Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A ditched enclosure, shaped like a flattened pentagon with its long axis aligned north-south and formed by two lengths of ditch. These are separated by causeway entrances facing east and west. From within the enclosure ditch a bronze hoard (TR 36 NE 415) had been recovered in 1993 and part of this ditch as well. Scattered throughout the enclosures and beyond are pits.

Monument Types

• Hoard (Bronze Age - 2350 BC? to 701 BC? (at some time))
• DITCHED ENCLOSURE (Middle Bronze Age to Late Bronze Age - 1600 BC? to 701 BC? (at some time))
• PIT (Middle Bronze Age to Late Bronze Age - 1600 BC? to 701 BC? (at some time))
• SETTLEMENT (Middle Bronze Age to Late Bronze Age - 1600 BC? to 701 BC? (at some time))

Associated Finds

• HOARD (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)

Full description

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In 1992 evaluation by fieldwalking, metal detecting and trial trenching uncovered bronze age and iron age occupation layers and features. A number of pits and ditches were found, containing perhaps bronze age pottery sherds and iron age sherds and other remains.

Additional excavation in 1994 stripped the site of top soil and revealed mid bronze age remains consisting of a ditched enclosure, shaped like a flattened pentagon with its long axis aligned north-south and formed by two lengths of ditch. These are separated by causeway entrances facing east and west. From within the enclosure ditch a bronze hoard (TR 36 NE 415) had been recovered in 1993 and part of this ditch as well. Scattered throughout the enclosures and beyond are pits. Two pits, used for storage, were cut by late iron age pits, but yielded Deverel Rimbury sherds. Another contained a scraper, a hammer stone and three waste flakes of possible late bronze age date.

Along the southern edge of the enclosure ran possibly a track, large ditch, or earthwork now covered by a late iron age feature. (2)

The sub-rectangular enclosure with ditch and a pit are visible on RCHME AP, located at TR 3935 6648. (3)

See also.(4,5)

<1> Trust For Thanet Archaeology, 1992, Dumpton Gap & South Dumpton Down, Broadstairs - Evaluations (Unpublished document). SKE11938.

<2> Trust for Thanet Archaeology, 1994, Assessment/Research Design; South Dumpton Down, Broadstairs, 1994 (Unpublished document). SKE11939.

<3> Trust for Thanet Archaeology, Thanet SMR, cropmark plot. (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6443.

<4> Trust For Thanet Archaeology, 1994, Dumpton Gap 1971-4 & 1992-4: An Assessment of the Flintwork (Unpublished document). SWX7090.

<5> Trust For Thanet Archaeology, 1995, Overall assessment of the pottery and other finds from the 1907-9 South Cliff Parade, 1971-2 and 1974 Dumpton Gap and 1992-94 South Dumpton Downs excavations (Unpublished document). SWX7091.

Sources and further reading

Related records