Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Romano-British saltworks were found at Funton Marsh dating from the late Iron Age to the 3rd century AD.

Monument Types

• SALT WORKS (SALT WORKS, Early Iron Age to Roman - 800 BC to 299 AD)

Associated Finds

• VESSEL (Early Iron Age to Roman - 800 BC to 299 AD)

Full description

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This with TQ 891692 (TQ 86 NE 1063)) Salt-panning sites fringing Funton Marsh. (See Illustration Card for location map.) The Funton salt-pans relied on fire for the evaporation of the brine they contained. Dating, in the circumstances of the foreshore, remains insecurely established. It is however likely, on the basis of pottery found on marsh sites, that the production of salt from brine began during the late Iron Age, if not earlier, and continued until at least the third century on north Kentish sites. (1) RB pot sherds discovered from sea-cut section, TQ 891 689 by RCHME site inspection 1994 (2). Additional reference and photograph (3,4).

<1> Arch Cant 101 1984 168 Map (A Detsicas) (OS Card Reference). SKE34556.

<2> RCHME: Sheppey salt-working mounds, Isle of Sheppey, Kent (Collection). SKE6557.

<3> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, Pers. comm. J. Kenny (RCHME) to KCC, 3/11/94 (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

<4> 1994, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11274.

Sources and further reading