Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Late 6th and 7th century Saxon inhumation cemetery and grave goods found at the Rondeau estate in 1869, 1879-80 and 1927. Finds included a sword, spears, a Group 7 shield boss, ear-ring, a chatelaine, needles and a pottery bottle.

Monument Types

• CEMETERY (CEMETERY, Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 550 AD to 699 AD)
• HUMAN REMAINS (HUMAN REMAINS, Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 550 AD to 699 AD)

Associated Finds

• ARMLET (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 550 AD to 699 AD)
• BUCKLE (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 550 AD to 699 AD)
• KNIFE (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 550 AD to 699 AD)
• SHERD (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 550 AD to 699 AD)
• SHIELD (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 550 AD to 699 AD)
• SPEARHEAD (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 550 AD to 699 AD)
• STRIKE A LIGHT (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 550 AD to 699 AD)

Full description

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[TQ 9007 6386] Saxon Burial Ground [NR] (Site of) [NAT] (1) [Sited on Map A, No. 23] An Anglo-Saxon cemetery was discovered in 1869 in a field known as the Rondeau Estate at Milton. Payne notes about 41 skeletons found with grave goods in 1869-71 and 1879-80. (2) The area is now built over. (3) [TQ 900 638] Inhumation cemetery, Milton-next-Sittingbourne, Rondeau Estate. 1869 - an Anglo-Saxon cemetery was discovered about 0.33 miles N.W. (sic) of the Huggins Fields site (TQ 96 SW 27) to the north of Watling Street and south of Blind Lane. 1869-71 - the Blind Lane side of the site was dug first, and about 20 skeletons discovered, with an iron funnel-shaped shield-boss, a spearhead, knives, bronze buckles, a bronze armlet, an iron strike-a- light and an iron-gilt girdle ornament. 1879-80 - the Watling Street side was excavated and six other skeletons were found. Near the skull of one was a small black urn 4 inches high, and an iron instrument in the shape of a letter D, perhaps a padlock. The others were dug too carelessly for anything to be preserved. Ten more skeletons were later discovered. One skeleton had with it 13beads, the second a chain of links alternately bronze and iron, an "ear-ring" with 4 beads, and two silver needles with eyes. The third was a a male skeleton with a shield-boss and two amber-coloured glass goblets. In the other graves were found a long iron sword, four spearheads, one javelin head, three knives, four bronze buckles and a pitcher of red clay. The eastern and western parts of the Rondeau Estate were built without first removing the brick earth, so probably many skeletons remain undisturbed beneath the houses. Payne presented two skulls to the British Museum (Natural History); one was found with Anglo-Saxon weapons shield etc, the other with an Anglo-Saxon necklace (a). These were probably from the Rondeau Estate site. (4-6) An Anglo-Saxon squat glass jar - amber coloured and undecorated, probably of 7th century date, was found in graves at the Rondeau Estate. It is now in the British Museum (BM 1883, 12-13, 596). (7)(8) An Anglo-Saxon pottery bottle found in graves of the pagan period at Rondeau Estate was sold to the British Museum by George Payne (BM 1883, 12-13, 594). (9) [TQ 9017 6377] Skeleton found A.D. 1927 [NAT] (10) Three skeletons were found, c. 1927, when petrol pumps were being fitted at a new garage, directly west of Gospel Hall. (See Illustration Card for photos of two in situ.) It appears likely that further excavations immediately to the east would reveal more graves. The site lies south-east of the Saxon burial ground marked on the O.S.25" map, but I should think is part of it. (11)

<1> OS 25" 1938 (OS Card Reference). SKE48265.

<2> Coll Cant 1893 108-11 (G Payne) (OS Card Reference). SKE39123.

<3> F1 ASP 15-JUL-63 (OS Card Reference). SKE42123.

<4> Payne's Catalogue 354-62 378-81 (OS Card Reference). SKE48501.

<5> Gaz Early Anglo Saxon Burial Sites 1964 129 (A Meaney) (OS Card Reference). SKE43477.

<6> PSA 2nd S 8 1879-81 275 506-8 (G Payne) (OS Card Reference). SKE48776.

<7> VCH Kent 1 1908 374 (R A Smith) (OS Card Reference). SKE50855.

<8> Dark Age Britain 1956 164 (D B Harden) (OS Card Reference). SKE39592.

<9> Letter from British Museum 10 June 1987 (OS Card Reference). SKE46099.

<10> RAI Monograph Wheel Thrown Pottery in Anglo Saxon Graves 1979 69 fig (V Evison) (OS Card Reference). SKE48961.

<11> OS County Series Kent XXXIII 1 1938-9 (OS Card Reference). SKE48413.

<12> Letter - M W Chilton-Simpson to O G S Crawford 23 8 27 (OS Card Reference). SKE46014.

<13> Field report for monument TQ 96 SW 14 - July, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4940.

Sources and further reading