Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Flint artifacts

Monument Types

• FINDSPOT (SETTLEMENT, Early Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 4000 BC to 701 BC)
• LITHIC WORKING SITE (Early Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 4000 BC to 701 BC)
• SETTLEMENT (SETTLEMENT, Early Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 4000 BC to 701 BC)

Full description

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In 1973 a new dyke was dug on the marshes in the Lydden Valley, near Deal, approximately 0.5 km NE of the Cottington coal tip 'TR 356 546'.In the earth removed during this operation, large numbers of struck flint flakes, worked tools, burnt flint and clay, charcoal and severalsmall sherds of pottery were found. Since that time, regular visits tothis area have produced numerous, fine worked tools and many hundreds of waste flakes and blades from around the edges of the old dyke system of which the new dyke is merely a part. The distribution of this flint material is such as to suggest that it had also been brought to the surface when the older dykes were constructed or deepened and the resulting spoil scattered over the surrounding fields. Overall, an area of several thousand square metres is involvedin this locality, but since only surface finds have been recovered it is not possible to say whether all the artifacts are from one large site or several small ones close together. Characteristically, all theflint material from these marsh sites is in excellent condition, showing no signs of being water worn or rolled and some of the small sharpening flakes are almost transparent in their thinness, a strong indication that they are being derived from an original, undisturbed context. None of the flints has any patina. (Some of the tools are shown on illustration card no 1). In spite of extensive searches, manyareas appear to be devoid of any sign of prehistoric activity and one is left with a stong impression that the makers of these implements lived either in small scattered communities or possibly made spasmodicvisits to the area. The dense concentration of material at Cotington would suggest either permanent occupation or at least a large base from which to forage over the surrounding terrain. The Land Use Registry for the area does indicate some areas of slightly higher ground which, due to drainage and agricultural use, are not apparent today. It is possible that these areas, above the generally marshy terrain, were the centres of prehistoric activity. The flint assemblages referred to above would normally be assigned, on typological grounds, to the later Neolithic or Bronze Age. However, the small sherds of pottery found at Cottington would, in other contexts, probably be considered to be Iron Age in date; but the circumstances in which this material was found "i.e. unstratified", means that great caution must be exercised in drawing firm dating conclusions. The nearest previously recorded prehistoric site at a similar level to Cottington is situated 2.0 km to the SW, at Finglesham, where a late Iron Age hearth, with associated pottery, buried under nearly 2 m of loamy hill-wash was recorded by W.P.D. Stebbing in 1929 (see also TR 35 NW104 for a more up to date summary).There is general agreement that the land surface on this coast, relative to sea level, was higher in Neolithic times than at the present, but the magnitude of this difference and the degreee of watercoverage have been debated for many years. What the present finds indicate, however, is that the marshy area between Deal and Worth and to the W of Sandwich was capable of being settled and regularly traversed in prehistoric times. In conclusion, the occurrance of prehistoric flint artifacts and associated signs of occupation over a wide expanse of the Deal-Sandwich marshes, together with the recent excavation of an early Roman occupation site at Dickson's Corner should finally dispel the long held belief that this area was under water in prehistoric and Roman times. None of the sites mentioned above is in danger of destruction at the present time and only carefulexcavations will determine the true chronological sequence of man's activities over this part of the east Kent coast. (1) Further to the E, in the neighbouring parish of Sholden, re- examination of the Cottington site (see 1), first discovered in 1973 showed a similar sequence of marsh deposits, with surface peat over some 0.14 m of greasy clay, which in turn sealed the flint layer, some0.4m below the ground surface, at the point examined. (For more detailed background information and conclusions see TR 35 NW104). (2)

Additional Reference (3)

<1> KAR 65 1982 113-6 (G Halliwell) (OS Card Reference). SKE45396.

<2> KAR 82 Winter 1985 42 (G Halliwell and K Parfitt) (OS Card Reference). SKE45446.

<3> Chris Blandford Associates, 2002, Betteshanger Colliery & Spoil Tip Environmental Impact Assessment: Volume 2 Environmental Statement (Unpublished document). SKE8361.

Sources and further reading