Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

During an archaeological evaluation undertaken by Wessex archaeology in 2008, a group of Anglo-Saxon pits and a gully were uncovered parallel to the east bank of the Ebbsfleet River. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)

Monument Types

• GULLY (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 600 AD to 700 AD)
• PIT (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 600 AD to 700 AD)

Associated Finds

• SHERD (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 600 AD to 700 AD)

Full description

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During an archaeological evaluation undertaken by Wessex archaeology in 2008, a group of Anglo-Saxon pits and a gully were uncovered parallel to the east bank of the Ebbsfleet River. The first circular, 0.74m in diameter and 0.23m deep with steep and concave sides and a flat base. The second was sub circular, 1.30m x 0.90m and 0.62m deep. It had shallow concave sides and flat base. Gradual slope, becoming steep to almost vertical towards base. The gully was 0.48m wide and 0.36m deep with vertical, straight sides and flat base. These features appear to date to the 7th century or perhaps a little earlier. Both locally produced and imported European forms of pottery appear to be present. The pits contained high concentrations of land snails and cereal grains. There appears therefore to be sufficient evidence to infer dispersed settlement/light industrial activity along the eastern bank of the Ebbsfleet River and even possible trade with Europe. This fits with a general interpretation of occupation activity along the banks of the Ebbsfleet during the Early-Mid Saxon period. (1)

<1> Wessex Archaeology, 2008, Springhead Quarter: Phase 2 & Phase 3 Trial Trench Evaluation, Ebssfleet, Kent: Archaeological Evaluation Report (Unpublished document). SKE17952.

Sources and further reading