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Monument details

HER Number:TQ 67 SW 177
Type of record:Monument
Name:Bronze Age/Iron Age Site at Coldharbour Rd, Gravesend

Summary

Bronze Age Enclosure, Iron Age Settlement, medieval well & Neolithic Pit found at Coldharbour Rd, Gravesend by trenching in advance of development

Grid Reference:TQ 6380 7170
Map Sheet:TQ67SW
Parish:GRAVESEND, GRAVESHAM, KENT

Monument Types

  • PIT (PIT, Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
  • ENCLOSURE (ENCLOSURE, Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)
  • PIT (PIT, Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)
  • SETTLEMENT (SETTLEMENT, Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • PIT (PIT, Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • WELL (WELL, Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Full description

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Trenching in advance of development in 1992 revealed part of a large curvilinear v-section ditch, possibly part of a circular/oval enclosure or the curved corner of a rectangular enclosure. Suggested dia. 50-100m and late neolithic/early bronze age date. On the N side of Coldharbour Rd. part of a small early iron age site (undetermined type) was also found. A well of medieval date and a scatter of worked filint associated a pit were also found. The pit/flint scatter were assigned a late neolithic/early bronze age date. (1)

In 1993 the site was excavated ahead of development. Pits were discovered, some dating to the medieval period and possible prehistoric pits also. Evidence of a rectilinear feature, parallel ditches, and possible gullies was uncovered, most dating to a single phase of site organisation, possibly late bronze age. The largest of the parallel ditches are interpreted as a droveway, the remaining features representing attached settlement. (2)

Additional Bibliography: (3)


<1> Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit, 1992, Northfleet 1992 (Safeways PLC) An Archaeological Evaluation of a Site at Coldharbour, Nr Gravesend Kent, KARU 'Northfleet 1992 (Safeway Plc): Evaluation at coldharbour nr Gravesend` (B Philp) (Unpublished document). SWX6857.

<2> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 1994 Aug, The Excavation of a Later Bronze Age Site at Coldharbour Road, Gravesend, Excavation of LBA site, Coldharbour Rd, A Mudd, Arch. Cant. 1994. (Unpublished document). SWX6939.

<3> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 1994 Jun, The Excavation of a Late Bronze Age Site at Coldharbour Road, Gravesend (Unpublished document). SWX6938.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
<1>Unpublished document: Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit. 1992. Northfleet 1992 (Safeways PLC) An Archaeological Evaluation of a Site at Coldharbour, Nr Gravesend Kent. KARU 'Northfleet 1992 (Safeway Plc): Evaluation at coldharbour nr Gravesend` (B Philp).
<2>Unpublished document: Oxford Archaeological Unit. 1994 Aug. The Excavation of a Later Bronze Age Site at Coldharbour Road, Gravesend. Excavation of LBA site, Coldharbour Rd, A Mudd, Arch. Cant. 1994..
<3>Unpublished document: Oxford Archaeological Unit. 1994 Jun. The Excavation of a Late Bronze Age Site at Coldharbour Road, Gravesend.

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