Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Excavation in 2000-2002 found three areas of chalk quarrying with an early Roman date. The chalk quarries comprised two large intercutting complexes, and a third smaller complex was located a short distance to the south-east. All have been assigned an early Roman date, though they may have remained in use until well into the 2nd century. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)

Monument Types

• QUARRY (Roman - 75 AD? to 150 AD?)

Associated Finds

• HUMAN REMAINS (Roman to Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 50 AD? to 410 AD?)

Full description

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Excavation in 2000-2002 found three areas of chalk quarrying with an early Roman date. The chalk quarries comprised two large intercutting complexes, one was 30 m by 18 m and the other approximately 25 m by 18 m. Both were a little over 1 m deep with fairly flat bottoms, though their irregular plan and varying profiles of the sides makes it clear that they were dug as a part of a series of probably short-lived operations.A third smaller complex was located a short distance to the south-east. This comprised a smaller and more irregular complex of intercutting pits, measuring a maximum of 15 m by 10 m, though of similar depth to the larger quarries to the north. A neonate had been buried in the top of its fill. All have been assigned an early Roman date, though they may have remained in use until well into the 2nd century. (1-2)

<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 The Late Iron Age, Roman, Saxon, and Medieval Landscape (Unpublished document).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.

<2> Wessex Archaeology, 2003, Channel Tunel Rail Link Archaeological works at Springhead Roman Town (ARC SPH00): interim fieldwork report (Unpublished document). SKE31600.

Sources and further reading