Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Three graves were recorded during evaluation work southeast of Salmestone Grange, Margate. Interpreted as either being part of a single burial plot or perhaps a larger cemetery. The reports suggests they may be Anglo-Saxon in date. Only one grave was excavated and no grave goods were recorded.

Monument Types

• CEMETERY (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 410 AD? to 1065 AD? (at some time))

Associated Finds

• HUMAN REMAINS (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 410 AD? to 1065 AD?)

Full description

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During the evaluation one trench exposed an east-west aligned feature, which upon excavation was discovered to be a grave. The trench was enlarged because of this find and two further grave-like features were recorded, but not excavated (NB the line of graves may extend east and west of these known graves). Another trench was cut south, uphill, but this contained no features. The excavated grave contained a skeleton, but no grave goods. It was a supine, slightly flexed burial, with its head to the west. The skeleton was a male aged between 21 and 25 years (see appendix 1 of report p.7-8). The orientation and dimensions of the burial lead the report to tentatively conclude that the burials represent, or are part of an Anglo-Saxon cemetery [1].

See also the possible medieval features (TR 36 NE 433) and chalk quarry pits [TR 36 NE 435] recorded during the evaluation work.

Geophysical survey of the surrounding area. It did not identify any further graves [2].

Archaeological assessment report [3 and appendices 4].

Second geophysical survey. The two geophysical surveys had identified further areas of archaeological potential (see TR 36 NE 436) [5].

<1> Trust for Thanet Archaeology, 2000, An Archaeological Evaluation Carried Out On Land Adjacent Nash Road And Salmestone Grange, St. Johns Parish, Margate, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE12691.

<2> Stratascan, 2000, Geophysical survey carried out at Salmestone Grange, Nash Road, Margate, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE12704.

<3> John Samuels Archaeological Consultants, Thanet Local Plan. Archaeology Proof of Evidence, Nash Road, Margate (Unpublished document). SKE12714.

<4> John Samuels Archaeological Consultants, 2004, Thanet Local Plan, Nash Road, Margate, Appendices to Archaeology Proof of Evidence by Daniel Slatcher BA, MA, MIFA (Unpublished document). SKE12715.

<5> Stratascan, Salmestone Grange, Margate, Kent. Geophysical Survey Report, 2004. (Unpublished document). SKE12716.

Sources and further reading