Link to printer-friendly page

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

Monument details

HER Number:TQ 57 SE 16
Type of record:Findspot
Name:Globe Pit, Greenhithe, Palaeolithic handaxes found in early 20th Century

Summary

Globe Pit, Greenhithe, Palaeolithic handaxes found in early 20th Century

Grid Reference:TQ 5885 7462
Map Sheet:TQ57SE
Parish:SWANSCOMBE AND GREENHITHE, DARTFORD, KENT

Monument Types

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

Associated Finds

  • DEBITAGE (Lower Palaeolithic to Middle Palaeolithic - 500000 BC to 125000 BC)
  • HANDAXE (Lower Palaeolithic - 500000 BC to 150001 BC)

Full description

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

Numerous , fresh condition handaxes were recovered from the site in the early 20th Century, including several found by H Stopes now held at NMW Cardiff (1,2). The handaxes have a wide range of shapes including sub-cordate, ovate and pointed, many with a twisted profile. Further investigations were carried out by Dewey and Smith in 1912 (3, 4) but they did not provide good information on the provenance of the previously-recovered handaxes. The recorded sequence (3, 4) showed a jumbled-up clayey deposit, which possibly represents slopewash deposits post-dating the underlying terrace deposits. The site is included in the SRPP (5) and was included in the KTG ME Survey (6).


<1> Wenban-Smith F. F., March 2004, The Stopes Palaeolithic Project: Final Report, #758 (Unpublished document). SWX12877.

<2> Wymer, JJ, 1968, Lower Palaeolithic Archaeology in Britain as represented by the Thames Valley., p332-333 (Monograph). SKE29697.

<3> Smith RA, Dewey H,, 1913, Stratification at Swanscombe: report on excavations made on behalf of the British Museum and H.M. Geological Survey., p192-196 (Article in serial). SKE32207.

<4> Dewey H, Smith RA, 1932, The Palaeolithic deposits of the Lower Thames Valley., p 48-49 (Article in serial). SKE32222.

<5> Wessex Archaeology, 1993, The Southern Rivers Palaeolithic Project, Report No.2: The South West and South of the Thames [Vol. I - text], NWK 4.17 (A) (Monograph). SWX6569.

<6> Essex County Council & Kent County Council, 2003, Archaeological Survey of Mineral Extraction Sites around the Thames Estuary, #KT903 (Unpublished document). SKE12012.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
<1>Unpublished document: Wenban-Smith F. F.. March 2004. The Stopes Palaeolithic Project: Final Report. #758.
<2>Monograph: Wymer, JJ. 1968. Lower Palaeolithic Archaeology in Britain as represented by the Thames Valley.. p332-333.
<3>Article in serial: Smith RA, Dewey H,. 1913. Stratification at Swanscombe: report on excavations made on behalf of the British Museum and H.M. Geological Survey.. Archaeologia 64: 177-204.. p192-196.
<4>Article in serial: Dewey H, Smith RA. 1932. The Palaeolithic deposits of the Lower Thames Valley.. Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London 88: 36-56. p 48-49.
<5>Monograph: Wessex Archaeology. 1993. The Southern Rivers Palaeolithic Project, Report No.2: The South West and South of the Thames [Vol. I - text]. NWK 4.17 (A).
<6>Unpublished document: Essex County Council & Kent County Council. 2003. Archaeological Survey of Mineral Extraction Sites around the Thames Estuary. #KT903.