Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A small votive pit was uncovered close to a probable altar base within the floor of a Roman temple/gatehouse at Springhead. It was roughly cut into the floor and an irregular in shape, with a total depth of c.65cm. (location accurate to the nearest 10m based on available information)

Monument Types

• PIT (Roman - 150 AD? to 300 AD?)

Associated Finds

• RING (Undated)
• ANIMAL REMAINS (Roman - 150 AD? to 300 AD?)
• STAPLE (Roman - 150 AD? to 300 AD?)

Full description

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A small votive pit was uncovered close to a probable altar base within the floor of a Roman temple/gatehouse at Springhead. It was roughly cut into the floor and an irregular in shape, with a total depth of c.65cm. At a depth of 35cm was a bird burial associated with a copper alloy finger ring, these may have been a foundation deposit. Also near the base but at the opposite side of the pit was an iron finger ring associated with an mussel shell. 21 coins were located within the pit at various depths. The date of the coins suggests that the pit went out of use quite soon after the second phase of construction at the temple/gatehouse, in the late third century. Suggesting that the temple was not in use for very much of the fourth century. Another find of significance within the top layers of the pits fill was a stone capital. Others were found within the vicinity of the temple suggesting that they may have been used to adorn the entrance to it. (1)

<1> W. S. Penn, 1967, Archaeologia Cantiana - The Romano British Settlement at Springhead, Temple 6 and the gateway (Article in serial). SKE53587.

Sources and further reading

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