Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Iron Age pit (pre-Belgic) found in 1934. It was identified in a section at Eastwood's Brickfield, Rainham. The pit had a definite step on one side and the base was filled with red burnt clay, either an accumulation of hearths or, if this was a hut site, the result of a fire which destroyed it. A black layer above this may have been remains of a thatched roof. The pit was contained a large amount of pre Belgic Iron Age sherds in its fill and one blue glass bead. Finds last seen in Maidstone Museum.

Monument Types

• PIT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)

Associated Finds

• BEAD (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
• POTTERY ASSEMBLAGE (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)

Full description

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[TQ 8285 6625] Iron Age pottery found A.D. 1934 [NAT] (1) Pit with Iron Age pottery found January 1934. (2) In January 1934, Mr Carter of Rochester noticed a section of a pit in the face of a working in Eastwood's Brickfield, Rainham. (Latitude 51 degrees 21' 56" N.: Longitude 0 degrees 37' 37" E.). From this section the pit was seen to be 4ft. 6ins. deep with a definite step on one side: the bottom was filled with red burnt clay (? an accumulation of hearths or, if this was a hut site, the result of a fire which destroyed it) and above that was a black layer (perhaps the remains of a thatched roof). Upon excavation it was found that most of the pit had been quarried away for it only extended for another 18" into the face. The filling yielded many I.A. sherds (all from the same level near the bottom) and one blue glass bead ornamented with white stripes: the finds have been presented to Maidstone Museum. (3) Little Woodbury type storage pit. The pottery is pre-Belgic. (4) No further finds reported - the area is now an orchard. I.A. sherds and bead seen in Maidstone Museum. (5) Additonal bibliography (6-8)

<1> OS 6" 1938-9 (OS Card Reference). SKE48357.

<2> Pte 6" (L R A Grove 1950) (OS Card Reference). SKE48864.

<3> Arch Cant 49 1937 280-3 illus Section (N Cook) (OS Card Reference). SKE35240.

<4> PPS 20 1954 24 (C A Ralegh Radford) (OS Card Reference). SKE48582.

<5> F1 AC 01-NOV-51 (OS Card Reference). SKE41742.

<6> Field report for monument TQ 86 NW 22 - November, 1951 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4575.

<7> SECTION OF PIT (3.11.34) Types: IRON AGE POTTERY (Photograph). SKE199.

<8> SECTION OF PIT (3.11.34) Types: IRON AGE POTTERY (Photograph). SKE199.

Sources and further reading