Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A Neolithic skeleton, was found in 1912 close to the railway station at Halling. A number of Palaeolithic struck flakes and flint implements were found in association with the skeleton. The skeleton was thought to have been found in an undisturbed Upper Palaeolithic level leading to the contention at the time that it may represent the oldest known example of modern man from this country. More recent radiocarbon dating of the bones has shown that it dates to the Neolithic period. Once thought to have been destoyed during world War II, it is now thought to be held by the British Museum (Natural History).

Monument Types

• HUMAN REMAINS (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)

Associated Finds

• LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Palaeolithic - 500000 BC to 10001 BC)
• (Middle Neolithic to Late Neolithic - 3010 BC to 2451 BC)
• FLAKE (Middle Neolithic to Late Neolithic - 3010 BC to 2451 BC)
• FLAKE (Middle Neolithic to Late Neolithic - 3010 BC to 2451 BC)

Full description

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[TQ 70426437] Skeleton found A.D.1912 [NAT] (1) Upper Palaeolithic, (Aurignacian?) human remains found in 1912 close to the railway station at Halling and within the strata of the submerged Terrace. Associated finds included struck flakes and flake implements. "There can be no question .... I think, that the deposits in and under which the remains were found are stratified". [Included is a comprehensive report; an analysis of the drift; of the age of the deposit; detailed list of finds; report on the human and animal remains.] (2) Twelve years have passed since I communicated the Halling discovery to the scientific world ..... by our increased knowledge of the terrace deposits of the Lower Medway ... it is becoming more apparent that this skeleton is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, of Homosapiens discovered in this country .... and one which is contemporary with the fossil human remains of Aurignacian date. (3) Probable Upper Palaeolithic skeleton found with flint flakes at Halling. The patination of the flakes is varied. Two typically Pa. implements have the same dull grey patina as a flake which has a later retouch. This throws some doubt on "Mr. Cook's contention that the human skeleton is Aurignacian, since his dating is based on its having been found in a supposedly undisturbed Upper Palaeolithic level.... The skeleton itself does not provide any evidence of a Palaeolithic age". (4) "The site supplied on 19.13.4 was shown on the ground to me by Mr. Coombe of Halling. He was the man who really found the skeleton, while digging to erect a sewage works." (5) The skeleton was in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons, and was destroyed by enemy action in the 1939-45 war. (6) The Halling skeleton was not destroyed in 1941, but was saved and sent to the British Museum (Natural History). The bones have since been radiocarbon dated to the Neolithic period. (7) Charred pieces of bone and wood were found close to the skeleton. (8) Additional bibliography. (9)(10)(13)

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

<2> J.R. Anthrop, Inst. vol.44, 1914, pp.212-40. Excvn. report plans, illust. (W.H. Cook A. Keith A. San (OS Card Reference). SKE44839.

<3> P.P.S.E.A. Vol. 4, pt. 2. 1923-4, pp.150-4. (W.H. Cook J.R. Killick) (OS Card Reference). SKE48465.

<4> Up.Pa.Age in Brit.1926, pp.161-7. (D.A.E. Garrod) (OS Card Reference). SKE50701.

<5> Rev. O.N.B. 1939 (Letter from Field Surveyor) (OS Card Reference). SKE49225.

<6> F1 AC 15-DEC-51 (OS Card Reference). SKE41806.

<7> Arch.Cant., 82,1967,218-20, (Oakley, Barker, & Sieveking). (OS Card Reference). SKE37184.

<8> Lecture to Roy Hist Inst 8.4.13 (OS Card Reference). SKE46005.

<9> The Antiquary 49 1913 161 (W H Cook & Prof Keith) (OS Card Reference). SKE49947.

<10> Kent Arch Rev 35 1974 148 (P Couldrey) (OS Card Reference). SKE45767.

<11> South East Eng 1970 64 (RF Jessup) (OS Card Reference). SKE49515.

<12> Field report for monument TQ 76 SW 34 - December, 1951 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4194.

<13> Lawson-Price Environmental, 1996, Specification for Archaeological & Historical Landscape Baseline Studies: Holborough (Unpublished document). SKE7127.

Sources and further reading