Monument record TQ 65 NE 24 - The Chestnuts Neolithic long barrow

Summary

The remains of a Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age chambered long barrow overlying a Mesolithic site. Twelve large sarsen fragments survive although these have been badly damaged by collapse and erosion. The barrow was once an oblong burial chamber covered by a large mound. It was oriented East to West and blocked at both ends. There was a facade of four stones, two on each side of the east end. The chamber was covered by two capstones. It contained the cremated fragments of at least eleven adults and one infant. The remains included at least three pots all of Neolithic/Early Bronze Age fabric. The morphology of the tomb and grave-goods, suggest that it was in use in the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age (c. 1800-1400 B.C.). The barrow was still standing in the late 1st-2nd century A.D., when a small settlement sheltered in the lee of it and left a mass of pottery (some 900 sherds, iron nails, etc.) (see TQ 65 NE 14). The destruction of the tomb in the 12-13th centuries was apparently deliberate, probably during a search for treasure. The chamber was systematically turned over, pits were dug under the stones and the barrow was dug away. As a result of this the chamber collapsed, sealing medieval sherds beneath its stones (see TQ 65 NE 36). Since then the monument has been little disturbed. The tomb was erected in an area of extensive Mesolithic settlement which had long been known from surface collections but was now found stratified under the floor and wallstones [see also TQ 65 NE 15]

Location

Grid reference Centred TQ 6525 5917 (39m by 39m) FCE
Map sheet TQ65NE
County KENT
District TONBRIDGE AND MALLING, KENT
Civil Parish ADDINGTON, TONBRIDGE AND MALLING, KENT

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Type and Period (4)

Full Description

<1> OS 6" 1936 (OS Card Reference). SKE48337.

<2> Arch Cant 72 1958 191-2 (J Alexander) [Preliminary excavation report - full account to follow in nex (OS Card Reference). SKE35502.

<3> OS Prof Paper NS no 8 1924 (O G S Crawford) (OS Card Reference). SKE48426.

<4> Archaeology of Kent 1930 70 ff (R F Jessup) (OS Card Reference). SKE37347.

<5> PPS 1 1935 122 (S Pigott) (OS Card Reference). SKE48578.

<6> Prehistoric Chamber Tombs of England and Wales 1958 233 (G E Daniel) (OS Card Reference). SKE48653.

<7> F1 AC 23-JUL-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE41824.

<8> Arch Cant 76 1961 1-57 plans illusts (J Alexander) (OS Card Reference). SKE35588.

<9> F2 FGA 19-FEB-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE43329.

<10> Arch Cant 78 1963 liii (R G Boyle) (OS Card Reference). SKE35649.

<11> Philp, B, 1981, A survey of the Medway megaliths, KAR 64: 80 (Article in serial). SKE24000.

<11> Philp, B. and Dutto, M., 2005, The Medway Megaliths: An illustrated guide to the famous Neolithic chambered long-barrows of the Medway area (Monograph). SKE23999.

<12> Arch J 126 1969 241-2 (E Warman) (OS Card Reference). SKE36550.

<13> Arch Cant 97 1981 231 (R Holgate) (OS Card Reference). SKE36278.

<14> BAR 75 2 1980 Flint Arrowheads 391 (H S Green) (OS Card Reference). SKE37561.

<15> Field report for monument TQ 65 NE 24 - July, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3316.

<16> Field report for monument TQ 65 NE 24 - February, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3317.

<17> Ashbee. P, 1999, The Medway Megaliths in a European Context (Article in serial). SKE53767.

<18> Ashbee P., 2000, The Medway's Megalithic Long Barrows. (Article in serial). SKE53768.

<19> Barber M., 1997, Landscape, the Neolithic, and Kent. (Monograph). SKE53769.

<20> Herne A., 1988, A Time and a Place for the Grimston Bowl. (Article in monograph). SKE53770.

<21> Historic England, Historic England Archive (Archive). SKE53771.

Sources/Archives (22)

  • <1> OS Card Reference: OS 6" 1936.
  • <2> OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 72 1958 191-2 (J Alexander) [Preliminary excavation report - full account to follow in nex.
  • <3> OS Card Reference: OS Prof Paper NS no 8 1924 (O G S Crawford).
  • <4> OS Card Reference: Archaeology of Kent 1930 70 ff (R F Jessup).
  • <5> OS Card Reference: PPS 1 1935 122 (S Pigott).
  • <6> OS Card Reference: Prehistoric Chamber Tombs of England and Wales 1958 233 (G E Daniel).
  • <7> OS Card Reference: F1 AC 23-JUL-59.
  • <8> OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 76 1961 1-57 plans illusts (J Alexander).
  • <9> OS Card Reference: F2 FGA 19-FEB-64.
  • <10> OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 78 1963 liii (R G Boyle).
  • <11> Monograph: Philp, B. and Dutto, M.. 2005. The Medway Megaliths: An illustrated guide to the famous Neolithic chambered long-barrows of the Medway area.
  • <11> Article in serial: Philp, B. 1981. A survey of the Medway megaliths. KAR 64: 77-92. KAR 64: 80.
  • <12> OS Card Reference: Arch J 126 1969 241-2 (E Warman).
  • <13> OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 97 1981 231 (R Holgate).
  • <14> OS Card Reference: BAR 75 2 1980 Flint Arrowheads 391 (H S Green).
  • <15> Bibliographic reference: Field report for monument TQ 65 NE 24 - July, 1959.
  • <16> Bibliographic reference: Field report for monument TQ 65 NE 24 - February, 1964.
  • <17> Article in serial: Ashbee. P. 1999. The Medway Megaliths in a European Context. Arch Cant Vol. 119, 1999, pp 269-284.
  • <18> Article in serial: Ashbee P.. 2000. The Medway's Megalithic Long Barrows.. Arch Cant Vol. 120, 2000, pp 319-345.
  • <19> Monograph: Barber M.. 1997. Landscape, the Neolithic, and Kent..
  • <20> Article in monograph: Herne A.. 1988. A Time and a Place for the Grimston Bowl..
  • <21> Archive: Historic England. Historic England Archive.

Finds (8)

Protected Status/Designation

Related Monuments/Buildings (2)

Related Events/Activities (2)

  • Intrusive Event: Excavation, The Chestnuts, 1957 (EKE20710)
  • Intrusive Event: Investigation in vicinity of The Chestnuts long barrow (EKE20711)

Related Thematic Articles (2)

Record last edited

Jun 16 2021 1:23PM