Foreword by David Yates.
The village of Iwade lies close to the north Kent coast, not far from the Isle of Sheppey. This report publishes findings from excavations carried out to the south of the village, successfully combining information on archaeological features and artefacts with environmental and landscape evidence, and more general discussion of the economy, social organization and physical location of human activity. Although this is the story of Iwade from the Mesolithic to the medieval period, the late Bronze Age, late Iron Age and medieval periods are highlighted as important episodes in the history of the site where a prosperous pastoral community benefited from Iwade's excellent location, with good communications to the coast and greater Thames estuary. Finally, evidence from Iwade is placed within the context of other archaeological investigations in north Kent. Summaries in French and German.
Author(s): Barry Bishop, Mark Bagwell
Series: Pre-Construct Archaeology Monographs, 3
Publisher: Pre-Construct Archaeology
Year: 2005
Language: English
Pages: 164
City: London
Contributors vii
Foreword viii
Figures ix
Tables xii
Summary xiii
Acknowledgements xiv
Chapter 1: Background to the Project 1
Planning Background 2
Methodology 2
Scope of this Report 2
Chapter 2: Iwade: a Small Village in Kent 5
The North Kent Region 5
Topography of the Site 8
Geology 9
Chapter 3: The Earlier Prehistoric Periods 11
The Mesolithic 11
Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Activity 11
Middle Bronze Age Activity 14
The Late Bronze Age Field-System and Trackway 16
Earlier Prehistoric Finds Assemblages 20
Neolithic and Bronze Age Pottery 20
Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age Lithic Material 38
The Palstave 44
Late Bronze Age Stone Objects 46
Funerary Activity 47
Discussion of the Earlier Prehistoric Periods 48
Chapter 4: The Late Iron Age Farmstead 55
Late Iron Age Phase 1 55
Late Iron Age Phase 2 60
Late Iron Age Finds Assemblages 71
Late Iron Age Pottery 71
Late Iron Age Brick Fragments 80
Late Iron Age Small Finds 80
Iron Age Flintworking 81
Discussion of the Iron Age Period 83
Chapter 5: The Roman and Medieval Periods 91
Roman Pastoralists? 91
The Medieval Period 91
Historical Development of Iwade 95
Roman and Medieval Finds Assemblages 99
Roman and Medieval Pottery 99
Non-Ceramic Medieval and Post-Medieval Finds 101
Early Medieval Stone Objects 103
Discussion of the Roman and Medieval Periods 104
Chapter 6: Environment and Economy 107
Environmental Analysis 107
Plant Macro-Fossils 107
Molluscan Remains 110
Mammal and Bird Bones 111
Metalworking Waste 118
Discussion 119
Chapter 7: The Archaeology of Iwade in its Broader Context 121
Mesolithic 121
Neolithic 122
Early Bronze Age 122
Middle Bronze Age 123
Late Bronze Age 124
Early-Middle Iron Age 126
Late Iron Age 127
Roman 130
Medieval 131
Concluding Remarks 132
French and German Summaries 133
Bibliography 135
Index 145
