[TR 2007 5687] Jutish Burial Ground [NR] (1) An inhumation cemetery (dated by Meaney (4) to late 5th or early 6th century), consisting of at least 36 graves, and described by Smith (2)as "Jutish", was found when a gravel pit was opened c. 1913 at Luddington Wood, near Howletts (TR 196 568) on a wooded knoll near theLittle Stour between Bekesbourne Station and Littlebourne. Between 1913-18, A. E. Relph examined many graves and "found no trace of calcined bone or charcoal", (5) but Smith noted that, in addition to the graves, "crude black potsherds" with cremation remains were found "usually in the bottom of the surface soil" and thought them 1st-2nd century Romano-British. Meaney considered them "probably pre-Roman". On the west side of the gravel pit were the foundations of a building (soft mortar with lumps of chalk and flints) and there was "a tradition of a town" in the wood (2). Finds from the cemetery in the British Museum include a Roman bronze coin and a square glass bottle. (British Museum Acc. Nos., 1918, 7-8,13-35; 1925, 7-7; 1936, 5-11, 1-160; 1936, 10-13; 1935 10-29, 1-16; 1951, 2-4, 1-4; 1951, 4-1, 1-4.) Other finds in Brighton, Birchington, Canterbury and Powell-Cotton Museums. (2-5) The gravel pit, long since disused, is under pasture and orchard. Thepresent owner of the land knows nothing of any further finds in the area during the past six years. (6)
The site is on a south facing chalk slope, overlooking the Little Stour. OD approx. 20-25m.

<1> O S 25" 1956 (OS Card Reference). SKE47759.

<2> P S A 2nd Ser 30, 1917-18, 102-110, illust (R A Smith) (OS Card Reference). SKE48448.

<3> Ant J 4, 1924, 276-7, illust (OS Card Reference). SKE33184.

<4> Gaz Early A S Burial Sites 1964, 125 (A Meaney) (OS Card Reference). SKE43474.

<5> Letter, A E Relph to C F C Hawkes, 22.02.1937 (in B M Brit & Md Dept) (OS Card Reference). SKE46113.

<6> F1 ASP 06.07.64 (OS Card Reference). SKE41954.

<7> Field report for monument TR 25 NW 2 - July, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5724.