Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A small Roman enclosure and two Roman sunken featured buildings were disocovered during excavations associated with the construction of the East Kent Access routeway in Thanet. This collection of features were positioned in the space between two Roman trackways and close to a Roman cemetery. It is possible that these features and the cemetery were connected I some way, though the associated finds were domestic in nature. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)

Monument Types

• DITCH (Roman - 43 AD to 199 AD)
• ENCLOSURE (Roman - 43 AD to 199 AD)
• GRUBENHAUS (Roman - 43 AD to 199 AD)
• OVEN (Roman - 43 AD to 199 AD)
• PIT (Roman - 43 AD to 199 AD)
• POST HOLE (Roman - 43 AD to 199 AD)

Full description

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A small rectangular enclosure was situated at the northern edge of the zone and continued beyond the limit of excavation. It measured 11m by at least 11m internally and the ditch which was up to 2m wide and 0.8m deep had steep straight sides and a flat base. A northern ditch terminal on the west side may mark the location of an entrance. the ditch contained artefacts typical of domestic rubbish including pottery, animal bone, shell and fired clay. The pottery is of an early Roman date. It is possible that the enclosure formed part of the funerary complex which existed in this area. within the enclosure and possibly contemporary with it was a possible sunken featured building measuring 3.85m east west by 3.25m north south and 0.26m in depth. It was filled with material relatively rich in charcoal and containing pottery (early Roman) and some animal bone. A hearth or oven with a flue at the southern end was located in the enclosure and the associated pottery securely dated the feature to the Early Roman period. Another possible sunken feature building was situated 5km west of the first and cut the enclosure ditch. This measured 4.07m by 3.5m and was 0.57m deep. (summarised from sources) (1)

An enclosure and two building locations of Roman date were visible as excavated features in NMR 26608/10 06-APR-2010. They were mapped as part of the Historic England Isle of Thanet project in 2024. (2)

<1> Andrews et al, 2015, Digging The Gateway: Archaeological Landscapes of South Thanet. The Archaeology of East Kent Access (Phase III) Vol 1: The sites (Monograph). SKE55517.

<2> Historic England Archive, 1920-2024, Historic England Archive Specialist oblique aerial photographs, NMR 26608/10 06-APR-2010 (Archive). SKE57106.

Sources and further reading