Late-Celtic Discoveries at Broadstairs

310 LATE-CELTIC DISCOVERIES A large number of pits were uncovered, usually about six feet deep, which contained quantities of bones of sheep and oxen, with the teeth of horses and dogs. These pits also contained a considerable quantity of broken pottery of various kinds, also oyster, mussel and limpet shells. Thfy were no doubt refuse pits. A number of small holes were also noticed, some containing fragments of pottery, burnt stones and fine ash, and were probably cooking pits ; others were only eight or nine inches in diameter and were probably for posts, either for some kind of defence or domestic use. In one pit was found a number of lumps of daub, such as would be used for huts after the manner of wattle and daub. The Eosse which surrounded the prehistoric village was met with at three points, at some considerable distance from each other, practically north, south and west of the settlement. A number of other pits or wells were located in conjunction with the ditches, and were for the purpose of receiving the surface drainage (PLAN I.). Two oval graves were uncovered: in one was a cordoned urn of well-known and distinctive Late-Celtic type, which contained calcined bones; it was of a dull brown colour, nine inches high by six and a-half inches in diameter; it was protected when in the grave by being packed round with flints, which had been subjected to the action of fire (PLATE 1). In the other grave, which was lined with baked clay, was an urn, of coarse dark brown ware, which was incomplete, as was also a dull-red shallow pan or saucer. Both of them contained calcined bones. The next thing of interest to be discovered was a bracelet of Kimmeridge shale in the form of a ring with circular section, and an outside diameter of two and three-quarter inches. In close proximity to this bracelet was found a bone hand-comb, about six inches long, such as would be used for beating in' the weft on the loom; it is of the usual pattern common to early British sites; also a chalk loom weight of triangular-shape, four sided, tapering towards the top, with a perforation shewing the chalk worn away by