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Monument details

HER Number:TQ 67 SW 1571
Type of record:Monument
Name:Possible early Roman cenotaph, Springhead

Summary

A rectangulear feature which was uncovered during excavations at Sprinhead has been interpreted as a possible conotaph. It is located close to and is possibly associated with the Roman road loading towards the ritual pools. It was located alongside further features including six burials all of which have an early Roman date. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)


Grid Reference:TQ 6180 7258
Map Sheet:TQ67SW
Parish:GRAVESEND, GRAVESHAM, KENT

Monument Types

  • CENOTAPH (Roman - 60 AD? to 100 AD?)

Associated Finds

  • NAIL (Roman - 60 AD? to 100 AD?)
  • ANIMAL REMAINS (Roman - 65 AD? to 100 AD?)
  • BEAKER (Roman - 65 AD? to 80 AD?)

Full description

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A rectagular feature , interpreted as a probable cenotaph was located close to and is possibly associated with the Roman Road running towards the riutual pools. The pit was rectangular, measuring 1.80 m by 1.35 m and 0.85 m deep, and had vertical sides and a flat base. No human bone was recovered from this feature, but a dog and a chicken had been placed on the base against the north-west edge, a small pot in the south corner, and a Central Gaulish colour-coated hairpin beaker towards the north. Nothing of interest was recovered from sieving the contents of this beaker which has a suggested date range of AD 65/70–80. Four iron tacks, four larger nails, and a fragment of strip in the south-eastern half of the pit hint at the presence of a box in this area, although no evidence for such was discerned within the fill of the pit. (1-2)


<1> Wessex Archaeology, 2003, Channel Tunel Rail Link Archaeological works at Springhead Roman Town (ARC SPH00): interim fieldwork report (Unpublished document). SKE31600.

<1> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2010, Settling the Ebbsfleet Valley. CTRL Excavations at Springhead and Northfleet, Kent. The Late Iron Age, Roman, Saxon, and Medieval Landscape (Unpublished document). SKE31245.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
<1>Unpublished document: Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture. 2010. Settling the Ebbsfleet Valley. CTRL Excavations at Springhead and Northfleet, Kent. The Late Iron Age, Roman, Saxon, and Medieval Landscape.
<1>Unpublished document: Wessex Archaeology. 2003. Channel Tunel Rail Link Archaeological works at Springhead Roman Town (ARC SPH00): interim fieldwork report.

Related records

TQ 67 SW 1388Part of: Early Roman road leading to ritual pool, Springhead, Northfleet (Monument)