Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

An early 6th century Anglo-Saxon cemetery was discovered in 1844 and examined by Wrench when a new road was cut through the Parish Field at Stowting to make the ascent to the Common more easy. Finds included 2nd century and later Roman coins. More than 30 inhumations were excavated. Further examinations were carried out by J. Brent in 1866 and C. Brent in 1881 yielding a further 31 graves, many of which were richly furnished.

The site lies on the lower south facing slope of Stowting Hill, overlooking the village, the parish church is 370m away. OD 100-105m.

Monument Types

• CEMETERY (CEMETERY, Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 410 AD to 1065 AD)

Associated Finds

• COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Full description

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[TR 12344237] Anglo-Saxon Burial Ground [NR] (1) A 6th century Anglo-Saxon cemetery (3) was discovered in 1844 and examined by Wrench when a new road was cut through the Parish Field at Stowting to make the ascent to the Common more easy. Finds included 2nd century and later Roman coins. Further examinations were carried out by J. Brent in 1866 and C. Brent in 1881. (2-5) The objects from the 1844 and 1866 excavations at Stowting, formerly in possession of the Soc. of Ants. and Stowting Ph. Council, have now been placed on permanent loan with K.A.S. for exhibition at Maidstone Museum. (6)

Of the approx. 66 graves, 36 were recorded: Pre-1844 2 skeletons accompanied by iron weapons were found in the Parish field, followed by the 1844 finds (see above); more than 30 skeletons dated to the early medieval were found. The accomanied by 2 swords, several spear heads, 2 shield bosses, 3 keystone-garnet disc brooches, buckles shoe-sjaped studs, a Frankish wheel thrown bottle and a copper alloy bowl. These graves were between "2 to 4 feet" ( approx. a metre) below the ground.
1866 J. Brent excavated 25 graves; grave 5 contained 3 bodies and grave 21 was said to contain 6. Grave 11 was a double grave site, with one laying above the other. 8 of the graves were aligned roughly N-S (including no.21 the lowest on down the slope). "2 graves contained spears. Finds include brooches, gold braid and a minature bucket. 1868 another skeleton with spearhead was excavated, then in 1881 7 more graves were discovered. Grave 9 contained a button, square-headed and Fankish disc brooches helped date the cemetery to late 5th - 7th century.
Between 1954 and 197 2 more spearheads an the head-plate of a cruciform brooch were found in the vicinity.

<1> OS 6" 1961 (OS Card Reference). SKE48369.

<2> Stowting Parish 1845 6-11 (F Wrench) (OS Card Reference). SKE49682.

<3> Arch 31 1846 398-403 (CR Smith) (OS Card Reference). SKE34398.

<4> Arch 41 1867 409-20 (illus) (J Brent) (OS Card Reference). SKE34406.

<5> JBAA 39 1883 84-6 (illus) (C Brent) (OS Card Reference). SKE44953.

<6> Arch Cant 64 (1951) x/i (OS Card Reference). SKE35369.

Sources and further reading