Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

An early-medieval burial ground was once located in Chatham. A group of small Barrows was situated on the western slope of the steep hill facing Rochester. The barrows were first disturbed in 1756, when Chatham lines were first thrown up and were excavated from 1779 onwards. The 'Tumuli' as they were described at the time, contained inhumations with the head facing north and a arich assemblage of grave goods. Finds included swords, shield umbos, spearheads, square-headed and saucer brooches, pendants, buckles, beads, pottery, glassware and a few Roman coins. Cemetery likely dates to the Late 5th or early 6th century

The site lies "on the western slope slope of the steep hill, which faces the town of Rochester, and which decends to the barrack gate"…. Underlying geology is Chalk. OD 55-60m.

Monument Types

• FINDSPOT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• BARROW CEMETERY (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 467 AD to 632 AD)
• INHUMATION CEMETERY (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 467 AD to 632 AD)

Associated Finds

• BEAD (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 467 AD to 632 AD)
• BROOCH (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 467 AD to 632 AD)
• BUCKLE (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 467 AD to 632 AD)
• COIN (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 467 AD to 632 AD)
• PENDANT (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 467 AD to 632 AD)
• POTTERY ASSEMBLAGE (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 467 AD to 632 AD)
• SHIELD (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 467 AD to 632 AD)
• SWORD (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 467 AD to 632 AD)

Full description

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[TQ 7615 6835] ANGLO-SAXON CEMETERY [G.T.] (Site of) (1)
(2) A group of small tumuli, situated on the western slope of the steep hill facing Rochester, about 200 yds. from the Roman building [TQ 76 N.E. 7], were disturbed in 1756, when Chatham lines were first thrown up. They were excavated by Douglas from 1779 onwards. He describes and illustrates the contents of 14 tumuli which included swords, shield umbos, spearheads, square-headed and saucer brooches, pendants, buckles, beads, pottery, glassware and a few Roman coins. Most of the burials lay with the head to the north. A coin of Anthemius (467-72) in one grave, is thought by Smith (4) to indicate an early 6th c. burial. Brown (5) thinks Douglas used the word 'tumulus' as the equivalent of 'grave'. A large number of finds are in the Ashmolean Museum. (3-5)
No further information and nothing visible on the ground. (6)
Additional bibliography. (7-9)

Andrew Richardson, 2000, Gazetteer of Anglo-Saxon Cemeteries and Burial-Sites in Kent (Unpublished document). SKE29253.

<1> O.S. 25" 1932. (OS Card Reference). SKE47801.

<2> Geo. Payne, 1907. (OS Card Reference). SKE43611.

<3> R.O.N.B. 1932-3, 69. (OS Card Reference). SKE48917.

<4> "Nen. Brit." 1793, 1-19, 23-4, 29-34, 53-66, 79-83, 140. (OS Card Reference). SKE32676.

<5> V.C.H. Kent 1, 1908, 375-6 (R.A. Smith). (OS Card Reference). SKE50725.

<6> "Arts in Early England" 4, 1915, 738-41 (G.B. Brown) (OS Card Reference). SKE32595.

<8> Gaz of Early AS burial sites 1964 121 (ALS Meaney) (OS Card Reference). SKE43532.

<9> Field report for monument TQ 76 NE 8 - November, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4034.

Sources and further reading