| Summary : A series of rock shelters at the foot of the escarpment which forms the northern side of High Rocks hillfort (see TQ 53 NE 8), and which were probably used in the Mesolithic and Neolithic. The hillfort was first discovered in 1939, and flint implements were noted on the surface under the escarpment in the years following the end of the war. Excavations were undertaken at several locations in 1954-6, before attention moved back to the hillfort itself. Finds included predominantly Mesolithic flints plus a few of Neolithic date, as well as some Neolithic potsherds. Charcoal from a possible hearth and from another location yielded (uncalibrated) radiocarbon dates of 3700 +/- 150 bc and 3870 +/-150 bc, suggesting that they represent late Mesolithic activity. However, the samples were associated with Neolithic material. A possible explanation is that the wood was considerably older than the activity represented by the charcoal. Thermoluminescence dates on some of the potsherds were a few hundred years later, but in both cases the dating techniques were also in their infancy. The excavations also uncovered the odd Iron Age potsherd plus a small pit containing dark soil and bloomery cinders. |
More information : TQ560383, High Rocks, Mesolithic-Neolithic rock-shelter sites
(See plan 1). The existance of a prehistoric site at High Rocks
was first realised in 1939 when the author identified an IA fort
(See TQ 53 NE 8) in the area above the rocks. Flint implements
were discovered by the author and Mr F.R.E.Malden independently
on the surface under the escarpment and in September 1954 they joined
forces for a trial digging at three points where overhanging rock
suggested rock-shelter sites.
A few flint implements and some waste materials was discovered.
Further work has been undertook in 1955 and 1956.
Site`A'(See plan 2) faces north and has recently been levelled. The
occupation layer varied in thickness from 10" to 2' 10". A small
flint scraper, flint debris and a small pit, 8' out from the rock
and containing, dark soil and bloomery cinders, was found.
Site`B'(See plan 2) faces north-west and has also been levelled.
Although only one occupation period was distinquised it was slightly
finds none productive with mesolithic blades and blade tools, a
scraper and a fine transverse arrowhead, being recovered.
Site`C'(See plan 3) which faces north and always seems to have
attracted settlers as it has a move generous protection of flanking
walls and overhead cover than away other excavated site with the
exception of site`D'.
Probably recent beam holes and surface post-holes offer evidence
of a later shelter.
The prehistoric occupation level averages about 3' and can be
sivided into two periods periods I- consisted of about fifty pieces
of flint but only two microlites and two blade cores were recognisebleas worked products.
Period II- Represented by six hundred pieces of flint, including
twenty-five microlites of various types and two blade tools:
Fragments of Neolithic pottery, west of which can be matched by
pottery from Whitehawk Camp and probably dated to C 2000 BC, and a
ruin of Wealdon type IA pottery c AD43.
Two hearths were found in sub-sites `e' and `g' respectively.
Evidence suggests intermittent occupation by Mesolithic hunters
followed by visitors who made Neolithic type pottery.
Site `D' faces south-west and therefore has a share of light which
is lacking from other sites.
Also parts of the site are under a ceiling of rock not just overhangs.Its favourable position, however, its not reflected by intensive
occupation. Only one occupation period was detactable which varied in
depth from 12 to 18" and consisted of charcoal and about 4 several
pieces of flint, including seven microlithes, some blades with
secondary working and a fine end-scraper, but no pottery.
The upper levels of occupation were probably removed in modern times.
Site`E'(See plans 4 & 5) faces north-west. Two periods of occupation
were discerened with a signifciant break between them but both are
exclusively Mesolithic. Period I - contained two bivouac hearths,
belonging to a later stage of occupation in this period, charcoal
and about 400 pieces of flint including micro-cores, microliths and
blade tools.
No pottery whatever or flint artefacts of recognisable Neolithic
type was found.
Site`F'(See plans 6 & 7) the most productive of all the excavated
sites yielding seven hearths, Mesothlic flint implements and Neolithicpottery. Stratigraphically the site may be divided into four periods
but culturally only Mesolithic and Neolithic are detectable.
Period I- no hearths were encountered but there was a scatter of
charcoal, which may have spread from a undiscovered hearth. Flint
implements - all Mesolithic included microliths, blades and blade
tools but no cores. Fifteen sherds of Neolithic pottery were found
in sub-site `n'. Pollen data shed no light on the history of period I.Period II was represented by almost two hundred pieces of flint,
all but a Neolithic leaf-shaped arrowhead being Mesolithic:
Neolithic pottery: seven hearths at different levels: charcoal
and possible post-holes. The flints included micro-cores
micro-blades, microliths, blade cores, blades and blade tools.
The pottery, apart from one piece of apparently Rinyo-Clacton
type and likely to be late Neolithic, can be matched with pieces
found at Ebbsfleet, Whitehawk and Combe Hill and is therefore
Middle Neolithic.
The hearths, with the exception of hearths `3' are all from the upper
part of this period. Hearth `3' lay about a foot below heath `4'
and well below the level at which Neolithic pottery was found.
All hearths were similar construction being made up of pieces of localsandstone. All with the exception of hearth `5', were of simple
construction, the stone packed closely together in a single layer.
Hearth `5' was the largest and most unique in the series . About a
foot below the hearth itself was a circle of roughly shaped stones as
a big or slightly bigger than the stones of the hearth itself.
Suggested use as foundation stones. The charcoal from this hearth
gave a c14 reading of 3700 bc I 150 years (British Museum BM-40)(3)
and appears to be of late Mesolithic date. Period III contained a
few flints and pieces of Neolithic Pottery not regarded as distinct
from those in period II.
At the bottom of period IV were found a few flints of Mesolithic
type, again indistinguishable in character from those lower down.
Evidence suggests a site occupied intermittently during Mesolithic
and Neolithic times. Suggested as the first site this country
to produce in any large quantity material other than pottery as
part of the Ebbsfleet culture.(1)
Further evidence, the British Museum (BM-91 (3)) having tested a
further sample from site `F' and given it a c14 date of 3780 bc I 150
years suggests that the Ebbsfleet pottery far from being secondary
Neolithic is it fact primary that the accepted terms Meolithic have
become blurred in the sense that at this early date in the fourth
millenium BC we have a hunting community using pottery. (2)
Site `G' (See plan 8) faces north-east and like site `c' has a
number of probably recent beam holes cut in the rock face.
The occupation evidence, which is very sparse, can be divided
into three periods.
Periods I yeilding a few pieces of flint in subsite `b'.
The maximum occupation occured in period II unit two Mesolithic
blades, a few flint flakes and at it's upper level a hearth which
was only partially explored.
Period III produced charcoal and only a few waste flakes sites `H'
and `I' were trenches dug immediately above site `F' to obtain
a picture of the stratification at the subsoil.
Site `J' (See plan 2) a trail trench that yeilded only thirty nine
pieces of flint. The sparse evidence suggests the fabrication of
flint implements either on or near the site.
Site `K' (See plan 2) the only evidence of human occupation was the
presence of a few small charcoal fragments (1)
TQ560383, Frant, High Rocks: an excavated rock-shelter (site `F')
in which were found 28 cores, 1592 blade/flakes, 54 microliths, 14
axes and an unspecified number of scrapers. Information from the
excavator M J H Money and the finds are in his collection.
That the C14 dates (See 1-3) refer to the microlithic material and
not the sherds of Whitehawk Ware found at the same level is confirmed
by thermoluminescence dates on some of the pottery which place it
well within the accepted age-range of the Neolithic.
Although the number of Microliths from individual sites were too few
for anaylis, small scalene triangles and rods from site `F' fit well
with the c14 dates obtained. (5)
Pottery found with the microliths in shelter `F' is of types too
involved to be associated with the C14 dates (6)
High Rocks, sites `C' to `J' are indentified on a map showing the
distributation of Mesolithic cave and Rock-shelter sites in
England and Wales. (7) (1-7)
A rectangular depression, at the foot of a sandstone shelf at
TQ 56093842, is probably the site of Money's excavation. Local
enquiries and an inspection of the escarpment provided no further
information. (8)
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