Link to printer-friendly page

It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument details

HER Number:TQ 67 SW 1478
Type of record:Monument
Name:Late Anglo-Saxon crop dryers, Springhead, Gravesend

Summary

During excavations undertaken ahead of works associated with the Channel Tunnel Rail Link at Springhead, near Gravesend, a probable Anglo Saxon crop dryer was located. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)


Grid Reference:TQ 6187 7272
Map Sheet:TQ67SW
Parish:GRAVESEND, GRAVESHAM, KENT

Monument Types

  • STORAGE PIT (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 850 AD? to 900 AD?)

Associated Finds

  • Charcoal (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 410 AD to 1065 AD)
  • OYSTER SHELL (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 410 AD to 1065 AD)
  • SEEDS (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 410 AD to 1065 AD)
  • POTTERY ASSEMBLAGE (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD? to 900 AD?)
  • CEREAL GRAIN (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 770 AD to 900 AD) + Sci.Date
  • DAUB (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 770 AD to 900 AD)
  • ANIMAL REMAINS (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 800 AD? to 900 AD?)

Full description

If you do not understand anything on this page please contact us.

During excavations undertaken ahead of works associated with the Channel Tunnel Rail Link at Springhead, near Gravesend, a probable Anglo Saxon crop dryer was uncovered. It was located on the slope above the springs and appears to post-date the two Anglo-Saxon cemeteries in the same area, and is one of only two features to be ascribed a late Anglo-Saxon date, the other was situated 140m to the north-west. This second feature has also been interpreted as a corn dryer though this interpretation is less secure. It is likely they both belonged to a small late Saxon settlement lying immediately to the east. This southern dryer featured a clay lining including flints, and contained burnt daub thought to be from a collapsed dome or superstructure. It also contained large quantities of burnt cereal grain and burnt weed seeds. One of which was radiocarbon dated to AD 770-900. (1-2)


<1> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2010, Settling the Ebbsfleet Valley. CTRL Excavations at Springhead and Northfleet, Kent. The Late Iron Age, Roman, Saxon, and Medieval Landscape (Unpublished document). SKE31245.

<2> Wessex Archaeology, 2003, Channel Tunel Rail Link Archaeological works at Springhead Roman Town (ARC SPH00): interim fieldwork report (Unpublished document). SKE31600.

<3> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2011, Settling the Ebbsfleet Valley. CTRL Excavations at Springhead and Northfleet, Kent. Volume 4: Saxon and Later Finds and Environmental Reports (Monograph). SKE32437.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
<1>XYUnpublished document: Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture. 2010. Settling the Ebbsfleet Valley. CTRL Excavations at Springhead and Northfleet, Kent. The Late Iron Age, Roman, Saxon, and Medieval Landscape. [Mapped feature: #106812 corn dryer, ]
<2>Unpublished document: Wessex Archaeology. 2003. Channel Tunel Rail Link Archaeological works at Springhead Roman Town (ARC SPH00): interim fieldwork report.
<3>Monograph: Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture. 2011. Settling the Ebbsfleet Valley. CTRL Excavations at Springhead and Northfleet, Kent. Volume 4: Saxon and Later Finds and Environmental Reports.