Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A number of trial tranches were excavated when a site was found during the course of an extension development at Northdown County Primary School, Margate. A shallow gully and ditches were found, containing pottery. There was an area of burnt flint, a broken grindstone and a possible hearth as well as a number of pits. A loomweight was also uncovered from this area. The pottery assemblage dated from the mid/late Bronze Age into the Iron Age c.1000 - 400 BC. This may well show that the site was continuously occupied during this time (although it is not clear if this includes the Neolithic settlement - see TR 37 SE 265).

Monument Types

• DITCH (Late Bronze Age to Middle Iron Age - 1000 BC? to 400 BC?)
• PIT (Late Bronze Age to Middle Iron Age - 1000 BC? to 400 BC?)
• SETTLEMENT (Late Bronze Age to Middle Iron Age - 1000 BC? to 400 BC?)

Associated Finds

• LOOMWEIGHT (Late Bronze Age to Late Iron Age - 1000 BC to 42 AD)
• POTTERY ASSEMBLAGE (Late Bronze Age to Middle Iron Age - 1000 BC? to 400 BC?)

Full description

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TR 373 701 A series of trial trenches was cut at Northdown County Primary School, Margate, NE of the school buildings, in an attempt to determine the extent and date of a site being disturbed by development. A shallow gully, containing pottery associated with an area of burnt flint, a broken grindstone and a possible hearth was found. A loomweight was also uncovered from this area. The pottery appears to date to the Late Bronze Age or Iron Age. (1-3 & 5).

TR 373 703 (Sited to nearest 50 m) Iron Age remains. Site no 11. (4)

Extension work at the school allowed further excavation of this site. A number of ditches, pits (possibly one granary pit) and a hearth were recorded along with pottery sherds. The assemblage consists of a spectrum which spans the Mid/Late Bronze Age into the Iron Ages, possibly from 1000-400 BC and may suggest continuous occupation (although it is not clear if this includes the Neolithic settlement (TR 37 SE 265)). (5)

<1> Arch Cant 88 1973 222 (JE Eley) (OS Card Reference). SKE35957.

<2> Macpherson-Grant, N., 1971, An Iron Age site at Northdown School, Margate, KAR 25 1971 156 (N Macpherson Grant) (Article in serial). SWX7665.

<3> RCHME Excav Index Thanet Kent 14 PRN 15347 and 15348 (OS Card Reference). SKE48985.

<4> Trust for Thanet Archaeology, 1987, Isle of Thanet Archaeological Unit Sites and Monuments Archive, Thanet The Arch Heritage c1982 4 (Thanet Dist Council and Ilse of Thanet Arch Unit) (Collection). SKE11846.

<5> Trust For Thanet Archaeology, 1988 Sep, Archaeological Remains at Northdown Primary School, Cliftonville, Margate (Unpublished document). SWX7112.

Sources and further reading