A gateway island : an exploration of evidence for the existence of a cultural focus in the form of a 'gateway community' in the Isle of Thanet during the Bronze Age and early and middle Iron Ages
The research for this study was originally prompted by the writer's discovery that the Isle of Thanet in East Kent possessed and continues to yield evidence of prehistoric settlement and trade inordinate for the size of the Island. Thanet comprises only 2.2% of the area of Kent, yet in several fields of evidence such as prehistoric settlements, barrow cemeteries, bronze hoards and prestige imported artefacts, Thanet provides a large fraction, often over 30%, of the County's total of such evidence. A possible explanation for this phenomenon was that the Island, commanding passage of the one-time Wantsum sea channel, had supported a 'Gateway Community' as defined by Hirth in 'Interregional trade and the formation of prehistoric gateway communities' (Hirth, K.G., 1978, Am. Ant. 43). For much of the last two millennia of prehistory, limitations in the design of seaÂŹgoing trading vessels would have largely confined English Channel crossings to the narrows of the Dover Strait area, and would have precluded rounding of the North Foreland. Under these constraints the Wantsum Channel would have been a vital link between Britain and the Continent. A community controlling the passage and pilotage of the Wantsum would
Perkins, David Richard John
Kent
A gateway island : an exploration of evidence for the existence of a cultural focus in the form of a 'gateway community' in the Isle of Thanet during the Bronze Age and early and middle Iron Ages. The research for this study was originally prompted by the writer's discovery that the Isle of Thanet in East Kent possessed and continues to yield evidence of prehistoric settlement and trade inordinate for the size of the Island. Thanet comprises only 2.2% of the area of Kent, yet in several fields of evidence such as prehistoric settlements, barrow cemeteries, bronze hoards and prestige imported artefacts, Thanet provides a large fraction, often over 30%, of the County's total of such evidence. A possible explanation for this phenomenon was that the Island, commanding passage of the one-time Wantsum sea channel, had supported a 'Gateway Community' as defined by Hirth in 'Interregional trade and the formation of prehistoric gateway communities' (Hirth, K.G., 1978, Am. Ant. 43). For much of the last two millennia of prehistory, limitations in the design of seaÂŹgoing trading vessels would have largely confined English Channel crossings to the narrows of the Dover Strait area, and would have precluded rounding of the North Foreland. Under these constraints the Wantsum Channel would have been a vital link between Britain and the Continent. A community controlling the passage and pilotage of the Wantsum would
gateway island exploration evidence_existence cultural focus form gateway community isle bronze_age early_middle iron ages study originally prompt writer discovery isle east kent possess continue yield evidence prehistoric_settlement trade size island comprise area kent yet several field evidence prehistoric_settlement barrow cemetery bronze hoard prestige import artefact provide large fraction often county total evidence possible_explanation phenomenon island command passage time sea channel support gateway community define interregional trade formation prehistoric gateway community ant much last_two millennium prehistory limitation design trading vessel would largely confine english_channel narrow area_would preclude round north constraint channel would vital link britain_continent community control passage would