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Monument details

HER Number:	TR 15 NE 24
Type of record:	Monument
Name:	Handaxes found at Fordwich, Lower Palaeolithic

Summary

Possibly some of the oldest evidence for human activity in Kent. A large assemblage of handaxes and other lithic implements was found in the 1920s in the quarry (now back-filled) by the road from Fordwich, including many crudely-made pointed handaxes, thought to be indicative of an early date.

Grid Reference:	TR 180 590
Map Sheet:	TR15NE
Parish:	FORDWICH, CANTERBURY, KENT

Monument Types

FINDSPOT (Lower Palaeolithic - 500000 BC to 150001 BC)

Associated Finds

HANDAXE (Lower Palaeolithic - 500000 BC to 150001 BC)
LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Lower Palaeolithic - 500000 BC to 150001 BC)
LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Lower Palaeolithic - 500000 BC to 150001 BC)

Full description

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Crudely-made pointed handaxes and other implements from gravel in the pit in the angle made by the road leading south from Fordwich meeting the Canterbury-Stodmarsh road to the west of Moat Cottages (1,2, 3). The gravel pit ceased working before WW 2, and is now backfilled and farm land. Other sources (4-8).

<1> Smith, R.A., 1933, Implements from high-level gravel near Canterbury. (Article in serial). SKE29700.

<2> F1 ASP 05.02.65 (OS Card Reference). SKE41926.

<3> Ashmore AM, 1980, The typology and age of the Fordwich handaxes (Article in serial). SKE29701.

<4> Roe, D.A., 1968, British Lower and Middle Palaeolithic handaxe groups, pp. 7, 14-15 (Article in serial). SKE29702.

<5> Roe, D.A., 1981, The Lower and Middle Palaeolithic Periods in Britain. (Monograph). SKE29687.

<6> Wessex Archaeology, 1993, The Southern Rivers Palaeolithic Project, Report No.2: The South West and South of the Thames [Vol. I - text], S-4.36, p 148 (Monograph). SWX6569.

<7> Bridgland, D.R., Keen, D.H., Schreve, D.C. & White, M.J., 1998, Fordwich (TR 178588), p 41-42 (Article in monograph). SKE29703.

<8> Roe, D.A., 1968, Gazetteer of British Lower and Middle Palaeolithic Sites (Monograph). SWX6570.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref.	Source description
<1>	Article in serial: Smith, R.A.. 1933. Implements from high-level gravel near Canterbury.. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society of East Anglia 7(2): 165-170..
<2>	OS Card Reference: F1 ASP 05.02.65.
<3>	Article in serial: Ashmore AM. 1980. The typology and age of the Fordwich handaxes. Archaeologia Cantiana 96: 83-117..
<4>	Article in serial: Roe, D.A.. 1968. British Lower and Middle Palaeolithic handaxe groups. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 34: 1-82. pp. 7, 14-15.
<5>XY	Monograph: Roe, D.A.. 1981. The Lower and Middle Palaeolithic Periods in Britain.. [Mapped feature: #43385 Find, ]
<6>	Monograph: Wessex Archaeology. 1993. The Southern Rivers Palaeolithic Project, Report No.2: The South West and South of the Thames [Vol. I - text]. S-4.36, p 148.
<7>	Article in monograph: Bridgland, D.R., Keen, D.H., Schreve, D.C. & White, M.J.. 1998. Fordwich (TR 178588). p 41-42.
<8>	Monograph: Roe, D.A.. 1968. Gazetteer of British Lower and Middle Palaeolithic Sites. 1-355.