Littlebrook Walls Dartford

( 69 ) MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. LITTLEBROOK WALLS, DARTFORD. IN view of the possible importance of this site it seems worth while to describe some of its potentialities which seem to be generally unrecognized, and to amplify Mi. Cumberland's report.1 The writer visited Littlebrook Walls early in 1940, and found that although much had been rendered inaccessible, half the area remained untouched. The part buried is roughly that to the north of the cross-bank. which divides the enclosure into two parts. 2 The banks are much spread, but still stand to a height of two or three feet and are clearly visible in winter, but they would be less easy to locate when covered by summer vegetation. In spite of the disgTaceful destruction of half the site without investigation, a large area still remains open, and it is the main purpose of this note to urge the great desirability of a trial excavation as soon as it becomes possible. There is good reason to believe2 that Littlebrook Walls was the site of an important settlement in late Saxon times. This could be verified by a few trial trenches, and if it should prove to be the case, it is hard to overestimate the importance of the site. The area is free from later occupation. Its position on the Thames estuary renders it probable that local pottery and other objects would be associated with imported goods, providing much information for dating the English material in a period which is at present obscure. And the damp nature of the site would probably preserve wooden objects, and might even enable a" tree-ring" date series to be established. At present, the site is probably in no further danger except from bombs, which it is to be hoped will prevent its final destruction by the erection of industrial works. But after the war there will be grave risk of further development 1 A,·ch. Oant., LID, p. ::diii. • Plan and description by F. C. J. Spun-ell. Arch. Gant., XVIlI, p. 3ll. 8.6. 70 MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. in the area, and it would be deplorable if the site were to be destroyed without investigation. If it is in fact a late Saxon town site, it is probably no exaggeration to state that its excavation is one of the most important and urgent archreological works required in south-eastern England.1 A. H. A. HOGG. ' ' 1 The position of the site ie"sbowri on Fig. 6, p. 24.