Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

During an evaluation undertaken by Canterbury Archaeological Trust ahead of development of the Royal Victoria Hospital, High Street, Dover, an early Roman Dump deposit containing pottery, tile, bone and shell was uncovered. (location accurate to the nearest 2m based on available information)

Monument Types

• REFUSE DISPOSAL SITE (Roman - 43 AD? to 100 AD?)

Associated Finds

• ANIMAL REMAINS (Undated)
• SHERD (Roman - 43 AD? to 100 AD?)
• SHERD (Roman - 43 AD? to 100 AD?)
• TILE (Roman - 43 AD? to 100 AD?)

Full description

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An archaeological evaluation and borehole survey was undertaken by Canterbury Archaeological Trust, consisting of four trenches and three boreholes, ahead of the development of the Royal Victoria Hospital site in Dover. Towards the north eastern end of Trench 1, beneath a series of Medieval soil deposits, a deposit of dark grey brown clay loam containing a significant quantity potsherds and some roman tile, animal bone, shells, daub and carbon specks. The majority of the pottery was a grog tempered ware, dateable to the later 1st century A.D, there was a single sherd of Samian ware (Dr. 27, Flavian). The Roman tile confirms a post conquest date for the assemblage. It is clear that this deposit is essentially dumped domestic rubbish derived from a nearby early Roman occupation site. (1-2)

Unfortunatley, the site demolition works included the removal of the Hospitals deep foundations which resulted in the destruction of a large amount of the stratified archaeology in the area. A rapid inspection of the exposed soil and examination of the spoil heaps was undertaken. A significant quantity of Roman pottery was recovered from the spoil of one trench indicating the possible location of more Roman dumps at the site or a possible area of Roman occupation away from the main Roman settlement in the town centre. (3)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1992, Dover 1992: Victoria Hospital Site: Evaluation Report (Unpublished document). SKE11923.

<2> Keith Parfitt, 1993, Canterbury Archaeology, 1992-1993: Fieldwork: Sites in Dover. Vol 18. (Article in serial). SKE31774.

<3> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1994, Canterburys Archaeology 1993-1994: Fieldwork: Kent Sites Vol. 19 (Article in serial). SKE32028.

Sources and further reading