Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A number of chalk pits and a ditch were exposed during the construction of a gas pipeline in 1984. A variety of Romano-British material was removed from the fill of these pits. Finds included animal bone, shells, bronze pins and tweezers, a dupondius of Antonius Pius and a lead plumb bob. The pottery assemblage dated from the late 1st to 4th centuries and there was also a small amount of medieval and post medieval pottery. Large quantities of chalk rubble, many fragments of daub and iron slag material were found throughout the site. The pits appeared to form part of a relatively large industrial/settlement site. Similar discoveries were made during excavations at Manston Airfield during the second World War, and it is thought that this may be part of the same industrial/settlement site. (see also TR 36 NW 184).

Monument Types

• INDUSTRIAL SITE (Roman - 43 AD? to 399 AD?)
• PIT (Roman - 43 AD? to 399 AD?)
• SETTLEMENT (Roman - 43 AD? (at some time) to 399 AD? (at some time))

Associated Finds

• PIN (Roman - 43 AD? to 399 AD?)
• PLUMB BOB (Roman - 43 AD? to 399 AD?)
• POTTERY ASSEMBLAGE (Roman to Post Medieval - 43 AD? to 1699 AD?)
• SLAG (Roman - 43 AD? to 399 AD?)
• TWEEZERS (Roman - 43 AD? to 399 AD?)
• COIN (Roman - 144 AD to 161 AD)

Full description

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[TR 32406558 area centred from plan]

A number of pits or chalk workings containing Romano British material were exposed during the construction of the Monkton gas pipeline in 1983-4. These pits seem to form part of a fairly considerable industrial/settlement site. The 'first' feature uncovered was a pit 5m across [at TR 32366559]. The depth of the pit could not be determined as it descended below the floor of the trench. Below the layer of modern topsoil there lay a layer of dark brown loam containing animal bone, shells, and Romano British pot sherds. Following the next layer of discoloured chalk rubble, lay a layer of dark brown loam with small chalk nodules. This contained Romano British sherds and many fragments of daub some pierced with round holes, perhaps the casts left by the wattle. The overall dating for the pottery from this feature would seem to be mid 2nd to 3rd century. The second feature [found at TR 32406558] was a ditch passing obliquely across the line of the pipe trench which had apparently been recut. The initial pit fill contained light brown loam and late 1st to 2nd century Romano British material. The later pit fill consisted of discoloured chalk rubble with pockets of dark earth, and medieval pot sherds in late 14th century styles with 16- 17th century material in the brown loam above. [At TR 32456557] a foundation of rammed chalk was revealed after a dupondius of Antoninus Puis had been found by a metal detector. The foundation was set with water-worn flints laid onto a flattened surface of natural chalk. West of the foundation, the soil between the chalk and the modern top soil contained sherds of Romano British pottery dating to mid or late 3rd to 4th centuries. Two bronze pins were also found. The remaining feature [at TR 32486563] was a large pit 10m across. At the eastern end, it descended below the floor of the trench and could not be investigated fully. Beneath the modern topsoil lay a layer of burnt earth with iron slag, pot sherds, bones and shells. The next layer consisted of discoloured chalk rubble changing to chalky brown loam at the deep east end and containing similar material to the layer above it. The final layer investigated contained a light brown loam with high chalk content except at the deep east end where the layer descended below the floor of the trench. Finds included a lead plumb bob, a bronze pin and bronze tweezers. The pottery found dates this feature to late 2nd to mid 3rd century activity and 3rd-4th century infilling. Similar discoveries were made at the excavations of Manston Airfield [TR 365660] during the second World War, but have not yet been published (a), however, they seem to be part of the same industrial/settlement site. (2, 6)

[See also TR 36 NW 184] Manston. A series of pits and occupation hollows yielded quantities of early iron age pottery from A and early B to Belgic. The report is being prepared for official publication by Mr W.F. Grimes (Winter 1943-4) (1, 3)

TR 324656. Pits containing midden material and Romano-British pot sherds (2nd to 3rd century) were discovered here on the Monkton- Ramsgate gas pipe line. (4)

See also (5).

Geophysical survey undertaken in 1992. (7)

TR 324 656: During work on the Monkton-Ramsgate gas pipe line a ditch was encountered at this spot. While the lower fill contained Romano-British sherds circa 2nd century, the ditch was apparently cut and used during the late 14th to early 17th centuries.A pit containing Romano British pot sherds of early 2nd century type was also encountered. Belgic potin coins also found. (4)

<1> WF Grimes (OS Card Reference). SKE51317.

<2> Perkins, D. R. J., 1986, The Monkton Gas Pipeline: Phases III & IV 1983 - 84, Arch Cant 102 1985 44 47-9 59 61 fig 3 (DRJ Perkins) (Article in serial). SKE11881.

<3> Ant J 28 1948 29 (BH St J O'Neil) (OS Card Reference). SKE33163.

<3> KAR 78 1984 180 (D Perkins) (OS Card Reference). SKE45429.

<3> Perkins, D., 1984, The Thanet gas pipeline Phase III 1983, KAR 78 1984 180 (D Perkins) (Article in serial). SWX7723.

<4> Trust for Thanet Archaeology, 1987, Isle of Thanet Archaeological Unit Sites and Monuments Archive, Isle of Thanet Arch Unit Sites and Mons Archive 1988 Rec No 243-259 (Collection). SKE11846.

<6> Trust for Thanet Archaeology, 1991, Proposed Improvements to The A253 Between Monkton & Ramsgate: The Archaeological Implications (Unpublished document). SKE11867.

<7> Clark, A. J. & Bartlett, A. D. H., 1992, Thanet, Kent: Proposed Improvements to A253 Report on Geophysical Survey (Unpublished document). SWX6777.

Sources and further reading