TQ 7245 6445 Due to the discovery of Romano-British pottery and Roman coins (TQ 76 SW 48) excavations were carried out on the summit of the North Downs ridge in Wouldham parish during the summer and autumn of 1982. The excavations uncovered a penannular V-shaped ditch with an average diameter of 13 m. In the centre of the area enclosed by the ditch was a circular pit 0.75 m in diameter and 0.38 m deep containing a Wessex biconical urn inverted over a cremation, probably a female between 20-45 years. The urn had been packed around with earth and was covered by a layer of flint nodules. Around the pit were four stake- holes, 0.07-0.08m in diameter and 0.15-0.20m deep, forming a rectangle. It is possible that this represents a stake structure which was constructed over the burial pit after the body was cremated. To the E of the central cremation was an oval pit capped with natural flints. This was 1.05 m x 0.60m and 0.45 m deep containing an inhumation. The body, a male, about 19 years old, was in a contracted position, with its head to the N, lying on its right side facing W. The only object associated with the body was a naturally flaked flint on the pelvis. Within the central area were two shallow pits in the chalk which were covered with natural flints but only contained chalk backfill. The chalk surface SW and E of the central cremation producedsome slight depressions 0.03.0.05m deep which may represent the vestigal remains of former stake-holes. Outside the ditch a single well defined post-hole 0.2m in diameter was noted and a series of pits in the entrance area. A shallow scoop with flint capping about 30m N of the ditch entrance was identified by resistivity survey. Finds have been deposited in Rochester Museum. (1,2)
The Wessex urn dates to c1300 BC and stands 18 inches high and has a decoration of three 'horseshoes'. Such urns, although found in this country, are more common in the Low Countries and are perhaps an indication of cross-Channel traffic at this period. One interesting small detail was that there were scorch marks on the inside of the urn, suggesting that the ashes were still hot when it was placed over them. (3)

<1> Arch Cant 99 1983 81-97 illus (RJ Cruse and AC Harrison) (OS Card Reference). SKE36359.

<2> Surrey AS Bull 196 Nov 1984 6 (not consulted) (OS Card Reference). SKE49756.

<3> KAS NL 1 Spring 1982 1 (AC Harrison) (OS Card Reference). SKE45651.