Monument record TQ 76 SW 37 - Anglo Saxon cemetery, Eccles, Aylesford

Summary

215 plus burials were found when excavations of the Eccles Roman Villa started in 1962 (see TQ 76 SW 10), evidence of scattered burials was uncovered. Some were found in the derelict hypocausts of the bath building while others were found in the servants quarters. After 1970 it was established that an Anglo Saxon cemetery existed east of the north wing of the villa. In 1972 more burials were found in the area, most laid approximately east-west, in layers, each burial disturbing the one beneath it. Some of the earlier burials had grave goods which dated them to the end of the Anglo Saxon pagan period and into the beginning of Christianity. In 1973 70 more burials were found which were dated as later than AD 650. More were found in 1974 to the south east of the villa together with signs of a wooden structure. It is believed that the wooden building had been a chapel linked to the cemetery. Study of the skeletons has identified a leprous skeleton (second half of 7th century) and hydrocephalus in a child. Some skeletons revealed weapon injuries. Evidence of the Anglo Saxon settlement site has not been uncovered. The cemetry lies on the mid to lower slopes, facing west-south-west,below the downs in the bottom of the River Medway valley. Covering soil dark gray loam. OD 20-25m.

Location

Grid reference TQ 722 605 (point) FCE
Map sheet TQ76SW
County KENT
District TONBRIDGE AND MALLING, KENT
Civil Parish AYLESFORD, TONBRIDGE AND MALLING, KENT

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Type and Period (3)

Full Description

<1> Arch Cant 78 1963 140 pl8 (AP Detsicas) (OS Card Reference). SKE35628.

<2> Arch Cant 79 1964 130 (AP Detsicas) (OS Card Reference). SKE35658.

<3> Arch Cant 86 1971 31 fig 1 (AP Detsicas) (OS Card Reference). SKE35872.

<4> Arch Cant 88 1973 78 illus (AP Detsicas) (OS Card Reference). SKE35961.

<5> Arch Cant 89 1974 129-30 (AP Detsicas) (OS Card Reference). SKE35967.

<6> Arch Cant 91 1975 44 plan (AP Detsicas) (OS Card Reference). SKE36060.

<7> Arch Cant 92 1976 161-2 (AP Detsicas) (OS Card Reference). SKE36078.

<8> Ant J 53 1973 281-6 (AP Detsicas and J Hawkes) (OS Card Reference). SKE33207.

<9> J Arch Scient 8 2 1981 205-9 (K Manchester) (OS Card Reference). SKE44788.

<10> Wheelthrown Pottery in AS Graves 1979 75 (VI Evison) (OS Card Reference). SKE51326.

<11> Arch Cant 93 1977 55-59 illus (AP Detsicas) (OS Card Reference). SKE36158.

<12> Arch Cant 96 1980 77-82 (K Manchester) (OS Card Reference). SKE36268.

<13> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, AS cemetery, Eccles: preliminary report, R. Shaw, Arch. Cant, 1994. (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

<14> Stratascan, 1996, A Report for Lawson-Price Environmental on a Geophysical Survey carried out at Eccles Roman Villa (Unpublished document). SKE7142.

<15> Upex, B.R., 2006, A bio-cultural analysis of the mid to late Anglo-Saxon cemetery at Eccles, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE16399.

Sources/Archives (15)

  • <1> OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 78 1963 140 pl8 (AP Detsicas).
  • <2>XY OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 79 1964 130 (AP Detsicas). [Mapped feature: #24462 cemetery, ]
  • <3> OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 86 1971 31 fig 1 (AP Detsicas).
  • <4> OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 88 1973 78 illus (AP Detsicas).
  • <5> OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 89 1974 129-30 (AP Detsicas).
  • <6> OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 91 1975 44 plan (AP Detsicas).
  • <7> OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 92 1976 161-2 (AP Detsicas).
  • <8> OS Card Reference: Ant J 53 1973 281-6 (AP Detsicas and J Hawkes).
  • <9> OS Card Reference: J Arch Scient 8 2 1981 205-9 (K Manchester).
  • <10> OS Card Reference: Wheelthrown Pottery in AS Graves 1979 75 (VI Evison).
  • <11> OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 93 1977 55-59 illus (AP Detsicas).
  • <12> OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 96 1980 77-82 (K Manchester).
  • <13> Miscellaneous Material: Not applicable. SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry. AS cemetery, Eccles: preliminary report, R. Shaw, Arch. Cant, 1994..
  • <14> Unpublished document: Stratascan. 1996. A Report for Lawson-Price Environmental on a Geophysical Survey carried out at Eccles Roman Villa.
  • <15> Unpublished document: Upex, B.R.. 2006. A bio-cultural analysis of the mid to late Anglo-Saxon cemetery at Eccles, Kent.

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Related Events/Activities (1)

  • Non-Intrusive Event: Geophysical survey at Eccles Roman Villa (Ref: EHGSDB) (EKE5271)

Record last edited

Sep 20 2022 10:16AM