Monument record TR 36 NE 408 - Early Bronze Age barrow, Beauforts, North Foreland Avenue

Summary

An Early Bronze Age barrow with a central crouched inhumation accompanied by a beaker.

Location

Grid reference TR 3991 6921 (point) From rectified plan
Map sheet TR36NE
County KENT
District THANET, KENT
Civil Parish BROADSTAIRS AND ST PETERS, THANET, KENT

Map

Type and Period (2)

Full Description

First identified as a single ditched ring ditch located from air photographs. (1)

In 2004 the Trust for Thanet Archaeology carried out a watching brief. A ring ditch and a central crouched inhumation burial were found. Worked flints, animal bones and oyster shells were found in the ditch fill. A polished Neolithic flint axe was also found in the ditch. This object may have been intentionally placed in the base of the ditch, having been discovered in the Early Bronze Age, possibly even during the digging of the barrow ditch. Other worked flint from the ditch was of Early or Middle Bronze Age date. The central grave was rectangular in plan, orientated east-north-east/west-south-west. A small ledge had been cut into the western corner of the grave. The grave backfill contained two finds, a flint flake and a sherd of Beaker pottery, as well as mussel, whelk and oyster shells. It is thought that there was some form of grave structure of organic material, possibly a hollowed out tree trunk or a wattle-built construction. The crouched inhumation was of a woman probably over the age of 40 and accompanied by a well preserved Long Necked Beaker which had been placed at her feet. The body was on its left side with the head at the northern end of the grave. The beaker had been damaged prior to deposition. A post hole was found on the edge of the ring ditch. The ring ditch was probably c.14m across. (2)


<1> Trust for Thanet Archaeology, Thanet SMR, cropmark plot. (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6443.

<2> Trust for Thanet Archaeology, 2005, 'Beauforts', North Foreland Avenue, Broadstairs, Kent: Archaeological Report (Unpublished document). SKE24336.

Sources/Archives (2)

  • <1> Miscellaneous Material: Trust for Thanet Archaeology. Thanet SMR, cropmark plot..
  • <2> Unpublished document: Trust for Thanet Archaeology. 2005. 'Beauforts', North Foreland Avenue, Broadstairs, Kent: Archaeological Report.

Finds (12)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (2)

  • Intrusive Event: Excavation at North Foreland Avenue, 1978 (EKE20874)
  • Intrusive Event: Watching brief at 'Beauforts', North Foreland Avenue, Broadstairs (Ref: BNF 04) (EKE12951)

Record last edited

Aug 2 2021 4:34PM