Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Three Roman cremation urn burials were found in 1849 three quarters of a mile south east of Hoo church at a depth of five feet. Other vessels found included a cup, a flagon, a dish, a beaker and a patera. The finds are said to have been deposited in the British Museum, but this could not be confirmed.

Monument Types

• CINERARY URN (CINERARY URN, Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• CREMATION (CREMATION, Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• URN (URN, Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Associated Finds

• BEAKER (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• CUP (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• DISH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• FLAGON (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• UNASSIGNED (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Full description

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[TQ 78907134](1) Three cremations have been found lately in the Hoo Marshes, C 3/4 mile SE of Hoo church, at a depth of c. 5'. The first grave-group consisted of three vessels, an urn with a cup inside and a flagon at its side. The second cinerary urn was smashed but contained two other vessels - a Samian dish and a beaker of Castor ware. The third urn (smashed) contained a Samian patera and another vessel (1-2). As above [except that the four vessels from cremations 2 & 3 are said to have been found in one smashed urn: this may be due to failure of Mr. Wickham's memory as he says the site had never been published before] Found 1849, c. 1/2 mile S.E. of church. Finds in British Museum. [Illustration photograph see AO/58/57/7.] (3) Some of the pottery is in the British Museum and one piece of Samian is in Rochester Museum (4). The area is on saltings inundated at high tide. No signs of burial or pottery was seen during perambulation. (5) The evidence for siting (1) is not known. The location should be treated as approximate only. Mr. Fisher is now dead (6). The presence of finds in the British Museum was not verified. Mr. Taylor, Curator of Rochester Museum has no knowledge of the Samian pottery referred to by V.C.H. but has promised to communicate with the Division should he discover any information regarding it (7). Additional index entries and relevant references from field reports (8-11) and site photographs (12-16).

<1> Museum (Arch) 6" Maidstone Mus (CE Fisher undated) and Private 6" (Kent Arch Soc) Maidstone Mus (OS Card Reference). SKE47488.

<2> JBAA Vol 5 1850 339-40 Illus (H Wickham) (OS Card Reference). SKE45015.

<3> Arch Cant 10 1876 75-6 Illus (H Wickham) (OS Card Reference). SKE34509.

<4> VCH Kent III 1932 157 (OS Card Reference). SKE51185.

<5> F1 AC 16-NOV-51 (OS Card Reference). SKE41813.

<6> Oral Mr LRA Grove BA FSA Curator Maidstone Mus (OS Card Reference). SKE47961.

<7> F2 EG 16-DEC-58 (OS Card Reference). SKE43306.

<8> F3 EG 01-JUL-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE43392.

<9> Field report for monument TQ 77 SE 14 - November, 1951 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4265.

<10> Field report for monument TQ 77 SE 14 - December, 1958 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4266.

<11> Field report for monument TQ 77 SE 14 - July, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4267.

<12> 1994, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11151.

<13> 1994, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11152.

<14> 1994, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11153.

<15> 1994, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11154.

<16> 1997, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11157.

Sources and further reading