Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The site of a small Anglo-Saxon cemetery was found during work to widen the A253 near Monkton. The site comprised eighteen graves and very few of these contained grave goods. The discovery of a buckle and pottery sherds indicated that the site dated from the later 7th century until the early 8th century. The site thus appears to have been in use for just 30-40 years: it may have been a small family or local community cemetery in use for just one or two generations. Also discovered at the site were a hollow-way and a large ditch. These features are thought to have been contemporary although no clear date could be ascertained. The ditch appeared to coincide almost exactly with the parish boundary between Monkton and Minster and may mark that boundary, which was established by Domneva in the late 7th century.

The site lies on the brow of a gentle south facing slope, OD 40-45m.

Monument Types

• DITCH (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 410 AD? to 1065 AD?)
• HOLLOW WAY (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 410 AD? to 1065 AD?)
• CEMETERY (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 660 AD? to 700 AD?)

Full description

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Area 2 of the A253 Dualling, centred at approx. TR 3070 6580. The site of a small AS cemetery, comprising some 18 graves. A possibly contemporary hollow-way flanked the E. side of the cemetery. The burials were almost certainly those of local people, perhaps members of an extended family or community working the land nearby. Few contained grave goods, evidence from pottery and a buckle suggests that burial commenced in the 2nd half of the C7. The latest burial contained a buckle dated to AD 700, indicating that the cemetery was open for 30 -40 years, perhaps in use for a generation. Also of possible AS origin was a large ditch, coinciding almost exactly with the boundary between Monkton and Minster parishes and may mark that boundary, (established by Domneva in the LC7). (1)

Geophysical survey undertaken in 1992 (2).

<1> CAT Annual Report, 1994-5. (OS Card Reference). SKE38716.

<1> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, CAT Annual Report, 1994-5. (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

<2> Clark, A. J. & Bartlett, A. D. H., 1992, Thanet, Kent: Proposed Improvements to A253 Report on Geophysical Survey (Unpublished document). SWX6777.

Sources and further reading