Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A total of 14 child inhumation burials were discovered in a small area between Watling Street and Temple 3 within the Temple complex at Springhead. They all appear to have been deposited at a similar time and the graves were covered by a clay bank. The only reasonable suggestion of so many children dying is a disaster of some kind, presumably a plague. (location accurate to the nearest 10m based on available information)

Monument Types

• BURIAL (Roman - 140 AD? to 150 AD?)

Associated Finds

• COIN (Roman - 98 AD to 117 AD)
• POT (Roman - 140 AD? to 150 AD?)

Full description

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A total of 14 child inhumation burials were discovered in a small area between Watling Street and Temple 3 within the Temple complex at Springhead. They all appear to have been deposited at a similar time and the graves were covered by an artificial clay bank. All had been carefully placed inside a small flint cist with the child in a crouched position which is the usual child inhumation type. One of the burials contained a dupondius of Trajan which was located between the legs of the child, the coin was well worn and must have been in use 20 to 40 years before burial. One other burial included a very small pot, only c 5cm high, this may have been the child’s toy. All of the burials appear to have a similar date, which is very unusual. The only reasonable suggestion of so many children dying is a disaster of some kind, presumably a plague. This would explain the use of a clay bank to seal off the infection. These burials may be associated with the infant burials which were discovered within temple 3, which have been interpreted as possible sacrifices. (1-2)

<1> WS Penn, 1965, Archaeologia Cantiana, Springhead - map of Discoveries (Article in serial). SKE12613.

<2> W. S. Penn, 1964, Archaeologia Cantiana - The Romano British Settlement at Springhead, The temple ditch site (Article in serial). SKE53586.

Sources and further reading

Related records