Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A cropmark, probably relating to an enclosure, could be seen in a 1972 aerial photograph projecting south from the field boundary close to Mount Castle Farm. The site has been extensively fieldwalked and surveyed by geophysics by the Lenham Archaeological Society and seems likely to represent an Iron Age enclosure.

Summary from record TQ 95 SW 67:

A series of investigations carried out by the Lenham Archaeological Society since c. 1993 has recovered a large number of Iron Age, Roman and early medieval finds east of Chapel Farm. The finds have been interpreted as indicating an Iron Age enclosure (outline seen on aerial photography) and Roman activity in the vicinity.

Summary from record TQ 95 SW 126:

In 2005 the Lenham Archaeological Society excavated a short trench to locate the eastern edge of a supposed Iron Age enclosure.

Images

Monument Types

• ENCLOSURE (Iron Age - 800 BC? to 42 AD?)

Associated Finds

• POT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
• SLAG (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
• COIN (Late Iron Age - 100 BC to 42 AD)
• KEY (LOCKING) (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• VESSEL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• COIN (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 410 AD to 1065 AD)

Full description

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A cropmark, relating to an enclosure, could be seen in a 1972 aerial photograph projecting south from the field boundary close to Mount Castle Farm.

The Lenham Archaeological Society have studied the site for several years following its identification by aerial photography. The field to the north-east of the site is called 'Camp field' on the 1851 tithe map. Numerous finds of Iron Age pottery, staters (see TQ 95 SW 40), a La Tene brooch and a small figurine (TQ 95 SW 76) have been found in the vicinity. The ditch was excavated in August 2005 the location of the trench was TQ9075.5035. The existence of a bank was confirmed and finds of Roman pottery, a Roman key and Roman glass and unidentified sherds were recovered. Plaster was also found. There may be an entrance on the western side. (1)

The excavators concluded that the site represents an Iron Age settlement, possibly extending into the Roman period though further investigation is needed to confirm this. (2)

Additional bibliography. (3)

Description from record TQ 95 SW 67:
A series of investigations carried out by the Lenham Archaeological Society since c. 1993 has recovered a large number of iron age, Roman and early medieval finds 0 - 700m east of Chapel Farm. The finds have been interpreted as indicating an iron age enclosure (outline seen on aerial photography) and Roman activity in the vicinity.

More than 20 worked flints were found. The coin finds consisted of 2 iron age staters, 41 Roman coins and an Anglo-Saxon sceat. There were also numerous finds of iron slag and more than 30 sherds of Roman pottery. A single quern was also found.

Description from record TQ 95 SW 126:
In 2005 the Lenham Archaeological Society excavated a short trench to locate the eastern edge of a supposed Iron Age enclosure. The excavation was only partly completed but did locate a bank and posthole together with iron age pottery sherds, a Roman key fragment, a Roman glass vessel rim and iron slag. (4)

The volume of Roman coins found via metal detecting across the site (TQ 95 SW 136) suggests there is a Roman phase of occupation too. (5)

<1> Lenham Archaeological Society, 2006, Report on research in the vicinity of Lenham (Miscellaneous Material). SKE13570.

<2> Lenham Archaeological Society, 2005, Letter from the Lenham Archaeological Society (Miscellaneous Material). SKE13569.

<3> Lenham Archaeological Society, 2006, Discovering Ancient Lenham|: Volume One (Serial). SKE13573.

<4> Lenham Archaeological Society, 2008, Various finds from Lenham - Lenham Archaeology Society (Unpublished document). SKE16597.

<5> Lenham Archaeological Society, 2011, Discovering Ancient Lenham: Volume 1 Edition 3 (Serial). SKE16752.

<6> Lenham Archaeological Society, 2018, Late Iron Age Settlement at Royton-Mountcastle, Lenham Heath, Kent, Archaeological survey and excavations (Unpublished document). SKE52887.

Sources and further reading