Monument record TQ 67 SW 58 - Levalloisian Palaeolithic flakes, cores and animal remains from pit rail cutting to Bevan's (Baker's Hole) Pit

Summary

Levalloisian Palaeolithic flakes, cores and animal remains from pit rail cutting to Bevan's (Baker's Hole) Pit, collected by various workers in the late 19thC, particularly H Stopes and FCJ Spurrell. Location accurate to 20m based on available information

Location

Grid reference TQ 6137 7404 (point) Estimated from sources
Map sheet TQ67SW
County KENT
District DARTFORD, KENT
Civil Parish SWANSCOMBE AND GREENHITHE, DARTFORD, KENT

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

Spurrell (1, 2) provides a detailed description of the site and his finds: "Half a mile south-west of this spot [1/4 mile west of Northfleet Church] is another cutting in the valley below, where, about 20 feet above O.D. or less, I found a kind of beach on which lay several haches, from 5 to 25 feet below the surface according to the slope. Mammoth remains of great size, also those of Rhinoceros, Bison, Horse, Deer, etc. are found on this spot. Perfect haches of five distinct kinds and make were obtained, and some unfinished and spoilt examples. I have examined many thousands of flakes and discovered numerous flint hammers and knapping tools, also some elegant scrapers of peculiar form, oval, flat on one side and rounded on the other".

The location of Spurrell's site was relocated in conjunction with examination of historic OS mapping and a drawing of the cutting section held in Dartford Library (3). It is clear from Spurrell's description and illustrations that much of the material he found was Levalloisian material similar to that later found by RA Smith at nearby Southfleet Pit (TQ 67 SW 48). Henry Stopes also collected from the cutting and some of his finds are preserved with the rest of his flint collection in the National Museum of Wales (4).

Location accurate to 20m based on available information


Wenban-Smith F. F., 2004 (March), The Stopes Palaeolithic Project: Final Report, #26C (Unpublished document). SWX12877.

<1> Spurrell FCJ, , 1883, Palaeolithic implements found in West Kent. (Article in serial). SKE32204.

<2> Spurrell FCJ,, 1884, On some Palaeolithic knapping tools and modes of using them. (Article in serial). SKE32210.

<3> Wenban-Smith F. F., 1995, The Ebbsfleet Valley, Northfleet (Baker's Hole) (Article in monograph). SKE17727.

Sources/Archives (4)

  • --- Unpublished document: Wenban-Smith F. F.. 2004 (March). The Stopes Palaeolithic Project: Final Report. #26C.
  • <1> Article in serial: Spurrell FCJ, . 1883. Palaeolithic implements found in West Kent. . Archaeologia Cantiana 15: 89-103.
  • <2> Article in serial: Spurrell FCJ,. 1884. On some Palaeolithic knapping tools and modes of using them.. Journal of the Anthropological Institute 13: 109-118..
  • <3>XY Article in monograph: Wenban-Smith F. F.. 1995. The Ebbsfleet Valley, Northfleet (Baker's Hole). [Mapped feature: #17326 Palaeolithic site, ]

Finds (5)

Protected Status/Designation

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (2)

  • Non-Intrusive Event: Aggregates Levy Survey: Palaeolithic Sites (EKE8260)
  • Non-Intrusive Event: Survey, North Kent Coastal Zone: Phase ll, Year Two (Ref: 56751) (EWX8626)

Record last edited

Jun 24 2021 12:28PM