Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A Roman walled cemetery was found in 1879 during brickearth digging. A lead coffin containing a child's burial was found and two gold armillae, a ring of jet and a gold finger ring. A lead 'ossuarium' and a cremation urn were also found. The foundations of a circular tower were noted. The cemetery may have been in use from the second to the fourth century.

Monument Types

• COFFIN (Roman - 100 AD to 399 AD)
• CREMATION (Roman - 100 AD to 399 AD)
• INHUMATION (Roman - 100 AD to 399 AD)
• TOWER (Roman - 100 AD to 399 AD)
• WALLED CEMETERY (CEMETERY, Roman - 100 AD to 399 AD)

Associated Finds

• ARMLET (Roman - 100 AD to 399 AD)
• OSSUARY (Roman - 100 AD to 399 AD)
• RING (Roman - 100 AD to 399 AD)
• URN (Roman - 100 AD to 399 AD)

Full description

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[TQ 89466389] ROMAN BURIAL GROUND [R] (1) A Roman Leaden Coffin was found by workman on 9th December 1879 during brickearth digging in a field on the south side of Watling street, 1 mile west of Sittingbourne, near where the turnpike gate-keeper's house formerly stood. The coffin was buried 6ft 10ins deep and aligned east-west . It contained the remains of a child, with two gold armillae, a plain flat oval ring of jet, and a gold finger ring of late 3rd or 4th century type. At the head was a large pitcher of red clay, containing a glass cup both smashed by the pick. At the foot was a jug of flesh coloured castor ware. Most of these remains, with the exception of the coffin, which was stolen in 1950, are in the British Museum. On 19th December 1879 a second Roman Interment was found 9yds west of the leaden coffin and at the same depth. It consisted of a leaden 'ossuarium' in the form of a bowl containing calcined human bones and iron nails. With it was a bronze bowl, fragments of a bronze jug, a vase of Durobrivian ware, and a glass vessel smashed beyond repair. Part of the ossuarium, pieces of bronze and the vase are in the British Museum. The foundations of a circular 'tower', with flint and mortar walls 5ft thick and an internal diameter of 11.5ft, were found c50 yds from these graves. Upon the floor was a shallow tank 7ft square x 1ftdeep paved with Roman tiles. The date and foundation of this tower is not certain but it may have been a mausoleum or roadside monument. Between this and the road three human skeletons and much building debris were found. In 1882, a little to the west of the ossuarium burial a cinerary urn containing burnt human bones an iron nail and a small piece of antler-tine, was found. With it was a black pottery dish. The urn and dish are both in the British Museum. This burial and the ossuarium burial were probably deposited in the early 2nd century. As brickearth digging continued some yards to the south, a flint wall, running east west was cut through at several points turning, north at right angles near the town. This indicates that the site was a Roman walled cemetry similar to that at Joy wood, Lockham, near Maidstone. (TQ 75 SE 2) Dates of the finds show that the cemetery was in use for a considerable period. The site is now built over (2 - 6). No information was gained locally on this walled cemetry and there is no record of any subsequent finds. The siting as given lies partly under 19th century dwellings flanking the Wating Street (RR1b) and partly under a long-established sports field (7)

<1> O.S 6" 1961 (OS Card Reference). SKE47777.

<2> Coll Cant 1893 54-8 (G.Payne) (OS Card Reference). SKE39149.

<3> Proc Society Antiquaries 8 1879-81 211 275 (G.Payne) (OS Card Reference). SKE48733.

<4> Payne, G., 1886, Roman Coffin of Lead Found Near Sittingbourne (Article in serial). SKE12494.

<5> Page, W. (ed), 1932, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Kent Volume III, VCH Kent III 1932 98 (R.E.Mortimer Wheeler) (Monograph). SKE7810.

<6> JBAA 3rd Senes 22 1959 234 figs (R.F.Jessup) (OS Card Reference). SKE44954.

<7> F1 CFW 18.11.63 (OS Card Reference). SKE42616.

<8> Field report for monument TQ 86 SE 19 - November, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4602.

Sources and further reading