Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

An Iron Age and Romano-British Settlement at South Cliff parade, Dumpton Bay, Broadstairs. Evidence of this settlement was first revealed in 1907-1909, when enclosure ditches were investigated during the construction of the South Cliff Parade. The finds removed included la Tene III occupation material, a La Tene II cremation, two inhumations and a series of apparently votive burials of skulls arms and leg bones. A number of discoveries have been subsequently made in this area. In the early 1960s finds included two rubbish pits and two sunken floors containing infant burials dating to c.60 AD on the basis of pottery removed from the features. At this time a large quantity of pottery and an early Iron Age inhumation with an iron fibula were also found. The pottery included a few rare sherds of Marnian pottery unique in the country. Six shallow graves containing portions of skeletons, fragments of pottery, and calcined bones were also uncovered during work to extend the parade. Further excavations in 1971-2 revealed two more pits containing inhumations.

Monument Types

• RING DITCH (Unknown date)
• INHUMATION (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
• RUBBISH PIT (Early Iron Age to Roman - 800 BC to 250 AD)
• SETTLEMENT (Early Iron Age to Roman - 800 BC to 250 AD)
• CREMATION (Late Iron Age - 100 BC to 42 AD)

Associated Finds

• BROOCH (Early Iron Age to Roman - 800 BC to 409 AD)
• HUMAN REMAINS (Early Iron Age to Roman - 800 BC to 409 AD)
• POTTERY ASSEMBLAGE (Early Iron Age to Roman - 800 BC to 409 AD)
• (Middle Iron Age - 400 BC to 101 BC)
• (Middle Iron Age - 400 BC to 101 BC)
• ANIMAL REMAINS (Middle Iron Age - 400 BC to 101 BC)
• COFFIN (Middle Iron Age - 200 BC to 101 BC)
• SPEARHEAD (Middle Iron Age - 200 BC to 101 BC)
• BROOCH (Late Iron Age - 100 BC to 42 AD)
• POT (Late Iron Age - 100 BC to 42 AD)
• POT (Late Iron Age - 100 BC to 42 AD)

Full description

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[TR 39496639] Iron Age and Romano-British Settlement (NAT) (1)

Between 1907-1909, when the South Cliff Parade, Dumpton Bay was constructed and developed, an extensive iron-age settlement was discovered with pottery ranging from Hallstat to Belgic. (21-22) Inhumations with Samian (100-150 AD) were found nearby, and other inhumations and cremations were found within 100 ft south of Dumpton Gap in 1899-1900. In 1960-1963 J. Coy excavating in the area centred TR 39406640 - 'B', uncovered two sunken floors both of which contained infant burials; pottery from the infilling is dated to c.60 AD. This excavation is to be continued. In 1960, when 'Chanteclair' centred TR 39326632 was built, workmen discovered 2 rubbish pits. Coy excavated the garden and found a large quantity of pottery and an Early Iron Age inhumation with an iron fibula, at TR 39316632 - 'C'. The pottery, partly in the possession of the owner of the house and partly with Dr Ann Birchall, formerly of the B.M., indicates an extensive Belgic settlement preceded by a Marnian or closely related culture of C. 250 BC. A few Marnian sherds bearing incised chevron decoration in haematite colouring are of particular importance as they are at present unique in this country (d). In October 1963 the cutting of a sewer trench revealed at TR 39446641 - 'D', a sunken floor the infilling of which contained an inhumation and some 1st c. AD pottery fragments. (2-7) Broadstairs. Six shallow graves containing portions of skeletons, fragments of pottery; and calcined bones were uncovered in making a new road to extend the parade near Dumpton Gap. (8) A fragment of an Iron Age pottery trough from the cliff at Dumpton Gap, found during excavations. (9) TR 395666. Iron Age settlement site at Dumpton Gap, within enclosure ditches, partially excavated c.1909 revealed la Tene III occupation material, a La Tene II cremation, 2 inhumations and a series of apparently votive burials of skulls arms and leg bones. TR 3967. Broadstairs. Excavation of an Iron Age settlement site by T.C. Champion in 1971-2 revealed 2 pits containing inhumations. (10) TR 39096632. Cropmarks of two small circular features, possible hut circles associated with known Iron Age and Romano British settlement. (11) At TR 39386650 cropmarks of linear and curvilinear features can be seen. (12) At TR 39546640 small concentric circular features can be seen, the outer ring of which may be penannular. Possibly a hut site associated with this settlement. (13) TR 394664 (centred) Iron Age, Romano British and Anglo Saxon remains, now built over. Site no 137. (14)

The 1907-8 work along the route of South Cliff Parade encountered ditches and pits, including two large ditches seemingly enclosing the promontory, at TR 39559 66549 and TR 39487 66292. Finds included a shale bracelet, a number of loomweights, parts of a quern and pottery. (21-22)

The finds from the 1907-8 work were assessed in 1995. Material from the Early Iron Age through to c. AD 250 was recorded. (23)

In 2005 the Trust for Thanet Archaeology carried out an evaluation and an excavation at 1 Seacroft Road. The earliest features found were a quarry and a number of pits dated to the Late Iron Age. All of the features produced animal bone and pottery of this period along with chared cereal grain. Activity continued on the site into the 1st century AD when another quarry was opened. A ditch, two post holes and some pits also dated to this early Roman phase. (24)

<1> OS 1/1250 1955 (OS Card Reference). SKE48114.

<2> F1 CFW 11-OCT-63 (OS Card Reference). SKE42535.

<3> Archaeol 61, 1909, 427-32 plans, illusts (H Hurd) (OS Card Reference). SKE37206.

<4> Archaeol of Kent 1930, 147-8 (RF Jessup) (OS Card Reference). SKE37296.

<5> VCH Kent 3, 1932, 148 (RF Jessup and MV Taylor) (OS Card Reference). SKE51158.

<6> Archaeol Cant 76, 1961, pl vi, (JG Coy) (OS Card Reference). SKE37241.

<7> Oral JG Coy (Hon. Corr.) Cliftonville (OS Card Reference). SKE47935.

<8> Proc Soc Antiquries London 2nd Series 22, 1907-9, 508-10 (OS Card Reference). SKE48732.

<9> Archaeol Cant 24, 1900, lix (G Payne) (OS Card Reference). SKE37216.

<10> Proc Soc Antiquaries London 2nd Series 23, 1909-11, 68, fig. 1 (H Wilmer) (OS Card Reference). SKE48729.

<11> BAR 90, 1981 Burial Practices in Iron Age Britain 237-8, 380,183,214,8,10,16 (R Whimster) (OS Card Reference). SKE37587.

<12> AP (RAF 58 733 F5005, 02-JUL-1951) (OS Card Reference). SKE34114.

<13> AP (RAF 58 688 F5153, 23-MAY-1951) (OS Card Reference). SKE34113.

<14> AP (RAF 58 688 F5152, 23-MAY-1951) (OS Card Reference). SKE34112.

<15> Thanet. The Archaeol Heritage c.1982, 9 (Thanet Dist Council and Isle of Thanet Archaeol Unit) (OS Card Reference). SKE49919.

<16> RCHM(E) Excavation Index, Thanet Kent, 20, PRN 15250 (OS Card Reference). SKE48976.

<17> BSPAS 1973, Archaeological Discoveries in Broadstairs & St Peters to 1972, 14-15, 1973, 13 (OS Card Reference). SKE38399.

<18> Isle of Thanet Archaeol Unit Sites and Mons. Archive 1988, Record No.137 (OS Card Reference). SKE44771.

<19> Isle of Thanet Archaeol Unit Sites and Mons. Archive 1988, Record No.204 (OS Card Reference). SKE44774.

<20> Field report for monument TR 36 NE 14 - October, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6157.

<21> Howard Hurd, 1914, Late-Celtic Discoveries at Broadstairs (Article in serial). SKE18292.

<22> Minter, K.S. and Herbert, E.F., 1973, Archaeological discoveries in Broadstairs & St. Peter’s up to 1972 (Monograph). SKE18291.

<23> Trust For Thanet Archaeology, 1995, Overall assessment of the pottery and other finds from the 1907-9 South Cliff Parade, 1971-2 and 1974 Dumpton Gap and 1992-94 South Dumpton Downs excavations (Unpublished document). SWX7091.

<24> Trust for Thanet Archaeology, 2006, 1 Seacroft Road, Broadstairs, Kent: Archaeological Report (Unpublished document). SKE18290.

Sources and further reading

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