Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

5 sunken-featured buildings, a shallow pit, a gully and the remains of a possible ring-ditch lay across the central part of the site. The finds, particularly those from the sunken-featured buildings, suggest occupation dating to the later 6th-7th centuries.

Monument Types

• DITCH (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
• RING DITCH (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
• GRUBENHAUS (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 550 AD to 699 AD)

Associated Finds

• OYSTER SHELL (Undated)
• ANIMAL REMAINS (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
• BEAD (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
• BEAD (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
• BUCKET (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
• CHAIN (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
• CLAMP (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
• COMPOSITE COMB (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
• DISC (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
• EAR SCOOP (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
• KNIFE (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
• LATCHLIFTER (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
• MARKING TOOL (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
• NAIL (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
• NEEDLE (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
• NON MARINE MOLLUSCA REMAINS (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
• PIN (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 600 AD)
• PLANT REMAINS (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
• PLANT REMAINS (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
• POTTERY ASSEMBLAGE (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
• QUERN (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
• SLAG (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
• SPIKE (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
• SPINDLE WHORL (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
• STAPLE (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
• TWEEZERS (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 600 AD)
• WEFT BEATER (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
• SHERD (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 550 AD to 699 AD)

Full description

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During archaeological work in advance of the construction of a new tesco, five sunken-featured buildings of early medieval (Anglo-Saxon)date were discovered dating to the later 6th and 7th centuries A.D. All sunken featured buildings contained finds which were recovered. Postholes were also located within the buildings. Unlike the other sunken feature buildings, Sunken featured building 88 contained nine layers and lenses of occupational debris compared to one homogenous layer which the other sunken featured buildings contained. Internal structural cuts including a beam slot were also discovered within sunken featured building 88. Three of the Sunken-featured buildings (SFB's), 43, 74, and 88 lay in a group close to the eastern edge and were aligned approximately north-west to south-east. A fourth, 73, lay 20m north of this group and the fifth, 239, 45m north-west. Subrectangular in plan, they measured between 3.40m to 3.70m long, 2.20m to 2.90m wide and 0.32m to 0.60m deep. All but 43 had two parallel post holes identified. The finds assemblages from the SFBs almost certainly reflect their use as convenient receptacles for the disposal of domestic rubbish after they had been abandoned. Some SFBs contained finds that were not present in other SFBs such as ceramic object being restricted to SFBs 43 and 74 while SFB 73contained most ironworking slag.

Other features included a gully, 49, that was traced for c.50m, though its relationship to other features of this period could not be ascertained. It produced only a single sherd of pottery.

Pit 83 was an irregularly-shaped shallow hollow which lay approx. 50m west of the main group of SFBs.

Feature 20 was interpreted as a possible ring ditch, lay immediately west of the main group of SFBs. The n-e part was removed during machining and the north-west part cut but a modern service trench. Somewhat irregular in plan with two discernable fills. No internal features identified. (1)

<1> Wessex Archaeology, 2009, A Late Bronze Age, Anglo-Saxon, And Medieval Settlement Site At Manston Road, Ramsgate in "Kentish Sites And Sites Of Kent A Miscellany of Of Four Archaeological Excavations." (Article in monograph). SKE16055.

Sources and further reading