Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Excavation in 1992 -1994 uncovered Bronze Age and Iron Age sites. The early Iron Age remains spanning c. 550-350 BC. consist of parts of two apparently rectilinear enclosures formed by palisade trenches. They are sub-divided by lengths of internal ditch and part of a sub-rectangular enclosure with a recut or superimposed ditch. Within the enclosures are 2 complexes of post-holes representing hut sites or other structures. Scattered throughout the enclosures and beyond are pits. One pit contained a burial. Later the burial was partly cut by the palisaded ditch.

Along the east and west boundaries of the site is a large flat bottomed feature with in sections what may be wheel ruts. It seems that this is a continuation of a feature seen in 1907 to cross the line of South Cliff Parade. Bbelieved by Hurd who investigated this area in 1907 to be the return of a similar ditch see saw running north-east to be cut by the cliff line at Dumpton Gap.

Monument Types

• CROUCHED INHUMATION (Early Iron Age - 800 BC? to 401 BC? (at some time))
• DITCH (Early Iron Age - 800 BC? to 401 BC? (at some time))
• HUT (Early Iron Age - 800 BC? to 401 BC? (at some time))
• PIT (Early Iron Age to Middle Iron Age - 800 BC? to 101 BC? (at some time))
• SETTLEMENT (Early Iron Age to Middle Iron Age - 550 BC? to 350 BC? (at some time))

Associated Finds

• BUCKLE (Early Iron Age - 800 BC? to 401 BC?)
• HUMAN REMAINS (Early Iron Age - 800 BC? to 401 BC?)
• PIN (Early Iron Age - 800 BC? to 401 BC?)

Full description

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Excavation in 1992 -1994 uncovered bronze age and iron age sites. Early iron age remains spanning c. 550-350 BC. consist of parts of 2 apparently rectilinear enclosures formed by palisade trenches. They are sub-divided by lengths of internal ditch and part of a sub-rectangular enclosure with a recut or superimposed ditch. Within the enclosures are 2 complexes of post-holes representing hut sites or other structures. Scattered throughout the enclosures and beyond are pits. One pit contained a burial. The bones are of good condition and of a well built adult. Fragments of an iron buckle and a carved bone pin were found at the right and left shoulders. The lay out of the burial, crouched, is different from the "chucked in the hole appearance" of other burials on the site. Later the burial was partly cut by the palisaded ditch.

Along the east and west boundaries of the site is a large flat bottomed feature with in sections what may be wheel ruts. It seems that this is a continuation of a feature seen in 1907 to cross the line of South Cliff Parade at about TR39506631 and believed by Hurd who investigated this area in 1907 to be the return of a similar ditch see saw running north-east to be cut by the cliff line at Dumpton Gap at TR39536657. The feature existed in the mid bronze age and in the form of a ditch was in use in the early iron age. Hurd clearly thought the ditch was a defence enclosing the settlement in combination with the palisaded ditch. It is also possible that it was just a sunken way or track running between parallel ditches.

This area of excavation links up with discoveries made by Hurd (approx TR39286648) and T. C. Champion in the 1970's (TR39396629) around ten acres in total. (1-3)

See also (4).

<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, 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