Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The mount is in a prominent position beside the Maidstone-Dover Roman road and has therefore been tentatively identified as Roman. It measures 24.0m north east to south west but only 20.0m transversely as it is cut by a road on the north west side. There is no visible ditch. The top has been slightly mutilated by cattle, and there are some small trees upon it. The mount is scarred with pits from earlier vandalism or wartime trenches and is partly destroyed on the north west by a farm road. A trial trench 20m east cut to find the original floor level yielded hundreds of 15th century sherds.

Monument Types

• EARTHWORK (Unknown date)

Associated Finds

• SHERD (Medieval - 1400 AD to 1500 AD)

Full description

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[TR 05553719] The Mount (NAT) (1)

The Mount, Aldington, is sometimes claimed as a Roman Barrow. It does not seem to have been excavated. (2)

The Mount is a large round barrow, in a prominent position beside the Maidstone-Dover Roman Road and therefore may be Roman. It measures 24.0m NE-SW, but only 20.0m transversely as it is cut by aroad on the NW side. There is no visible ditch. The top has been slightly mutilated by cattle, and there are some small trees upon it. Survey 25" revised. (3)

(TR) 05553719. The Mount, Aldington is scarred with pits from earlier vandalism or wartime trenches and is partly destroyed on the north west by a farm road. (4)

Examination revealed that it was constructed of sand, not of local origin. It contained Mesolithic flakes, blades and a scraper, scattered to a depth of 5 ft 5 inches, where an old turf line with charcoal covered an earlier mound. At a depth of 7ft , this became a hard packed floor, channeled, with a large amount of charcoal. No evidence was found that indicated the origin of either lower or superimposed portion. A trial trench 65 ft east cut to find the original floor level yielded hundreds of 15th century sherds. (5)

No change. (6) (

TR 05543717) The Mount (NR) (7)

Additional Info(10)

<1> OS 6" 1939-40 (OS Card Reference). SKE48360.

<2> VCH 3 1932 144 R.B. Kent (M V Taylor etc.) (OS Card Reference). SKE50808.

<3> F1 ASP 30-NOV-1962 (OS Card Reference). SKE42358.

<4> Arch Cant 81 1966 lii (J Bradshaw) (OS Card Reference). SKE35726.

<5> Kent Arch Rev 7 1967 5 (J Bradshaw) (OS Card Reference). SKE45812.

<6> F2 ASP 01-DEC-1969 (OS Card Reference). SKE43069.

<7> OS 1:10000 1975 (OS Card Reference). SKE48160.

<8> Field report for monument TR 03 NE 6 - November, 1962 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5078.

<9> Field report for monument TR 03 NE 6 - December, 1969 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5079.

<10> South Eastern Archaeological Services, 1996, Sellindge-Ashford Overhead transmission Link (Unpublished document). SKE7112.

Sources and further reading