Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A small area of burnt earth containing briquetage, Romano-British pottery, and a piece of salt glazing were found after ploughing near The Mean. During a subsequent excavation by the Lower Medway Archaeological Research Group no structures were found. Evidence of large salt mounds and possible evaporating vessels or large salt-moulds were found along with greenish slag like that found on Romano-British salt panning sites. The small finds included coarse-ware pottery, fragments of building materials and lumps of decayed mortar.

Summary from record TQ 77 NE 12:

A Romano-British salt making site in Middle Marsh. The remains of this site was suggested by the presence of a few sherds of Romano-British coarse pottery found during ploughing. More sherds of this pottery were subsequently found in trial trenches. Most was of a sandy red fabric and was dated to the second century. Fragments of roofing tile, bonding tiles and glass were also found, togetther with lumps of decayed mortar.

Monument Types

• SALT WORKS (Roman - 100 AD? to 200 AD?)

Associated Finds

• BRIQUETAGE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• MOULD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• POTTERY ASSEMBLAGE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• ROOF TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• SLAG (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• VESSEL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• BRIQUETAGE (Roman - 100 AD? to 200 AD?)
• POTTERY ASSEMBLAGE (Roman - 100 AD? to 200 AD?)
• ROOF TILE (Roman - 100 AD? to 200 AD?)
• TILE (Roman - 100 AD? to 200 AD?)

Full description

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On the Halstow Marshes, at TQ 78497804, recent ploughing has revealed a small area of burnt earth containing much briquetage: small finds include a few RB sherds, a fragment of samian and a piece of salt glazing. The site was discovered initially by Mr M.Ocock, secretary of the Lower Medway Research Group who considers it a possible Red Hill. (1) TQ 78507805. Seven trial trenches were dug by members of the Lower Medway Archaeological Research Group. No structures were found, but quantities of coarse-ware, fragments of roofing and bonding tile and glass were found, together with lumps of decayed mortar. Remains of what are possibly evaporating vessels or large salt-moulds were found along with greenish slag like that found on RB salt panning sites (2). Additional reference (3).

Description from record TQ 77 NE 12:
TQ 78007697 A Romano British salt making site with briquetage visible on the surface is under investigation by Mr Ocock (1). The site lies in Little Middle Marsh. The only surface indication of a possible site was the presence of a few sherds of Romano-British coarse pottery and these would probably not have come to light had it not been decided to plough, for the first time, this particular field. It was decided to check the possibility that the sherds had not been transported from elsewhere, but had originated from remains of occupation in the field itself. Seven trial pits were dug in an area approximately 100ft by 25ft. The stratification sequence was revealed in three of the pits. The remaining pits also produced sherds of Romano-British coarse pottery in varying quantities. Most were of a second century date and many were of a sandy red fabric. Fragments also of roofing tiles, bonding tiles and glass were found, togetther with lumps of decayed mortar (2). Site photographs (3,4).

<1> F1 FGA 12-NOV-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE42915.

<1> Salt Rep on the Salt weekend held at the Univ of Sussex Sept 1974 28 (A Miles Eds KW de Brisay KA Ev (OS Card Reference). SKE49393.

<2> Arch Cant 84 (1970) 255-257. (OS Card Reference). SKE35780.

<2> Arch Cant 84 1969 255-7 (MA Ocock) (OS Card Reference). SKE35790.

<3> Field report for monument TQ 77 NE 8 - November, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4208.

<3> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9550.

<4> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9828.

Sources and further reading