Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

During archaeological investigations undertaken at Barnfield pit by Waechter between 1968 and 1972, a quantity of worked flints and flint flakes were uncovered. In addition to the scattered finds, evidence of an in-situ knapping floor was also uncovered within the main excavation area within the lower loam deposit. (location accurate to the nearest 10m based on available information)

Monument Types

• BURIED LAND SURFACE (Lower Palaeolithic - 500000 BC to 150001 BC)
• FINDSPOT (Lower Palaeolithic - 500000 BC to 150001 BC)
• LITHIC WORKING SITE (Lower Palaeolithic - 500000 BC to 150001 BC)

Associated Finds

• CORE (Lower Palaeolithic - 500000 BC to 150001 BC)
• FLAKE (Lower Palaeolithic - 500000 BC to 150001 BC)
• WORKED FLINT (Lower Palaeolithic - 500000 BC to 150001 BC)

Full description

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During archaeological investigations undertaken at Barnfield pit by Waechter between 1968 and 1972 which were concentrated on the lower loam and lower gravel layers known from prior investigation to be present across many areas of the pit, a quantity of worked flints and flint flakes were uncovered. Though the excavations covered quite a large area, the flints were mainly concentrated within two trenches, trench A (or the main excavation area) and Trench B. The total number of flint artefacts from the main area of excavation was 1694 and these included flakes, cores, flake tools, bifaces and chips which have all been broadly divided into nine assemblages based on condition, raw material, position and technology. A further 155 were recovered from trench B and included flakes, cores and flake tools and were mostly within the lower loam, whereas the flints from the main excavation area were fairly evenly distributed across both the lower loam and lower gravel layers. In addition to the scattered finds, evidence of an in-situ knapping floor was also uncovered within the main excavation area within the lower loam deposit. An estimate of the extent of the knapping floor suggests that it was on an uneven surface roughly central within the excavated area and delineated by a small stream to the north. When they were originally excavated three distinct industries were suggested within the assemblage; two Clactonian from the lower gravel and lower loam and the third Acheulian from the lower middle gravel. More recent interpretation of the assemblage has however concluded that the variation that occurs between the assemblages at Swanscombe could be explained by factors such as assemblage formation, raw material, function and the changing landscape. On this basis there is no clear evidence for the identification of distinct cultures at the site. (1)

<1> Conway BW, McNabb J, & Ashton N, (ed's), 1996, Excavations at Barnfield Pit, Swanscombe, 1968–72. (Monograph). SKE32240.

Sources and further reading