TR 200555 Approx: An early Saxon cemetery was excavated by F. Jenkins who examined thirty-three graves out of a total of thirty-six. A strong Frankish element is reflected in the brooches and belt buckles associated with the typically Frankish shoe-shaped belt rivets. Three fragments from a hanging bowl, comprising two identical bronze enamelled escutchions and a large open-work disc were discovered by the late H.Jones of Bekesbourne, "hanging on a nail in a hut on the aerodrome". From this it is supposed they were found by workmen erecting huts circ. 1914-18 and suggests an area in the vicinity of the Saxon cemetery. The ornamentation of these fragments is Irish-Celtic closely parallel at Whitby where a small group cannot be earlier than A.D. 657. Hazeloff suggests second half 7th c. to beginning 8th c. (1,2) The cemetery was centred at TR 19995549 (a), in a part of Cowslip Woodwhich has been cleared. All finds are in the Royal Museum Canterbury.(3)

Andrew Richardson, 2000, Gazetteer of Anglo-Saxon Cemeteries and Burial-Sites in Kent (Unpublished document). SKE29253.

<1> Arch. Cant. 69, 1955, XLII (OS Card Reference). SKE36944.

<2> Md. Arch. 2, 1958, 69 (S. Chadwick), 72-103 (G. Hazeloff) (OS Card Reference). SKE46718.

<3> F1 ASP 09-FEB-65 (OS Card Reference). SKE42012.

<4> Gaz of Early Anglo-Saxon Burial Sites 1964, 109 (A.L.S. Meaney) (OS Card Reference). SKE43512.