Aerial photograph [1].

The cemetery was identified at the site of the former Holy Trinity School, Dartford (TQ 57 SW 254), during the following archaeological works:

Trial trenching by Dartford District Archaeological Group in early 1995 in the north west corner of the site, revealed four human burials, which were excavated and identified another. All the inhumations were east-west orientated, but no firm dating evidence was recovered from the graves. KCC do not hold a separate record of the Dartford District Archaeological Group's work, although the 1998 ASE excavation report does discuss the pottery assemblage recovered by the Dartford group in detail.

The 1997 evaluation (centred on TQ 53762,74071) was designed to find the extent of the burials. No human remains or recognisable grave cuts were noted in any of the trenches. Three small undated features were recorded, but there was no evidence to link them to the inhumations uncovered. It concluded that the cemetery was quite small and well defined and only extended to the N and E of the original Dover Group trench, but not to the S (2).

Following on from the evaluation work in the spring of 1997, it was decided to fully excavate a large area in the most archaeologically sensitive part of the site (centred on TQ 53745,74100). This work in the north western corner of the site revealed a number of features.
A total of 25 east-west orientated graves were recorded (including the five identified by the Dartford Group), in 4 north to south rows. The graves were fairly evenly spaced and there was no evidence of intercutting between them, suggesting that the graves may have been marked whilst the cemetery was in use. Two of the grave cuts did have adjacent postholes, but these contained no dating evidence. The grave cuts were rectangular and cut into the chalk. The dimensions of the graves were to some extent determined by the size of the inhumation, although at least 18 were between 30 and 70cm longer than the inhumation. In every case this extra length formed a space at the eastern (or foot) end of the grave. It is unclear why the graves were dug longer, especially as they were dug into chalk, although it is suggested that the space was designed to hold grave goods. No evidence was found for this in the graves, although it is also suggested that they may have been organic and decayed completely.

All of the grave cuts contained single inhumations with the exception of one female inhumation which was buried with a foetus or neonate, within a distinct rectangular feature, which may have been the remains of a coffin placed in the grave at the same time as the primary burial. Evidence was recorded of both shrouds and coffins being used for burial. Two burials contained traces of copper alloy shroud pins (although only one was recorded in the metalwork section?) . Three burials contained traces of coffin stains and mineralised coffin nails. All of the burials were placed in the extended supine position, with the exception of two which lay slightly on one side. The majority of the skeletons had their arms by their sides, although on five the left arm was slightly bent and placed across the body and one had both arms bent with both hands placed beneath the jaw. A few generalisations were made in the osteological analysis section of the report, with sub adults and mature adults making up the majority of the burial population, while the sex distribution of the adults is fairly equal. 6 of the adults had osteoarthritis and two displayed unusual pathologies. One adult female was suffering from gross skeletal deformity, kyphosis and probably osteomalacia. The other displayed an abnormality of the left shoulder girdle.

Fifteen of the burials were accompanied by grave goods. The majority of grave goods consisted of knives, although three buckles, a pair of shears, a key, a seax, a strap distributor and a pin were also recorded. No pattern was noted in the distribution of the grave goods, either spatially or between the age and sex of the burials. The report carries a full inventory of the grave goods as well as the object positions.

It was the grave goods, along with the burial rite, that suggested a 7th to early 8th century date for the cemetery. The lack of brooches and the Christian orientation of the burials suggests that a date before this is unlikely. Likewise the metalwork could date to later centuries, but the fact it was placed in the graves points to a 7th-8th century date. The report suggests that the combination of grave goods and the east-west orientation of the burials may indicate a burial ground which represents the transistion period between Pagan and Christian beliefs (and perhaps an eighth century date). It also states that the 25 burials probably represent only a small proportion of the total cemetery, which may lie under the buildings to the north or has been terraced away to the east.

Three unevenly spaced and undated postholes ran along the western edge of the burial area in a north south line, which the report suggests could possibly be representative of a western boundary fence for the cemetery.

The excavation work also identified a Late Bronze Age/ Early Iron Age pit (TQ 57 SW 250), an 11-12th century building (TQ 57 SW 251) and a Medieval Boundary Ditch (TQ 57 SW 252). The site of a medieval leper hospital is recorded directly east of the site (TQ 57 SW 48) [3].

<1> 1993, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10721.

<2> Archaeology South-East, 1997, An Archaeological Evaluation at Holy Trinity School, West Hill, Dartford, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE12276.

<3> Archaeology South-East, 1998, An Archaeological Excavation at Holy Trinity School, West Hill, Dartford, Kent (Draft) (Unpublished document). SKE12280.