Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Two two small pits containing pottery, animal bones, whelk shells, pieces of ironstone and some burnt flints were found during the cutting of a sewer trench on Thirlmere Avenue in 1963. The pottery was identified as Iron Age in date.

Monument Types

• PIT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)

Associated Finds

• ANIMAL REMAINS (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
• BURNT FLINT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
• MUSSEL SHELL (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
• POTTERY ASSEMBLAGE (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)

Full description

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In November 1963 when the main sewer trench along the centre of Thirlmere Avenue was excavated two small pits containing pottery animal bones, whelk shells, pieces of ironstone and some burnt flints were found. They were about 5 ft deep and from the remains visible in the trench sides about 5 ft in diameter. The excavator operator thought the flat bottoms had been floored with stones. The pottery is late IA but a closer dating has not yet been given to it, it is at present held at Maidstone Museum. The bones are in the possession of Dr Spittlehouse, Ramsgate Hospital, whose report is awaited by Maidstone Museum. The site is on the false crest of the chalk main Thanet ridge at TR 36316521. (1) TR 36366522. Cropmarks of rectilinear system of enclosures, field and pits with small ring ditches at TR 36326543, TR 36346533, TR 36296522 and TR 36286519. All now under Nethercourt Housing Estate. (2,3) The fragmented cropmark traces of the rectilinear enclosures, ditches and ring ditches described above were seen centred at TR 3637 6526 on aerial photographs and mapped as part of the Historic England Ramsgate HAZ project. The finds from the exacavations carried ou in 1963 suggest this may be the remains of a Late Iron Age settlement and field system overlying an extensive Bronze Age barrow cemetetry. The barrows are all recorded individually. (4)

<1> F1 CFW 19-NOV-63 (OS Card Reference). SKE42651.

<2> AP (CUC SU 58-60, 3.06.56) (OS Card Reference). SKE33482.

<3> AP (CUC VB 28-48, 14.06.57 (OS Card Reference). SKE33491.

<4> Field report for monument TR 36 NE 40 - November, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6180.

Sources and further reading