Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

During the East Kent Access Route excavations (2009-2011) an Anglo-Saxon cemetery was discovered in zone 19. One of two, the southern cemetery consisted of 16 graves altough it may have extended beyond the excavated area. The graves were all aligned east-west primarily with their heads to the west. There was a relative lack of grave goods compared to the Anglo-Saxon cemetery located c. 100m to the north-east although this may be due to robbing. One burial, however, contained a finger ring, chain, silver brooch, and other iron objects while a second had an iron shield boss. In another a bone comb lay on the head. The grave goods suggest a 6th century date though possibly extending into the 7th century. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)

Monument Types

• CEMETERY (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD? to 699 AD?)
• INHUMATION (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD? to 699 AD?)

Associated Finds

• BROOCH (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 501 AD? to 650 AD?)
• CHAIN (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 501 AD? to 650 AD?)
• COMB (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 501 AD? to 650 AD?)
• RING (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 501 AD? to 650 AD?)
• SHIELD BOSS (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 501 AD? to 650 AD?)

Full description

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During the East Kent Access Route excavations (2009-2011) an Anglo-Saxon cemetery was discovered in zone 19. One of two, the southern cemetery consisted of 16 graves although it may have extended beyond the excavated area. The graves seemed to have been arranged into a curving band south of a trackway, perhaps suggesting the presence of a monument or other feature to the south. The graves were all aligned east-west primarily with their heads to the west. There was a relative lack of grave goods compared to the Anglo-Saxon cemetery located c. 100m to the north-east although this may be due to robbing. One burial, however, contained a finger ring, chain, silver brooch, and other iron objects while a second had an iron shield boss. In another a bone comb lay on the head. The grave goods suggest a 6th century date though possibly extending into the 7th century.(information summarised from source)(1-2)

<1> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2011, East Kent Access (Phase II), Thanet, Kent: Post-Excavation Assessment Volume 1 (Unpublished document). SKE29279.

<2> Andrews et al, 2015, Digging The Gateway: Archaeological Landscapes of South Thanet. The Archaeology of East Kent Access (Phase III) Vol 1: The sites (Monograph). SKE55517.

Sources and further reading