarling type was found in 1931 in topsoil of Arnold's Quarry, Barming. In 1937 in the same quarry, a pit was located 5 feet(1.5m) below the surface containing a samian platter of Ritterling or Claudian type, sherds of coarse pottery, a fragment of a Roman glass fluted flagon handle and some oyster shells.

In 1963 a broken Belgic pot or jar of brown ware, burnished black with 2 cordons at the neck, was discovered in the same quarry. The open seam quarry has been out of use for many years and has reverted to woodland.

There are no details to indicate use of the urn for a cremation or for the site to be identified as a burial site. The pot/urn and the flagon handle sherd are in Maidstone Museum. The samian platter, being complete, is held at The British Museum.

Monument Types

• CINERARY URN (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
• PIT? (Late Iron Age to Roman - 41 AD to 60 AD)

Associated Finds

• JAR (Late Iron Age - 100 BC to 42 AD)
• JAR (Late Iron Age - 100 BC to 42 AD)
• JAR (Late Iron Age - 100 BC to 42 AD)
• SHERD (Late Iron Age - 100 BC to 42 AD)
• POT (Late Iron Age to Roman - 25 AD? to 50 AD?)
• PLATTER (Late Iron Age to Roman - 41 AD? to 54 AD?)

Full description

If you do not understand anything on this page please contact us.

[TQ 7115 5442] Belgic Urn found AD. 1932 [NAT] (1)

A small globular pot of late Aylesford-Swarling type (about 25-50 AD) found 29.12.31 whilst removing top-soil from workings in Arnold's Quarry, Barming (centred at TQ 7113 5442) is on exhibition in Maidstone Museum on loan from Mrs G Arnold, Hale Place, E. Peckham. From the same quarry on 20th Sept. 1937, a quarryman found 5' below the surface, apparently in a rubbish pit [sic] [?burial] a complete samian platter (Ritterling:- a Claudian type) with fragments of coarse pottery and fragment of a Roman glass fluted flagon handle; oyster shell was also present. This pottery is in the B.M. On the 12th Oct. 1963 two schoolboys, K. Whitehead and I. Harvey, found a further Belgic pot in the quarry at TQ 7111 5444, although broken, the fractures were new and the pot had obviously only recently fallen from the quarry face above. Inspection of this, however revealed nothing. The pot, which is on exhibition in Maidstone Museum, Acc No 92.1963, is a jar of brown ware, burnished black, with two cordons on the neck. The quarry has been out of use for many years and for some time was used as an army training ground, it is now completely derelict and overgrown. (2)

Additional bibliography. (3-5, 11)

<1> OS 25" (OS Card Reference). SKE48250.

<2> Maidstone Museum Arch Gaz (Anon undated) (OS Card Reference). SKE46406.

<3> JRS 28 (1938) 198 (OS Card Reference). SKE45075.

<4> Oral K Whitehead 14 Chamberlain Avenue Maidstone (OS Card Reference). SKE47936.

<5> Oral I Harvey 27 Gatland Lane Maidstone (OS Card Reference). SKE47929.

<6> F1 CFW 24.02.64 (OS Card Reference). SKE42737.

<7> BAR 90 Burial Practices in Iron Age Britain 1981 i 151 ii 379 (R Whimster) (OS Card Reference). SKE37583.

<8> Arch Cant 86 1971 74 (D B Kelly) (OS Card Reference). SKE35876.

<9> Arch Cant 89 1974 213 (D B Kelly) (OS Card Reference). SKE35980.

<10> Field report for monument TQ 75 SW 19 - February, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4005.

<11> Unknown, 1991, Backfilling & Restoration Proposals Barming Quarry (Unpublished document). SKE6732.

Sources and further reading