Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

During archaeological excavations ahead of development at Springhead, evidence of mid-late Bronze Age activity was uncovered. Part of this included a drove-way which bisected part of a large field system. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available evidence)

Monument Types

• DROVE ROAD (Middle Bronze Age to Late Bronze Age - 1600 BC to 701 BC)

Full description

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During archaeological excavations ahead of development at Springhead, evidence of mid-late Bronze Age activity was uncovered. Part of this included a drove-way which bisected part of a large field system. Of all the elements of the field system this droveway was the most complicated and was subject to the greatest number of re-cuts, extensions and changes in alignment. This is largely due to the fact that once established, the droveway was used for a long period of time, possibly into the Roman period. it was aligned roughly NNW-SSE, and its western side was 108.5m in length with a terminus at both ends. The eastern side was at least 123m long and probably continued beyond the limit of excavation. The droveway had been recut on a number of occasions. Its width is not consistent, the southern end is wider than the northern creating a funnelling effect. At the southern end the ditches were 7.6m apart while at the north they were 4.3m apart. In the northern part of the droveway a series of small ditch segments may suggest the presence of herding fences to aid the control of animal movement. (1)

<1> Wessex Archaeology, 2008, Archaeological Investigations at Springhead Quarter (Phase II), Northfleet, Kent: Archaeological Assessment Report and Updated Project design (Unpublished document). SKE17943.

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