Settling the Ebbsfleet Valley, Volume 4

The detailed specialist reports in this volume cover all the Saxon and later finds recovered during the reported excavations, including human bone and animal bone, and environmental remains and dating evidence relating to contemporary landscape, subsistence and economy. Fifth to early 6th-century pottery was recovered from the Northfleet villa site, including from demolition layers over the Roman buildings, nine sunken-featured buildings and the area of the Saxon mill. The metal small finds come largely from 36 graves in two cemeteries, which contained 30 individuals. A small quantity of smithing slag was recovered as well as ceramic building material, fired clay and daub and objects of bone. A wooden bowl and a very early example of a wood plane are unusual finds. The animal bone assemblage is largely comprised of domestic animals indicating mixed farming supplemented by a little hunting and with charred plant remains from locally grown crops.