Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

During the East Kent Access Route excavations (2009-2011) in zone 20 (east) ,a small Anglo-Saxon cemetery was discovered close to a large trackway. There were 5 inhumation burials aligned east-west although others may exist outside the excavation area. The graves were in general quite deep and in at least one case the body had been buried in a coffin. Four of the burials had grave goods, three accompanied by glass and other types of bead, in one case numbering almost 200 and belonging to a necklace. Other objects included a comb, copper alloy brooches of different types, a copper alloy ring, a ceramic spindle whorl, an iron spearhead and a knife, all probably of 6th – 7th century date.

Monument Types

• COFFIN (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 410 AD to 1065 AD)
• INHUMATION (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 410 AD to 1065 AD)

Associated Finds

• BEAD (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 410 AD to 1065 AD)
• BROOCH (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD? to 699 AD?)
• COMB (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD? to 699 AD?)
• KNIFE (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD? to 699 AD?)
• NECKLACE (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD? to 699 AD?)
• RING (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD? to 699 AD?)
• SPEARHEAD (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD? to 699 AD?)
• SPINDLE WHORL (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD? to 699 AD?)

Full description

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During the East Kent Access Route excavations (2009-2011) in zone 20 (east) ,a small Anglo-Saxon cemetery was discovered close to a large trackway. There were 5 inhumation burials aligned east-west although others may exist outside the excavation area. The graves were in general quite deep and in at least one case the body had been buried in a coffin. Four of the burials had grave goods, three accompanied by glass and other types of bead, in one case numbering almost 200 and belonging to a necklace. Other objects included a comb, copper alloy brooches of different types, a copper alloy ring, a ceramic spindle whorl, an iron spearhead and a knife, all probably of 6th – 7th century date. (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Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2011, East Kent Access (Phase II), Thanet, Kent: Post-Excavation Assessment Volume 1 (Unpublished document).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