Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Sealing the latest Roman courtyard within the Temple Precinct (TR 15 NW 110) was 5-10cm deposit of black loam predating Saxon (Early Medieval) resettlement. Possibly associated with this layer was a large pit containing a multiple burial. The burial, perhaps of a family group, consisted of two adults, male and female, two children and two small dogs. The pit contained a thick deposit of water-logged organic material on which the bodies laid. The disturbed nature of the burials may indicate that the burials were contained within a wooden structure and shifted position as the organic material on which they were laid decomposed. No trace of such a structure survived since the upper levels of the grave were removed by a later pit. It also contained some unusual jewellery consisting not only of a large number of Roman bronze, silver, bone and ivory bangles together with some keys, but also some glass beads that are perhaps continental imports of the early 5th century. The impression of the burial is of an early 5th century ritual burial containing both late Roman and Germanic objects. An examination of the skeletons indicated that one of the children may have died as a result of a blow to the head.

The site is within the city walls, near to the line of the Dover-Canterbury Roman road. OD 10-15m.

Monument Types

• INHUMATION (Roman to Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 400 AD? to 450 AD?)

Associated Finds

• ANIMAL REMAINS (Roman to Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 400 AD? to 450 AD?)
• HUMAN REMAINS (Roman to Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 400 AD? to 450 AD?)
• JEWELLERY (Roman to Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 400 AD? to 450 AD?)

Full description

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Sealing the latest Roman courtyard within the Temple Precinct (TR 15 NW 110) was 5-10cm deposit of black loam predating Saxon (Early Medieval) resettlement. Possibly associated with this layer was a large pit containing a multiple burial. The burial, perhaps of a family group, consisted of two adults, male and female, two children and two small dogs. The pit contained a thick deposit of water-logged organic material on which the bodies laid. The disturbed nature of the burials may indicate that the burials were contained within a wooden structure and shifted position as the organic material on which they were laid decomposed. No trace of such a structure survived since the upper levels of the grave were removed by a later pit. It also contained some unusual jewellery consisting not only of a large number of Roman bronze, silver, bone and ivory bangles together with some keys, but also some glass beads that are perhaps continental imports of the early 5th century. The impression of the burial is of an early 5th century ritual burial containing both late Roman and Germanic objects. An examination of the skeletons indicated that one of the children may have died as a result of a blow to the head.(1)

Andrew Richardson, 2000, Gazetteer of Anglo-Saxon Cemeteries and Burial-Sites in Kent (Unpublished document). SKE29253.

<1> Bennett. P, 1981, Research and Discoveries in Kent: Interim Report on Excavations in 1980 by CAT: 4. 68-69 Stour Street (Article in serial). SKE8280.

<2> Bennett, P., 1981, 69a Stour Street & Adelaide Place (Article in serial). SKE8279.

<3> Bennett. P., 1982, Interim Report on Excavations in 1981 by CAT: 2. 68-69a Stour Street (Article in serial). SKE8281.

Sources and further reading