[TR 33376543 area centred from plan] Three graves were discovered during the construction of the Monkton gas pipeline in 1984. One grave was disturbed in antiquity and two were identifiable as early medieval (see illustration card). One grave contained evidence for a wooden structure, possibly a boat covering the inhumations. The burials can be dated from the late 6th to mid 7th centuries. From the variety and quantity of grave goods and associated finds it can be inferred that the burials originate from a community of some affluence. Close to the graves a Frankish gold solidus of 7th century date was found in a spoil heap of top-soil. The low quality of the solidus suggests that it is an imitation. It had been adapted by the fitting of a suspension band in the manner of a bractaete. (1,2)

TR 33455. A group of three early medieval graves and a quantity of grave goods were discovered in the gas pipeline route:

Grave 1 - Length 1.83 m., width 0.82 m., depth 2.25 m., orientated 270° west, head west. The skeletal remains in poor condition are of a slightly built person, aged between 12-15 years. Sex indeterminate. Frag ments of two iron knives were found at the right elbow with a small bronze buckle. Distributed throughout the grave fill and surrounding soil over chalk were eighteen iron 'clench bolts', having round domed heads, and flat lozenge shaped plates. All the bolts bear wood traces. The gap between heads and plates averaged 60 mm. As can be seen from the grave plan and section, Fig. 5, the bolts appear to have been components of a wooden object of larger dimensions than the chalk-cut grave. On the decay of the wood, the bolts had presumably sunk through the grave fill of loam until encountering a more solid stratum or object.

Grave 2 - Length 2. 74 m., width 1 m., depth 0.40 m., orientated 270° west. This well-cut grave had been disturbed, presumably in antiquity. Only long bone fragments (tibia and fibula) were found; they were parallel and high in fill.

Grave 3 - Length 2.30 m., width unknown, depth 0.25 m., orientated c. 280° west, head west. This grave was discovered when sectioned by the pipe trench. The right arm, right rib-cage and femur were destroyed. Skeletal remains in good condition were those of a female aged about 25 years. Under the jaw was found a bronze finger ring, silver hemispherical bead fragments, brown clay bead and glass-bead fragments. During work on Graves 1 and 2, a small gold pendant brooch was found by metal detector in the topsoil spoil-heap, beside and south of the graves. Originally perhaps a coin, a Frankish solidus, it had been adapted by the fitting of a suspension band in the manner of a bracteate
A Frankish solidus was found in the adjacent spoil heap by metal detector. This is thought to be an imitation 7th century coin. In contrast to the early medieval burials uncovered between points N to O on the pipeline (TR 36 NW 195), these graves are fairly typical of burials usually encountered in Thanet cemeteries and can be dated to the period late 6th to the mid 7th centuries. From the variety and quantity of grave goods and finds, the community concerned was one of affluence. (2-3)

Geophysical survey undertaken in 1992 (4).

<1> Perkins, D. R. J., 1986, The Monkton Gas Pipeline: Phases III & IV 1983 - 84, Arch Cant 102 1985 44 52-54 58-9 60-1 63 66-69 illus (DRJ Perkins) (Article in serial). SKE11881.

<2> Perkins, D., 1984, The Thanet gas pipeline Phase III 1983, KAR 80 1985 247 (DRJ Perkins) (Article in serial). SWX7723.

<3> Trust for Thanet Archaeology, 1987, Isle of Thanet Archaeological Unit Sites and Monuments Archive, Isle of Thanet Arch Unit Sites and Mons Archive 1988 Rec no 188 (Collection). SKE11846.

<4> Clark, A. J. & Bartlett, A. D. H., 1992, Thanet, Kent: Proposed Improvements to A253 Report on Geophysical Survey (Unpublished document). SWX6777.