Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A medieval ditch and pit were found during the construction of a gas pipeline in 1982. The ditch was about 1m wide and contained a brown loam fill. An oval pit was discovered in close proximity, and found within the fill of this feature was midden material in the form of marine shells and animal bone, as well as sherds of Saxo Norman pottery. This pottery has been identified as Canterbury sandy ware dating to c.AD 1080-1150. The finds have been interpreted as evidence of an early medieval settlement. It is also possible that they may be linked to a farmstead site found in this area (see TR 26 NE 168).

Monument Types

• DITCH (Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1539 AD)
• PIT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Associated Finds

• POTTERY ASSEMBLAGE (Medieval - 1080 AD? to 1150 AD?)

Full description

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TR 28796553 sited from plan] A ditch of semi-circular section was cut through during the construction of the Monkton gas pipeline in 1982. the ditch was about 1m wide with a brown loam fill. A pit of oval plan was discovered about 2m east of a ditch and 1.50m south of the pipe trench. It was 2.50m long by 1.60m wide and 0.96m deep, with vertical sides and a flat bottom. The stratified fill of chalk rubble and loam yielded marine shells, animal bone and sherds of Saxo Norman pottery: Canterbury sandy ware c.AD 1080-1150. (1)

TR 287655 During the excavation of the Monkton-Ramsgate gas pipe line in 1982, a pit was encountered at this point containing midden material, sherds of Saxo-Norman pottery and Canterbury sandy ware (c1080-1150 A.D.). (2)

Linked with farmstead site found during dualling of the A253 TR 26 NE 168.

An oval pit and a number of associated ditches discovered during the pipeline operations in the north western corner of the monument have been interpreted as traces of a later medieval settlement. Analysis of pottery sherds found in the pit suggest that the settlement dates to the years around 1080-1150 AD. The monuments have been partly disturbed by the pipeline laying and modern ploughing.(3-5)

From the National Heritage List of England:

An oval pit and a number of associated ditches discovered during the pipeline operations in the north western corner of the monument have been interpreted as traces of a later medieval settlement. Analysis of pottery sherds found in the pit suggests that the settlement dates to the years around AD 1080-1150. The monument has been partly disturbed by the pipeline laying and modern ploughing. (6)

<1> Arch Cant 101 1984 85 86 88 Illus (DRJ Perkins and S Chadwick Hawkes) (OS Card Reference). SKE34602.

<2> Isle of Thanet Arch Unit Sites and Mons Archive 1988 Record No 237 (OS Card Reference). SKE44709.

<3> English Heritage Scheduling Section, 1999, Anglo-Saxon Cemetery and Associated Remains at Monkton, 550m North of Walters Hall Farm, SAM 31409 (Scheduling record). SKE11849.

<4> Trust for Thanet Archaeology, 1991, Proposed Improvements to The A253 Between Monkton & Ramsgate: The Archaeological Implications (Unpublished document). SKE11867.

<5> Perkins, D. R. J. & Hawkes, S. C., 1985, The Thanet Gas Pipeline Phases I & II (Monkton Parish) 1982 (Article in serial). SKE11845.

<6> English Heritage, Register of Scheduled Monuments (Scheduling record). SKE16191.

Sources and further reading

Related records