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Monument details

HER Number:TR 26 NE 17
Type of record:Monument
Name:Barrow cemetery and probable modern features, Monkton

Summary

The cropmarks of 20 ring ditches have been identified in fields just to the north of Monkton. These features were sighted from a combination of aerial photographs and land survey, and a number of further features are thought to remain in the area. It is suspected that this is the site of a barrow cemetery: excavation of a similar feature, some 500m to the east showed it was a barrow of probable early Bronze Age date (see TR 36 NW 34). Several rectilinear enclosures, a trackway and a ditch also appear as cropmarks in the area, although these are thought to be old field ditches and modern in date. There is also evidence at the site of a modern trench.

Images

The Monkton barrow cemetery showing the ring-ditches and other features   © Kent County Council
Grid Reference:TR 28900 65760
Map Sheet:TR26NE
Parish:MONKTON, THANET, KENT

Monument Types

  • CROUCHED INHUMATION (Late Neolithic to Middle Bronze Age - 2600 BC? to 1600 BC?)
  • BARROW CEMETERY (Bronze Age - 2350 BC? to 701 BC?)
  • RECTILINEAR ENCLOSURE (Bronze Age - 2350 BC? to 701 BC?)
  • RING DITCH (Bronze Age - 2350 BC? to 701 BC?)
  • TRACKWAY (Bronze Age - 2350 BC? to 701 BC?)
Protected Status:Selected Heritage Inventory for Natural England: Cropmarks of a Bronze Age and/or Saxon barrow cemetery and potential settlement foci, north of Monkton

Full description

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[Area TR 289658.] Air photos. CW.064-5, shew crop marks of ring-ditches 1/2ml. N. of Monkton. (1)

Seven ring-ditches are visible on the AP's and six are identifiable on the ground, five as crop-marks and one as a soil-mark; the seventh (at approx. TQ 2885 6574) falls in a cabbage-field and is not visible. The crop-mark of a small enclosure abuts on to the ditch at TR 2903 6563 and appears to be either contemporary with it or later. Surveyed at 1/2500. The siting is on the S slope of the W. end of the main Thanet Ridge, and the ditches probably mark destroyed barrows (c.f. TR 36 NW 34, some 500 m. to the E., where excavation showed a similar feature to belong to a barrow, probably EBA). (2)

TR 288659. Probable barrow cemetery, 20 definate ring ditches and as many again possible ring ditches. Also rectilinear features some of which may be recent. Trackway at TR 29106577 (see TR 26 NE 38) cuts through the area. All cropmarks. (3-6)

At TR 28836563 an earthwork indicates the site of a possible modern slit trench within the area of the barrow cemetery. (7)

TR 288658. Crop-marks reveal at least three ploughed off round barrows, as well as a system of field ditches. (8)


<1> Camb Univ AP Catalogue Pt 4 1953 165 (JK St Joseph) (OS Card Reference). SKE38479.

<2> F1 ASP 28.11.63 (OS Card Reference). SKE42328.

<3> AP (NMR TR 2865/1) (OS Card Reference). SKE33667.

<4> AP (NMR TR 2965/4,5,7: 6.8.79) (OS Card Reference). SKE33678.

<5> AP (NMR TR 2965/19; 1.8.85) (OS Card Reference). SKE33677.

<6> AP (CUC SU 90; 3.6.56) (OS Card Reference). SKE33489.

<7> AP (RAF 106G/UK 1378 F5084; 4.4.46) (OS Card Reference). SKE34056.

<8> Isle of Thanet Arch Unit Sites and Mons Archive 1988 Record No 146 photo (OS Card Reference). SKE44696.

<9> Field report for monument TR 26 NE 17 - November, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5816.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
<1>OS Card Reference: Camb Univ AP Catalogue Pt 4 1953 165 (JK St Joseph).
<2>OS Card Reference: F1 ASP 28.11.63.
<3>OS Card Reference: AP (NMR TR 2865/1).
<4>OS Card Reference: AP (NMR TR 2965/4,5,7: 6.8.79).
<5>OS Card Reference: AP (NMR TR 2965/19; 1.8.85).
<6>XYOS Card Reference: AP (CUC SU 90; 3.6.56). [Mapped feature: #48868 cemetery, ]
<7>OS Card Reference: AP (RAF 106G/UK 1378 F5084; 4.4.46).
<8>OS Card Reference: Isle of Thanet Arch Unit Sites and Mons Archive 1988 Record No 146 photo.
<9>Bibliographic reference: Field report for monument TR 26 NE 17 - November, 1963.

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