Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Excavation in trench 11 during an evaluation undertaken by Oxford Archaeological Unit in Dover town centre in 1988-91 revealed two short sections of rough, chalk block wall bonded with brown clay, clearly representing the east and north walls of barrack block B20, along with a clay surface inside the building (location accurate to the nearest 5m based on available information).

Monument Types

• BUILDING (Roman - 117 AD? to 208 AD?)

Associated Finds

• POTTERY ASSEMBLAGE (Roman - 163 AD? to 180 AD?)

Full description

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Trench 11 was situated between the north end of the barrack block B20 and the south wall of building 32 (building etc. numbers relate to those given by Philp)(1). The earliest situation revealed by excavation consists of two short sections of rough, chalk block wall bonded with brown clay, clearly representing the east and north walls of B20, along with a clay surface inside the building. The pottery recovered gives a general date of mid second century or later, the size and nature of the assemblages do not allow any further refinement. Thus, these situations could relate to period 1 or period 2 (A.D. 163-65 until 180). Fairly deep layers of silt and rubble overlay these layers and date to the second half of the second century or later, following this building 20 was extended northwards by the addition of a wall. No return wall was found so the length of the extension is unknown. A floor of opus signinum was laid inside the building. The dating evidence for this level is very sparse and only a mid to late second century date may be assigned with confidence. (2)

<1> Philp, B. J., 1981, The Excavation of the Roman Forts of the Classis Britannica at Dover 1970-1977 (Monograph). SKE7863.

<2> Wilkinson, D. R. P., 1995, Archaeologia Cantiana, Excavations on the White Cliffs Experience site, Dover, 1988-91. Vol. 114 (Article in serial). SKE31729.

Sources and further reading

Related records