Why were archaeologists at The Meads?

In 2008 Canterbury Archaeological Trust spent 6 months working at The Meads because the area was to be redeveloped and the building work would destroy buried remains. There are now houses, shops, a car park and there will soon be a pub, all where the archaeologists made their discoveries.

A plan of The Meads excavation, Sittingbourne

Excavation revealed prehistoric, Roman and Anglo-Saxon remains. The most important discovery was a major Anglo-Saxon cemetery dating to c AD 500–700, with 229 graves. It is the first cemetery of its kind in mid Kent to be excavated using modern processes and will greatly add to our knowledge of this period.

Prehistoric life and death

Evidence for the Bronze Age (c 2000 BC) included four 'beaker' burials containing cremations and a large ring-ditch - all that remained of a burial mound or barrow. Unfortunately modern ploughing has removed the earth mound itself. Other finds from this time included 'barbed and tanged' flint arrowheads. Some finds were even older - these included a large flint axe of Mesolithic (c 8000-4000 BC) date.

Survival and Decay

Most of the Anglo-Saxon skeletons have decayed in the gravelly soil at The Meads. However, tooth enamel is the hardest material in the human body and this individual's teeth have survived extremely well.

Anglo-Saxon female graves (42 identified)

The objects in the graves helped to identify gender. On other sites where skeletons have been identified, beads and brooches are usually found with females. The position of the jewellery can show how it was worn in life, but burrowing animals might move small objects over time.

Anglo-Saxon male graves (57 identified)

While nothing is left of the skeleton in this grave, the iron sword, spear head and shield boss (bottom left) all indicate a male burial. A glass ‘cone’ beaker had been placed either side of his head - an unusual discovery. The beakers have survived complete and show fine craftsmanship.

Where are the bodies?

The skeleton in the grave at The Meads has completely decomposed because of the gravelly soil. However the finds indicate it is a male burial.
The skeleton from Buckland, Dover was buried in chalky soil. The preserved skeleton shows this is an adult female (shape of pelvis and skull). She wore a gold pendant and beads around her neck and a purse (now mostly decomposed) containing garnets lay by her left hand. An iron weaving ‘sword’ and glass cups lay at her feet.

Anglo-Saxon crafts and trade

Most pottery was hand-made locally or imported from the Continent. Brooches and beads were often colourful and beautifully made by craftsmen in France or Germany and nearby in Faversham. Amethyst beads could be imported from the eastern Mediterranean and amber beads from the Baltic. Weaving was another important Anglo-Saxon craft. Scraps of textile like the one still attached to the small brooch can tell us much about this industry.

Anglo-Saxon daily life

Homes and workshops in Kent were built using wood, clay and thatch. Because most of the building material was organic, usually very little evidence of them survives. But archaeologists interpret the clues they find and attempt to reconstruct daily life.