Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

An extensive settlement site dating from Neolithic to Roman times was excavated between 1905 and 1971. A rectangular pit was uncovered during drainage work in 1907 at Lanthorne Road, Broadstairs. An iron spearhead, a black ware bowl, a large quantity of domestic animal bone, whetstones, and late 1st century BC/early 1st century AD pottery was found. The area was re-excavated by the Stone House Archaeology Group in 1971. A further number of domestic pits were found in the playing fields of Stone House School, at the hospital and in the surrounding area on Lanthorne Road. The artefact assemblage indicated further a settlement in the late Iron Age (Belgic) - early Roman period. Artefacts from the Neolithic period to the Roman period were also found (see TR 36 NE 67,71,71,73).

Monument Types

• PIT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)

Full description

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[TR 39586898] Late Celtic Remains found A.D. 1907 (NAT) (1) Iron Age remains found A.D. 1911. (NAT) (2) A rectangular pit with semicircular ends, 12ft x 4ft x 12ft deep, was uncovered during drainage work in 1907 at Lanthorne Road, Broadstairs. An iron spearhead, whetstones, and late C1st BC/early C1st AD pottery similar to that at the Dumpton settlement. [See TR 36 NE 14] were found. (3) There is no record of subsequent finds from this area and the present location of the objects could not be ascertained. (4) Late Celtic relics found at Lanthorne Road, including a black ware bowl (imcomplete); an iron spear-head about 12 inches long, in a very oxidised state; a large quantity of bones of various domestic animals, such as sheep, horses and oxen; a considerable quantity of broken pottery and a number of whetstones. (5) Lanthorne road, St Peters. The area previously excavated by Mr Howard Hurd in 1907 was re-excavated by the Stone House Archaeology Group in 1971. Artefacts from the Neolithic period to the Roman period were found (see TR 36 NE 67,71,71,73) as well as further evidence for late Belgic - early Roman occupation. Numerous pits (some containing bones of domestic animals and sherds of pottery were found in the playing fields of Stone House School. A rubbish pit containing bones of cow and sheep and fragments of late Belgic pottery was also found. Along the frontage to Lanthorne Road further pits were discovered similar to those found by Hurd, containing animal bones and late Belgic sherds. Imbrex tegula, and mortaria were also found in the pits. In October 1971 when work was undertaken on the opposite side of Lanthorne Road in the grounds of Lanthorne Hospital, similar pits were discovered. They were obviously part of the same settlement area, containing pottery sherds of late Belgic through to 40 AD and perhaps later date. A butt beaker of white fabric with rouletting, parts of two spindle whorls and much bone in fragmentary state were also found. (6-8) [For similar remains in this immediate area, see TR 36 NE 17]. TR 396691 (sited to nearest 50m) Iron Age remains discoved in 1911. Site no 62. (9) An extensive settlement site dating from Neoltihic to Roman times was excavated between 1905 and 1971. (10) Additional reference (11)

<1> OS 6" 1939-47 (OS Card Reference). SKE48361.

<2> OS 6" 1962 (OS Card Reference). SKE48371.

<3> Arch. 61, 1909, 435 (H. Hurd) (OS Card Reference). SKE36950.

<4> F1 CFW 27-OCT-63 (OS Card Reference). SKE42787.

<5> Howard Hurd, 1914, Late-Celtic Discoveries at Broadstairs, Arch. Cant. 30, 1914, 312 (H. Hurd) (Article in serial). SKE18292.

<6> KAR 28, 1972, 235 (B. Philp) (OS Card Reference). SKE45286.

<7> KAR 29, 1972, 273-5 (H. Biggs) (OS Card Reference). SKE45291.

<8> KAR 36, 1974, 163, (D. Crellin) (OS Card Reference). SKE45318.

<9> Thanet. The Arch. Heritage c.1982 5 (Thanet Dist. Council & Isle of Thanet Arch. Unit) (OS Card Reference). SKE49907.

<10> Isle of Thanet Arch. Unit, Sites and Mons. Archive 1988, Record No. 62 (OS Card Reference). SKE44763.

<11> Field report for monument TR 36 NE 4 - October, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6147.

Sources and further reading