Monument record TQ 65 SE 374 - Late Bronze Age - Early Iron Age cemetery, farmland, and wells, former Syngenta Chemical Works, Hampstead Lane

A late Bronze Age to early Iron Age cemetery or ritual area, farmland, and wells were identified during investigations carried out at the former Syngenta Chemical Works, Hampstead Lane in 2007-2008.

The cremation cemetery was located to the east of the site. This comprised a large number of pits and post-holes which were associated with evidence for burning. Cremation burials were characterised by burnt human bone, pottery, charcoal, and burnt daub/clay residue. Clusters of post-holes were interpreted (1) as possible evidence for four post ritual structures. In the contect of funerary activity in the vicinity of these features, the structures may have functioned as mortuary platforms for exposure burials. During the Bronze Age and Iron Age, this area of the site was located near to three rivers, which may have been part of the reason for the placement of the cemetery in this area. Waterways often held special ritual significance during prehistory, as seen at a number of other ritual and funerary sites.

To the west of the site, the incomplete remains of a number of east-north-east aligned shallow ditches possibly forming part of a field system were identified. Three waterholes or wells were also identified in this area.

Environmental sampling of some features revealed that oak fragments was represented across all samples, and that charred macrofossils of wheat, barley, and oat were also recovered from the site. However, very few environmental and archaeological remains were identified via this method of sampling. (1)

<1> Archaeology South-East, 2008, A POST-EXCAVATION ASSESSMENT AND UPDATED PROJECT DESIGN ON THE FORMER SYNGENTA CHEMICAL WORKS HAMPSTEAD LANE, YALDING, KENT (Unpublished document). SKE58344.