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History's Hinge - 'Ain Jalut

[Solomon]

We were hard at work on this site all yesterday.

Vincent directed, Jim used his metal detector across the whole site, Justin dug and I joined in wherever I could.

This was Day 1 and when complete, Vincent will write his report.

We first measured out the site and marked an exploratory trench running east-west across, with the mound in the centre. Our objective was to dig an exploratory trench right across in order to see if the mound was encircled with a ditch and to look inside the mound.

The first three metres revealed natural chalk. Closer to the mound, we began finding bone fragments.

We then cut away the turf to the north and south of the exploratory trench, aligned with the bones, so that we could look for what we thought could be a body on the north-south alignment.

Our geophysics had revealed possible cuts in the chalk on a north-south alignment, therefore it seemed likely that the body was lying in the same alignment.

As soon as dark metal was found, we called Jim in from his field surveying, to use his metal detector over the trench. He detected iron.

Next, a possible fragment of a collar bone began to appear. Then a bone from a toe. Then part of a tang blade where the chest might be. Lastly, the top of a skull.

Vincent refers to the tang blade as a spear, though personally I think it more likely to be a cutting edge weapon. This image is of typical and similar Anglo Saxon blades:


This is a modern verison, very similar to our find. The Scramasax, carried by the Saxons and Vikings between the 4th and 10th centuries, was utilised as both a tool and a weapon. Carried horizontally at the back of the belt, the Scramasax provided the spearman with a close-quarters weapon when needed, and its broad blade could handle many day-to-day chores. The ancestry of the Scramasax, which evolved from similar weapons in bronze (and later iron) used by the Celts, is portrayed in the decoration of the guard and pommel.

At the end of the day, we found the rim of a blackish pot.

We then backfilled the trench with natural chalk, covered the bones with boxes, covered the trench with a tarpaulin and fenced the site.

The burial is on a north-south alignment, which suggests to me a pagan rather than christian burial. This could date it to about the 5th century. That would be supported by the weapon and chard.

Today, an expert in Anglo Saxon burials will visit. It the rain stops, we will continue working.

The day was surprisingly bright and I got a good suntan. My muscles appreciated the labour. We are photographing the site and finds, as well as producing detailed drawings.

Well, we may be wrecking our ideas for the site, but cannot complain at the finds.

Solomon

[Bart]

Fantastic! Congratulations on the find, this is certainly a feather in your cap! It is very reassuring to know the equipment works as advertised. Are there any significant detector finds yet?

- Bart

[Solomon]

Thanks, Bart. Vincent was muttering about the lack of a ditch and how he hates Anglo Saxon burials, the archaeologists on the 'phone were laughing like a drain, I was grinning with satisfaction, then Vince and I started to laugh together at the situation.

For me, this is very satisfying, for here we seem to dealing with the birth of England, a burial of a high-status warrior who played an important role in creating this little country. Maybe not Horst or Hengist themselves, who knows, but perhaps somebody who knew them. This is the stuff of legend.

The main detector find was the cutting-edge weapon. Our SP3000 had pinpointed the target earlier.

Jim covered the area very well indeed. He is half ferret! The local tales of the hill top and WW2 were comfirmed, with .303 cartridge cases and shell fragments/fuses. There were very old shotgun cases and the oldest coin was a farthing of George III. The rest was scrap iron and lead.

We suspect that the slope may be an early Anglo Saxon burial site. The pagan window was not open long, between the end of Roman Britain and the arrival of St Augustine.

We see signs of what was probably a river along the valley at the foot of the hill. I have two thoughts on this: maybe there will be a sacred grove nearby; and maybe it was navigable in the Roman period.

The farm is almost certainly ancient. The topography has not changed to any great extent in millennia. What is good for a farm now will apply earlier, in my opinion. We could therefore be dealing with a very ancient site with multiple cultural occupations.

Solomon

[Solomon]

He was dated today to the 7th century.

[Administration]

Report:
We managed to draw the skeleton by late today and back-filled. Lots of  pictures I will disc down.

Many people made there way up the hill to see the find. One little girl asked me what his name was so I said "Chilton Charlie" Loads of documentations to do. As site director, I have made the decision to hand Charlie and the knife over to Dr Andrew Richardson the Finds Liaison Officer for Kent. Charlie will reside at Dover Museum.

The knife measures 7" long and would have been used in his everyday life. Normally men had larger knifes, women slightly smaller and children would have a pen knife type. If the person was not of major importance then we generally do not get much else in the grave.

Charlie is 5.3" in height and dates to the 7th century when Kent was controlled by the King living at Eastry near Sandwich (see Time Team Eastry website for the King's details), or lookup History Eastry Kent pages which should cover this.


Eastry, Kent. Photograph ? Neil Emmanuel

Well the project started as a two day attempt to locate what we suspected to be a Bronze Age burial mound. A trench measuring 3 metres long was cut into the mound but failed to locate a ditch. A second trench located closer to the mound revealed what first appeared as a cut ditch however, upon closer examination bone appeared. Realizing this was probably a burial, the site was prepared for further work by extending the excavation trench on both sides of the find. The grave outlined was now clearly defined. The grave was cut into the upper chalk with both semi circular ends having been located.

Dr Andrew Richardson (Saxon specialist) was called so that a license to continue could be applied for. The license was obtained overnight in order for work to start the next morning. In the meantime the team prepared the grave ready for the next day's detailed excavation of the skeleton. Day two was spent cleaning the bones in situ and recording other vital information. Day three was spent drawing the trench, skeleton and grave cut. Chilton Charlie was removed by around 4pm along with his beloved knife. Both are doing fine in the boot of Andrews car!
 
The site has now been leveled, but more work will follow in trying to locate the burial mound ditch we originally set out to define. Dr Andrew Richardson would like to plan further studies with us when more time is available. We hope to re-visit Chilton Charlie's ancestral patch, but this will not be for many months.

History Hunters International in partnership with Sub Scan South-East, hope to undertake a more comprehensive geophysical survey at this site. The will allow for better interpretation of the probable complicated archaeology reducing the need to disturb large areas of archaeology.

I would like to take this opportunity in thanking the team for all their hard work & commitment in seeing this project to a successful conclusion.

Vince Burrows (site director)

[Bart]

Excellent Vince, congratulations on a successful project and recovery. I look forward to meeting and working with you in the future, hopefully.

- Bart

[Vince Burrows]

Dear Bart,
              As John mentioned my face was a picture when my ditch slowly became the final resting place for Chilton Charlie! Excavating these types of burials takes a lot of time and planning. Charlie had the last laugh as he cost our project two days. We will all return to the site at some point hopefully this year. Dr Andrew Richardson would like to undertake more work on the Saxons graves, for myself I will concentrate on locating the ditch around the mound. This would add a key and very important chapter to Dover and Kent's history. As far as we are aware, our Alkham Saxon cemetery is a new discovery and only the second within the large and ancient valley. Unfortunately, I'm informed that very little work has been undertake in this area so, what we have achieved in just three days goes a fair way in improving this situ. John I hope you have recovered from all that digging!

Regards

Vince

[Diving Doc]

Way To Go Vince! Great Job! Well done!
Cheers,
Doc

[Vince Burrows]

Dear Doc,
              Thanks for your help at Alkham ealier in the year. We have lots more to do at some point hopefully soon.

Thanks for the new toy to play with. Hope all is well and busy your end.

Hope to see you soon.

Regards

Vince & Chilton Charlie

[LaBelleRiviere]

WOW! Congrats on a job well done. Wish I could have been there. The best to you on your future endeavours.

Kevin

[Vince Burrows]

Thanks for all your congrats.

Just to put the recorded straight, I don't hate Saxons as I actually have enjoyed excavating countless with Dover Archaeological Group and some with Dr Andrew Richardson. As we only had a three days window in which to prove or disprove my wife's and myself hypothesis for a Bronze Age cemetery on the hill, bumping into Chilton Charlie was not on the agenda however, when dealing with tumuli in Kent. Saxon burials often are found cut into them. My tongue was in cheek as we extended the trenches knowing forewell this could happen. And of course it did. Burials of any period often take between 1.5 and 2 days to excavate, draw and record. On day two I did not want this to happen and once Charlie appeared, It was all over for our three day project. So yes, I did turn a funny colour and mumble a bit. John soon got me seeing the funnyside!

Just to update you guys, it is believed that Charlie is a 6th century Saxon and not the quoted 7th. This mistake is due to Charlie not speaking modern English infact, after all these centuries his not saying much at all!


Kind regards to you all.

Vince

[Vince Burrows]

Almost forgot.

Once my Interim report is finalized, I will post details, pic and map's to Solomon

Vince

[Solomon]

Good about the date: as I mentioned earlier, the window for pagan Saxons is quite small, so the 6th century always was the more probable. It is this early date that excites me, for it is the 6th century in which England was born.

History of England
England is the largest and most populous of the constituent countries of the United Kingdom. The division dates from the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons in the 5th century.

In the wake of the Romans, who had abandoned the south of the island by about 410 in order to concentrate on difficulties closer to home, present day England was progressively settled by successive and often complementary waves of Germanic tribesmen.

The prevailing view is that waves of Germanic people, Jutes together with larger numbers of Frisians, Saxons from north-western Germany and Angles from what is now Schleswig-Holstein - commonly known as Anglo-Saxons - who had been partly displaced on mainland Europe, invaded Britain in the mid 5th century and again around the middle of the 6th century. They came under military leaders and settled at first on the eastern shores. They are believed to have fought their way westward, looking for more land to cultivate, taking lowland and leaving less desirable lands in the hills to the Celtic Britons.


Migration and Formation of Kingdoms (400-600)

It is very difficult to establish a coherent chronology of events from Rome's departure from Britain, to the establishment of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. The story of the Roman departure as told by Geoffrey of Monmouth in his Historia Regum Britanniae is dubious except as documenting Medieval legend.

The archaeological records of the final decades of Roman rule show undeniable signs of decay, in stagnant urban and villa life. Coins minted past 402 are rare. So when Constantine III was declared Emperor by his troops in 407, and crossed the channel with the remaining units of the British garrison, effectively Roman Britain ended. Britain was left defenceless, and Constantine was eventually killed in battle. In 410, Emperor Honorius told the Romano-British to look to their own defence, yet in the late 5th century the Romano-British still felt they could appeal to the consul Aetius for help against invaders.

Various myths and legends surround the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons, some based on documentary evidence, some far less so. Four main literary sources provide the evidence. Gildas' 'The Ruin of Britain' (c. 540) is polemical, and more concerned with criticising British kings than accurately describing events. Bede's 'Ecclesiastical History of the English People' is based in part on Gildas, though brings in other evidence. However, this was written in the early 8th century, some time after events. Later still is the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which is in part based on Bede, but also brings in legends regarding the foundation of Wessex.

Other evidence can be brought in to aid the literary sources. It is interesting to note that the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Kent, Bernicia, Deira and Lindsey all retained Celtic names, which would suggest political continuity. Contrastingly, the more westerly kingdoms of Wessex and Mercia show little sign of following existing boundaries. Archaeologically, following burial patterns and land usage allows us to follow Anglo-Saxon settlement, though it is possible that the British were adopting Anglo-Saxon practice. Analysis of human remains unearthed at an ancient cemetery near Abingdon, England, indicates that Saxon immigrants and native Britons lived side by side. There is much academic debate as to whether the Anglo-Saxon migrants replaced, or merged with, the Romano-British people who inhabited southern and eastern Britain.

Already from the 4th century AD, Britons had migrated across the English Channel and started to settle in the western part (Armorica) of Gaul (France), forming Brittany. Others may have migrated to northern Spain. The migration of the British to the continent and the Anglo-Saxons to Britain, should be considered in the context of wider European migrations. However, some doubt, based on limited genetic work, has been cast on the extent of Anglo-Saxon migration to Britain.

Though one cannot be sure of dates, places or people involved, it does seem that in 495, at the Battle of Mount Badon (possibly Badbury rings, Latin Mons Badonicus, Welsh Mynydd Baddon), the Britons inflicted a severe defeat on the Anglo-Saxons. Archaeological evidence, coupled with the questionable source Gildas, would suggest that the Anglo-Saxon migration was stemmed for a while.

History of Kent
Roman Kent

Although now 2 miles from the sea amid the marshes of east Kent, Richborough Castle was arguably the Romans main entry point when they invaded Britain in circa AD 43. They established a bridgehead and commemorated their success by building a triumphal arch whose cross shaped foundations still survive at the site which is now looked after by English Hertitage. English Heritage Website

Roman Britain was under attack by Saxon and other raiders in the 3rd Century and it became necessary to fortify the once-prosperous commercial port of Rutupiae. Triple ditches and ramparts were dug (still visible round the site of the arch Richborough Castle)although the defences were completely revamped after a decade or so and Richborough was provided with its circuit of towered stone walls and outer ditches, becoming one of the most important of the Saxon shore forts. It was one of the last to be regularly occupied and there is evidence of a large Roman population here in the early 5th century, some of them worshipping in the Early Christian church discovered in a corner of the fort.

Early Medieval Kent

East Kent became one of the kingdoms of the Jutes during the fifth century AD (see Kingdom of Kent) and the area was later known as Cantia in around AD 730 and Cent in AD 835. The early Mediaeval inhabitants of the county were known as the Cantwara or Kent people, whose capital was at Canterbury.

Canterbury is the religious centre of the Anglican faith, and see of Saint Augustine of Canterbury. Augustine is traditionally credited with bringing Christianity to Anglo Saxon England, landing at Ebbsfleet, Pegwell Bay on the Isle of Thanet (northeast of Kent) in the spring of 597.

[Solomon]

Lead weight - bust of a man (c) English Heritage photo library

Chilton Charlie was probably a warrior, who with his comrades had to tackle the Roman fort of Rutupi? (Richborough).

Rutupi?
Rutupi? was the Roman name for Richborough near Sandwich, Kent, which they founded when they landed here in AD 34. It has many phases of Roman remains, collectively known as Richborough Fort, still visible today and under the care of English Heritage.

The Roman road of Watling Street begins at Richborough, running on to Canterbury and London. It was, for a time, the gateway to the Roman colony of Britannia.


Richborough Roman Fort

Evocatively sited amid the East Kent marshes, Richborough is perhaps the most symbolically important of all Roman sites in Britain, witnessing both the beginning and almost the end of Roman rule here. Though now two miles from the sea, in AD 43 the site overlooked a sheltered lagoon harbour. Here, all but certainly, the invading Roman forces first landed and established a bridgehead. This event was later commemorated by a mighty triumphal arch, whose cross-shaped foundations still survive here. Proclaiming that the Roman conquest of Britain was complete, this also provided an impressive gateway for arrivals at what became the province's main entry port.


By the mid-3rd century, however, Roman Britain was under attack by sea-borne Saxon and other raiders. The once-prosperous commercial port of Rutupiae was hastily fortified, first by the digging of the great triple ditches and ramparts still visible round the site of the arch. But within a decade or so the defences were completely revamped, and Richborough was provided with its circuit of towered stone walls and outer ditches, becoming one of the most important of the 'Saxon Shore' forts. It was also among the last to be regularly occupied: there is evidence of a large Roman population here in the early 5th century, some of them worshipping in the little Early Christian church discovered in one corner of the fort.

Solomon

[Solomon]

Neolithic

We found a large number of flints, some with knapped edges. There were even some microliths. These have now been identified as of the Neolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age periods.


Bronze Age

Two shards found in the lower grave fill date to the Bronze Age and were probably located in the original topsoil when the grave was cut.


Next Monday, weather permitting, the area will be rescanned. The target is a second burial.

We have been congratulated by Keith Parfitt for the standard of excavation: "looks to me like you done an excellent job on the site".

Solomon