Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A logboat was found in 1924 at Murston Marshes and thought to have been burned or hewn out of an oak trunk. It was not dated, although a Neolithic axe was said to have been found close by, and measured 3.35 metres long by 0.91 metres wide. It was presented to Eastgate House Museum in Rochester where it was displayed outside under a shelter and subsequently disintegrated.

Status: Site

Monument Types

• WATERCRAFT (logboat, Later Prehistoric - 4000 BC? to 42 AD?)

Associated Finds

• AXE (TOOL) (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
• CANOE (Later Prehistoric - 4000 BC to 42 AD)

Full description

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[TQ 9240 6590] Prehistoric boat found January 1924 (by Mr S. William), now in Rochester Museum. A greenstone celt was found not far away. (1) (a) [TQ 9271 6331 (TQ 96 NW 1072) : Alternative site shown] (2) The boat from Murston, found by Mr S. T. Williams has probably been burnt or hewn out from an oaken trunk. The stem and prow are missing leaving a hull 11ft. long by 3ft. by 2ft. 6" deep, of curved section. It was found at a spot in the angle formed by the junction of the Swale and Milton Creek, 650 yards due E. of Castle Rough and 1480 yards N. of Mere Court. It is nearly 200 yards from the river wall and was found 8ft. down and 15ft. below H.W.M. See GP/AO/58/380/6. (3) The dug-out boat is on view in the forecourt of Rochester Museum. Of the two sitings, Authority 1 is likely to be correct as it agrees with Authority 3 which was published in the year of the discovery. (4) [TQ 9240 6590] A logboat found on February 1st 1924, in a river drainage area at Murston Marshes, Milton Creek, was given to Eastgate House Museum, Rochester, where it was displayed outside under a shelter. Subsequently it disintegrated (5-7). Additional references (8-9).

<1> Ant J 4 1924 277 (OS Card Reference). SKE33181.

<2> Maidstone Museum 6" (Anon undated) (OS Card Reference). SKE46363.

<3> Kent Arch Soc 6" (Anon undated) (OS Card Reference). SKE45876.

<4> Rochester Naturalist 6 no 130 1924 41-42 plans and elevations opp p 42 (G E Dibley) (OS Card Reference). SKE49308.

<5> F1 ASP 12-NOV-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42075.

<6> BAR 51 1978 Part I 242-3 Part II fig 32 (S McGrail) (OS Card Reference). SKE37535.

<7> Field report for monument TQ 96 NW 12 - November, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4871.

<8> McGrail, Sean, 1978, Logboats of England and Wales, McGrail, Sean (Bibliographic reference). SWX9335.

<9> Sittingbourne and Swale Archaeological Group, Site Files, A17 9(b) 17 (Index). SWX9396.

Sources and further reading