Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Abundant Palaeolithic finds from the foreshore near Sharps Green, originating from terrace deposits at Twydall Chalk Pit that originally capped the chalk, but which were then removed and used to create a causeway to a wharf at Horrid Hill in early 20th C.

Monument Types

• FINDSPOT (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Neolithic - 500000 BC to 2351 BC)

Associated Finds

• AXEHEAD (Palaeolithic - 500000 BC to 10001 BC)
• CORE (Lower Palaeolithic to Middle Palaeolithic - 500000 BC to 125000 BC)
• DEBITAGE (Lower Palaeolithic to Middle Palaeolithic - 500000 BC to 125000 BC)
• HANDAXE (Lower Palaeolithic to Middle Palaeolithic - 500000 BC to 125000 BC)
• SCRAPER (TOOL) (Palaeolithic - 500000 BC to 10001 BC)
• SCRAPER (TOOL) (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)

Full description

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Palaeolithic finds from Twydall Chalk Pit, Gillingham, originating from terrace deposits that originally capped the chalk, but which were then removed and used to create a causeway to a wharf at Horrid Hill in early 20th C (1, 2). The causeway (repeatedly washed by tides) has subsequently been a very prolific source of Palaeolithic artefacts (as well as some from post-Palaeolithic periods). Many hundreds of artefacts have entered numerous museum collections, particularly the British Museum and Dartford Museum, including those documented by Roe as both Twydall and Sharps Green (3). Numerous private collectors also have substantial collections including many fine handaxe and flake-tool specimens. Evans also reports a surface find from the locality before quarrying had started (4). Site is in the Southern Rivers Palaeolithic Project (5, 6). Site has been subject to some recent archaeological consideration (7, 8).

<1> Payne G,, 1915, Researches and discoveries in Kent 1912-1915: Twydall. (Article in serial). SKE51554.

<2> Evans JH,, 1924, Archaeological discoveries and researches in the Regional Survey area. (Article in serial). SKE51535.

<3> Roe, D.A., 1968, Gazetteer of British Lower and Middle Palaeolithic Sites, p186 (Monograph). SWX6570.

<4> Evans, J., 1897, The Ancient Stone Implements, Weapons and Ornaments of Great Britain, p611 (Monograph). SWX6573.

<5> Wessex Archaeology, 1993, The Southern Rivers Palaeolithic Project, Report No.2: The South West and South of the Thames [Vol. I - text], M 5.14 (Monograph). SWX6569.

<6> Wessex Archaeology, 1993, The Southern Rivers Palaeolithic Project: maps for Report No. 2, Regions 4 & 1, The South West and South of the Thames [Vol II - maps], M 5.14 (Unpublished document). SKE12023.

<7> Bell, Derek, 1989, An Archaeological Evaluation of Lower Twydall Chalk Pit (Unpublished document). SKE11852.

<8> Whittaker, K., 1990 Sep, Lower Twydall Chalk PitLower Twydall Chalk Pit: Archaeological Implications of Plan by Kent Reclamation Ltd (Unpublished document). SWX7149.

Sources and further reading