Summary

Anglo-Saxon inhumation cemetery.

Source: Historic England

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 3 September 2014. The record has been generated from an "old county number" (OCN) scheduling record. These are monuments that were not reviewed under the Monuments Protection Programme and are some of our oldest designation records.

The monument includes an Anglo-Saxon inhumation cemetery surviving as buried remains. It is situated on gently sloping ground at Hollins Bottom on the south-western edge of Ramsgate.

Partial excavation since the mid 19th century has recorded over 100 Anglo-Saxon burials, many with grave goods, on or in the vicinity of the site. The burials were largely orientated east-west and many were covered with Sandstone slabs. At least seven graves included post holes, indicating a timber structure was associated with these burials. Three graves contained double burials. At least two graves were on a different alignment to the rest of the cemetery, being orientated north east to south west and north to south. Many of the graves recorded had been disturbed in antiquity. The remaining grave goods included Early Medieval jewellery, glass ware, pottery and weapons, and were largely of 7th century origin although there were a few examples of 6th century forms. Also included in the scheduled area is a ring ditch recorded by NMR.

The Anglo-Saxon inhumation cemetery was discovered during the construction of the railway line immediately to the north by the South Eastern Railway in the mid 19th century. Partial excavation was carried out on the site in 1845-50, 1977 and 1980-82. During the laying of a water pipeline in 1966 a further seven burials were found. These were orientated east-west and laid out in an equally spaced row from south to north. They were cut into the chalk to an average depth of 0.75m and filled with chalk rubble and earth. The associated grave goods included three spearheads, fragments of bronze and ivory, a shield boss and grip, and the rim of a drinking vessel.

Further archaeological remains survive in the vicinity of this site but are not included because they have not been formally assessed. Partial excavation near Ozengell Grange, to the north of the monument, has recorded several hundred Anglo-Saxon burials, which are likely to be part of the same inhumation cemetery. The levelled remains of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery are also located nearby to the north west, including secondary interments of Anglo-Saxon date which may also be part of the same cemetery.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Beginning in the fifth century AD, there is evidence from distinctive burials and cemeteries, new settlements, and new forms of pottery and metalwork, of the immigration into Britain of settlers from northern Europe, bringing with them new religious beliefs. The Roman towns appear to have gone into rapid decline and the old rural settlement pattern to have been disrupted. Although some Roman settlements and cemeteries continued in use, the native Britons rapidly adopted many of the cultural practices of the new settlers and it soon becomes difficult to distinguish them in the archaeological record. So-called Anglo-Saxon cemeteries are dated to the early Anglo-Saxon period, from the fifth to the seventh centuries AD. With the conversion to Christianity during the late sixth and seventh centuries AD, these pagan cemeteries appear to have been abandoned in favour of new sites, some of which have continued in use up to the present day. Burial practices included both inhumation and cremation. Anglo-Saxon inhumation cemeteries consist predominantly of inhumation burials which were placed in rectangular pits in the ground, occasionally within coffins. The bodies were normally accompanied by a range of grave goods, including jewellery and weaponry. The cemeteries vary in size, the largest containing several hundred burials. Around 1000 inhumation cemeteries have been recorded in England. They represent one of our principal sources of archaeological evidence about the Early Anglo-Saxon period, providing information on population, social structure and ideology. All surviving examples, other than those which have been heavily disturbed, are considered worthy of protection.

Despite some disturbance in the past, the Anglo-Saxon inhumation cemetery 60m north of Lord of the Manor survives well. The Anglo-Saxon cemetery has not been completely excavated and will retain potential for the recovery of further burials and grave goods. The site will contain archaeological information and environmental evidence relating to the cemetery, the material culture of those buried and the landscape in which the cemetery was created.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
Kent HER TR 36 NE 58. NMR TR 36 NE 58, TR 36 NE 51, TR 36 NE 26. PastScape 468962, 468945, 468866,

Source: Historic England