Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Bekesbourne, Howletts, several Palaeolithic handaxes (n=11) and a miscellaneous flint implement from "gravel of Little Star" [prob = Little Stour]

Monument Types

• OCCUPATION SITE (Lower Palaeolithic to Middle Palaeolithic - 500000 BC to 40001 BC)

Associated Finds

• HANDAXE (Lower Palaeolithic to Middle Palaeolithic - 500000 BC to 40001 BC)
• RETOUCHED FLAKE (Lower Palaeolithic to Middle Palaeolithic - 500000 BC to 40001 BC)

Full description

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Collection of 11 handaxes and one retouched flake implement seen by Roe in collection of British Museum from "Bekesbourne, Howlett's" (1), then included in Southern Rivers Project (2, 3) with additional info "from gravel of Little Star", which probably should be taken to mean "Little Stour". Probably from same pit as MKE5967, reported on by RA Smith (4), where the handaxe collection had varied shapes, and most of them were at least slightly abraded; Smith suggested this reflects mixing of material from different periods, but concentration of material suggests evidence of occupation in vicinity

<1> Roe, D.A., 1968, Gazetteer of British Lower and Middle Palaeolithic Sites, p139 (Monograph). SWX6570.

<2> Wessex Archaeology, 1993, The Southern Rivers Palaeolithic Project, Report No.2: The South West and South of the Thames [Vol. I - text], S-6.5, p150 (Monograph). SWX6569.

<3> Wessex Archaeology, 1993, The Southern Rivers Palaeolithic Project: maps for Report No. 2, Regions 4 & 1, The South West and South of the Thames [Vol II - maps], S6 (Unpublished document). SKE12023.

<4> Smith RA, 1918, Prehistoric and Anglo-Saxon remains discovered by Capt. L. Moysey at Howletts, near Bridge, Kent (Article in serial). SKE29762.

Sources and further reading