Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Possible Belgic and Roman settlement sites found in excavations in 1961-2. Included twelve cremations with funerary vessels from the late 1st to early 2nd centuries AD. Also one inhumation possibly a remnant of a large cemetery destoyed by a commercial excavation (see TQ 77 NW 2). The inhumation and two of the cremations had been cut through a burnt clay floor with post-holes. Possible salt working industrial debris was identified beneath the burials as well as large pottery assemblage; indicated use into the fourth century.

Monument Types

• INHUMATION CEMETERY (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• SETTLEMENT (postholes, Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• CREMATION (Roman - 67 AD to 132 AD)

Associated Finds

• BRIQUETAGE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• VESSEL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Full description

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Consequent to commercial excavation revealing two large industrial and occupation sites' (not enlarged on), in the North Kent marshes near Cliffe, the following were excavated in 1961-2: (i) Twelve cremations with funerary vessels, late 1st to early 2nd cent. A.D. and one inhumation, thought to be a remnant of a large cemetery 'known to have been destroyed by commercial excavation'. (?TQ 77 NW 2). The inhumation and two of the cremations had been cut through a burnt clay floor with post-holes. (ii) Beneath the burials: 'Industrial debris' reminiscent of that of the Essex Red Hills (suggesting that the industry was salt-working) with Belgic pottery associated. (iii) At other points in the area; similar debris associated with occupation layers, indicating continuance into the 4th cent. (iv) At one point: 13th c. pottery associated with a (?) chalk floor. Pottery, (presumably R.B.) was plentiful, generally, but no wasters were found (1-2). The whole of this area has been dug for mud by the A.P.G.M. and is now a series of large lagoons separated by narrow baulks.

From information by Chaplin, A.P.G.M. employees, and by ground observations the following sites have been determined. Additional index entries and references from relevant site reports (3-10).

For site in context with others in inter-tidal zone, see (11). For details of salt-working hearths and context with regional salt-working industry, see (12).

<1> Arch Cant 76 1961 205-6 (RE Chaplin & Miss JP Coy) (OS Card Reference). SKE35599.

<2> Arch Cant 77 1962 I (50) (OS Card Reference). SKE35622.

<3> Oral: RE Chaplin asst curator Passmore - Edwards Mus Romford Rd Stratford (OS Card Reference). SKE48088.

<4> F1 FGA 16-DEC-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE42927.

<5> Arch Cant 81 1966 lv (RF Hutchings) (OS Card Reference). SKE35731.

<6> F2 ASP 25-NOV-69 (OS Card Reference). SKE43168.

<7> Field report for monument TQ 77 NW 15 - December, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4235.

<8> Field report for monument TQ 77 NW 15 - November, 1969 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4236.

<9> Philp, B. J., 1963, Romano-British West Kent AD 43-100 (Article in serial). SWX7492.

<10> Chaplin, R. E. and Coy, J. P., 1961, Cliffe, 1961: Research and Discoveries in Kent (Article in serial). SWX7483.

<11> Department of Archaeology, University of Reading, 1994, Inter-tidal archaeology in Kent, p 32 (Unpublished document). SWX9353.

<12> Topping, P & Swan, V G, 1995, Early salt-working sites in the Thames estuary (Article in monograph). SWX9354.

Sources and further reading