Monument record TQ 85 SE 138 - Late Iron Age/Romano-British settlement or villa site, Harrietsham

Summary

A Late Iron Age enclosed settlement associated with a road and cremation burials. The site continued in use during the Roman period. A small settlement or a possible villa existed in the immediate vicinity. In the late 3rd or early 4th century a group of nine aisled buildings were constructed, possibly barns serving the villa/settlement.

Location

Grid reference TQ 8731 5290 (point) Centred on
Map sheet TQ85SE
County KENT
District MAIDSTONE, KENT
Civil Parish HARRIETSHAM, MAIDSTONE, KENT

Map

Type and Period (8)

Full Description

In 1985 Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit apparently carried out an excavation within the grounds of the Rectory. Pits and ditches of Roman date were supposedly found. It is also reported that walls of a building were found, possibly with a hypocaust. Work is also thought to have been carried out by Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit on land to the south on the medical centre and community hall site. (1)

In April 1997 Canterbury Archaeological Trust carried out a watching brief began on work for new housing development at the site known as Glebeland at Harrietsham. Immediately archaeology was recovered and evaluation trenching commenced after consultation with the developer. Evidence gathered suggests that occupation of the site began in the Late Iron Age and continued into the Roman period until probably the 4thC. The site then seems to have been abandoned or contracted and a soil horizon accumulated over it. Cut into this soil horizon were the foundations of seven buildings.

The settlement was found in the western side of the housing development site. A flint road bedded in chalk with side ditches (TQ 85 SE 137) aligned NE-SW led to and or through the site. To the south of the road a large N-S aligned ditch was discovered with a smaller ditch in front and a row of six post-holes probably formed a fence. This boundary ditch probably formed the beginning of the settlement. No structures were identified within the settlement area although a number of post-holes, other than the six mentioned above, were found, but with no apparent pattern. To the west of the boundary ditch a large feature was excavated which contained insufficient material to indicate that it was a rubbish or storage pit.

Eleven, with a possible further six, cremation burials were found within the angle formed by the road and the boundary ditch, indicating that they were contemporary with each other. The concentration of burials in this area may be in part due to the depth of overburden being greater in this area, thus protecting it from plough damage. Of the eleven definite cremations, eight contained a single cremation, one contained two, one contained three ceramic urns and one contained three ceramic urns and a small bronze vessel. Only one of the burials had been cut by a later burial and another cut the road suggesting that it may have been in a state of disrepair at the time. (1)

Geophysical survey to test for archaeological features just east of site found in 1997 during the CAT evaluation. Possible features located. (2).

Predetermination evaluation on site showed that archaeological features indeed continued across this section of the field. It was not possible to identify what the features were or what age they were, other than the Late Iron Age/Romano-British road which was found where it was predicted to be and was in a good condition. (3)

The Late Iron Age occupation of the site began in the latter part of the 1st century BC. A large boundary ditch crossed the site with an enclosure to the west. A flint-metalled road crossed the ditch to enter the enclosure. South of the road a group of nine Aylesford-type cremation burials were found. The vessels and a unique copper alloy vessel found within this group pre-date the Roman conquest. One of the burials cut the crushed chalk base of the road and indicates that this too must be pre-Roman in date. A further three burials were found east of the group and appear to be of late 2nd or early 3rd century date. During the late 1st or early 2nd century the road was realigned. The old road possibly became a yard surface at this time. No buildings were found within the enclosure of this date though domestic rubbish indicates it was probably located nearby. It is thought that this occupation relates to a small settlement or a villa complex. A build-up of silt over the site indicates a contraction or abandonment towards the end of the 2nd century or at the beginning of the 3rd century. Cut into this soil layer were foundations of nine substantial aisled buildings each c.13m wide and more than c.20m long. A coin was found in the foundations of one indicating a date of construction in the late 3rd or early 4th century. No domestic evidence was found within the buildings so they could be barns. (4)


<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1998, An Archaeological Investigation at Glebe Land, Harrietsham: Interim Report (Unpublished document). SKE7365.

<2> The Clark Laboratory, 1998, Site at Marley Road, Harrietsham, Kent: Report on Archaeogeophysical Survey (Unpublished document). SKE7368.

<3> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1998, Archaeological Evaluation at Marley Road, Harrietsham, Maidstone, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE7369.

<4> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1997-1998, Canterbury’s Archaeology 1997–1998; Fieldwork Kent Sites (Article in serial). SKE32048.

Sources/Archives (4)

  • <1> Unpublished document: Canterbury Archaeological Trust. 1998. An Archaeological Investigation at Glebe Land, Harrietsham: Interim Report.
  • <2> Unpublished document: The Clark Laboratory. 1998. Site at Marley Road, Harrietsham, Kent: Report on Archaeogeophysical Survey.
  • <3> Unpublished document: Canterbury Archaeological Trust. 1998. Archaeological Evaluation at Marley Road, Harrietsham, Maidstone, Kent.
  • <4> Article in serial: Canterbury Archaeological Trust. 1997-1998. Canterbury’s Archaeology 1997–1998; Fieldwork Kent Sites. 1997-1998, III Kent Sites.

Finds (30)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (8)

  • Intrusive Event: Evaluation at Glebeland, Harrietsham (EKE12885)
  • Intrusive Event: Evaluation at Marley Road, Harrietsham (Ref: GLH98) (EKE5434)
  • Intrusive Event: Excavation in the grounds of Harrietsham Rectory gardens (EKE12889)
  • Non-Intrusive Event: Magnetometry survey of land at Marley Road, Harrietsham (EKE5433)
  • Non-Intrusive Event: Resistivity survey of land at Marley Road, Harrietsham (EKE12883)
  • Intrusive Event: Strip, map and sample excavation at Glebeland, Harrietsham (EKE12886)
  • Intrusive Event: Watching brief at Glebeland, Harrietsham (phase 4) (EKE12887)
  • Intrusive Event: Watching brief on access road at Glebeland, Harrietsham (EKE12884)

Record last edited

Jul 18 2017 10:25AM