Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Excavation in 2000-2002 found a series of post holes which probably relate to the former site of fence lines associated with a Roman temple, probably dating to the mid 2nd century. The temple continued in use probably until the early 3rd century. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)

Monument Types

• POST HOLE (Roman - 150 AD? to 225 AD?)
• WALL (Roman - 150 AD? to 225 AD?)

Associated Finds

• DAUB (Roman - 150 AD? to 200 AD?)

Full description

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Excavation in 2000-2002 found a series of post holes which probably relate tro the former site of fence lines associated with a Roman temple, probably dating to the mid 2nd century. The temple continued in use probably until the early 3rd century. Two of these were located on the north side of the temple and ran parallel to it. One may have been earlier than the other but this is not certain. The first was 2m from the north wall of the temple, it was 23 m long, comprised 13 substantial post-holes, fairly regularly spaced at intervals of between 1.60 and 1.90m, with diameters of up to 0.90 m and depths of up to 0.60 m. Most contained post-ghosts. The second screen was approximately half the length of the first and of different construction, with an overall length of 12 m and comprising five or six postholes and a 4 m length of wall. of clay-bonded flint nodules. The post-holes were spaced at approximately 2 m intervals, but were of less regular shape and generally shallower. A layer of burnt daub was located close to the screens perhaps deriving from the destruction of one
of them Pottery from this spread spans the mid–late 2nd to the early 3rd century and provides a likely date of shortly after AD 200 for this destruction episode which perhaps included temple structure also. A third possible fence line represented by three small post holes is also located on the northern side of the temple. (1)

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 The Late Iron Age, Roman, Saxon, and Medieval Landscape (Unpublished document).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

Related records