Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Three 6th century inhumations with associated daggers, sword, spear, shield boss and a small buckle were discovered in January 1946 in Lenham during the reconstruction of a shop front.

The site is on a north-east slope, OD approx 118m.

Monument Types

• INHUMATION (INHUMATION, Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 599 AD)

Associated Finds

• DAGGER (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 599 AD)
• SHIELD (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 599 AD)
• SPEAR (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 599 AD)
• SWORD (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 599 AD)

Full description

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Three skeletons, with two daggers, sword, spear, shield boss and a small buckle were discovered in January 1946 in Lenham at TQ 8982 5215 during the reconstruction of a shop front. Found at 1 foot depth beneath wall footings, and dated to the 6th c., the finds were passed to Mr. Goodsall (Authority (b)) of Stede Court, Harrietsham, who still retains them. (1) Additional bibliography. (2) (3) The shield boss with several tinned studs is in Maisdtone Museum (not preserved) and also the remains of the sword .
The site is on a north-east slope, OD approx 118m.

<1> Pte 6" (KAS Maidstone Museum R F Jessup 1950) (OS Card Reference). SKE48858.

<2> "Kent Life" June 1963 2 6 50 (Robert H Goodsall) (OS Card Reference). SKE32662.

<3> Inf Mr Goodsall (OS Card Reference). SKE44344.

<4> F1 ASP 25-NOV-63 (OS Card Reference). SKE42290.

<5> A Gazeteer of Early Anglo-Saxon Burial Sites 1964 126 (A Meaney) (OS Card Reference). SKE32784.

<6> Arch Cant 59 1947 xxxviii (E Harrison) (OS Card Reference). SKE35307.

<7> Field report for monument TQ 85 SE 8 - November, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4454.

Sources and further reading