Images (3)
News (2)
Fieldnotes (2)
Miscellaneous (2)

Images

Image of Barnfield Pit, Swanscombe by A R Cane

Some of the flint tools held in the collection of Rochester Museum.

Image credit: A R Cane

A R Cane Sep 6, 2011

Image of Barnfield Pit, Swanscombe by ocifant

Underneath the crap, this reads:

Swanscombe Skull Site National Nature Reserve

On this spot on 29 June 1935 A T Marston discovered the oldest known human remains in Britain.
A fossilized fragment of a skull 250,000 years old. The smaller blocks mark the sites where two further pieces of the same skull were found in 1936 and 1955.
This site was declared a National Nature Reserve in 1954. Magnus Magnusson, writer and broadcaster unveiled this memorial 29 June 1985 the fiftieth anniversary of the first discovery.

Image credit: Alan S>

ocifant Aug 3, 2003

This is about all you’ll see. Pebble-dashed concrete, swathed in graffitti.

Image credit: Alan S>

ocifant Aug 3, 2003

Articles

Barnfield Pit, Swanscombe

Details of Opening Ceremony – Wednesday 29th June

Rhiannon Jun 25, 2005

kent.gov.uk/your-council/news/june-05/jun-23-a.html

Time: 11am (speeches at 11.15, opening ceremony 11.45)

Location: Swanscombe Heritage Park, Craylands Lane, Swanscombe

Details: Phil Harding from Wessex Archaeology – part of Channel 4’s Time Team – will cut a ribbon to celebrate the park’s new entry feature. This is a sculpture based on a 400,000-year-old hand axe discovered in the park. The ceremony will celebrate many hours of work by the local community, businesses and public sector in restoring one of the most important archaeological sites in northern Europe. It also marks the 70th anniversary of the discovery of human skull fragments there.

Local schoolchildren will enjoy an organised treasure hunt in the park and will take part in the opening ceremony. Guests will be offered an optional guided tour of the site at 12 noon to see the project work which has been carried out by Groundwork Kent Thameside and Swanscombe Action Group. A short display of the ancient art of flint-knapping will also be given at 12 noon.

Speeches will be given by Swanscombe Action Group Chairman, Cllr Bryan Read, Patrick Conrad from Groundwork Kent Thameside, KCC Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport Richard King and Professor Chris Stringer from the Natural History Museum. The project has been supported by a number of partners with part funding from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. KCC is the accountable body.

Barnfield Pit, Swanscombe

Swanscombe Sculpture to be Unveiled

Rhiannon Jun 15, 2005

A sculpture inspired by a paleolithic hand axe will be unveiled at Swanscombe Heritage Park on June 29. The ceremony links in with the 70th anniversary of the internationally significant discovery of skull fragments at the site.

It also marks the culmination of two years of work to rid the site of dumped cars, fly-tipping and illegal motorcyclists.

The axe sculpture and clearance work forms part of the A Walk into History project which is being managed by charity Groundwork on behalf of the Swanscombe Action Group.

The project was set-up with a £370,000 grant from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister via Kent County Council.

Groundwork’s landscape architect David Robinson said: “We hope this exciting sculpture will not only provide an interesting landmark for visitors but also raise the public’s perception of the archaeological importance of the park.”

‘Info taken from
This is Local London

A picture of the designer with his design at
http://www.groundwork.org.uk/kent/news/SHP%20design.htm

Barnfield Pit, Swanscombe

ocifant Aug 3, 2003

Am I an enthusiast? From Juamei’s entries, and the fact I’m here, I guess I must be.

I had problems finding this, despite Juamei’s directions. I had a couple of false starts, stopping when I saw Footpath signs in Milton Road. The trick is to keep going, over the speed bumps which do nothing to deter the local boy-racers, past a Cost Cutters supermarket, across a couple of mini roundabouts. Milton Road eventually comes to a T junction (mini roundabout, so you can swing back round easily), the required footpath is on the right, as Juamei says, as you approach this final junction. The entrance to the site is some 30yds along the footpath, on the right.

The site itself could be wonderful. Dragonflies and butterflies buzzed and fluttered during my visit, but sadly, despite being designated a Nature Reserve, it is quite dilapidated. Rubbish is strewn around, I heard a gang of kids making a ‘camp’ of an old fridge and car bonnet off in the bushes somewhere. Firepits are strewn around the area, and the memorial block is now only a tribute to the freedom of expression and artistic talents (or lack thereof) of the local youth population.

A historic site, deserving of more attention.

Barnfield Pit, Swanscombe

juamei Jul 29, 2003

[visited 28/7/03] Magnus Magnusson opened this idyllic retreat in urban north kent in 1985. The Rising Sun pub noted by Dyer, is long since gone and has been replaced by a council estate. The closest we londoners get to Ballybrack, I guess.

Nothing to see unless you like pebbledash coverered cubes of cement. The first piece of the skull to be found was where the large ‘plinth’ is now, the next two pieces where the small ‘seats’ are.

As I left the site, the phrase ‘one for the enthusiast’ ran through my head...

Barnfield Pit, Swanscombe

jessi Nov 23, 2004

Dear all who may want to visit the site of the Swanscombe Skull,

I was born and bread in that wonderful little town and growing up, barnfield pit or “the skull site” as it is locally know was a place of great fun and yes as you noticed it has been run down and mistreated over the years. That is down to dartford council who ignor this sprirtual place.

I noticed from earlier posts that visitors were disapointed with what they found and god only knows where those directions came from.

If you want to observe the original skull fragments they have been moved to the Natural History Museum in london and i once had the pleasure of viewing the originals on a school trip there. but for those who hate london as i do you can see duplicates in the foyer at Swanscombe Leisure center which is adjacent to barnfield pit.

For those who wish to vist the address is

Swanscombe Leisure Center
Craylands Lane, Swanscombe, Kent DA10 0LP

There is also a car park avalible and a Bar within the center its self.

I will post more at a later date on my adventures in the pit.

Barnfield Pit, Swanscombe

juamei Jul 29, 2003

Swanscombe Man’s resting place for over a third of a million years. Site of the oldest human remains found in Britain, dating to approximately 350,000 years ago. 3 pieces of a skull have been found over the years together with Acheulean hand-axes & thousands of flint flakes.

[directions removed]