Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Roman ditches and coin hoard found in 1969. The hoard contains a large proportion of badly worn second century coins. The presence of a Postumus coin suggests that the hoard was deposited in the third century AD.

Monument Types

• DITCH (Roman - 43 AD? (at some time) to 409 AD? (at some time))
• FIELD SYSTEM (Roman - 43 AD to 199 AD)
• FINDSPOT (Roman - 267 AD to 299 AD)

Associated Finds

• COIN HOARD (Roman - 117 AD to 267 AD)

Full description

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A trial excavation of the site took place at TR 37306695 at the junction of Helmdon Close, adjacent to Pyson's Road, where two ditches were uncovered possibly relating to an enclosure or field system. Both ditches were filled with light brown loam containing 1st-2nd century Roman pottery, oyster shells and animal bones. (1)
TR 37306695. A hoard of bronze sesterti were found on a building site near Pysons Road, in July 1969, numbering 34 coins, 27 of which were purchased by Ramsgate Museum. They include 2 of Hadrian, 1 of Sabina, 5 of Antoninus Puis, 1 of Faustina the Elder, 6 of Marcus Aurelius, 1 of Lucilla, 8 of Commodus, 1 of Crispina, 1 of Severus Alexander and 1 of Postumus. The coins were found scattered over an area of about 20 ft and mostly at a depth of about 14 inches. The majority of the coins were badly worn. (2,3)
The coin hoard has since been stolen from Ramsgate Museum. (4)
(A coin hoard, Roman pottery and ditches were found at this site) - See authorities 1,2,3 and 5.
A chance find of Roman pottery was made here during development work. (6)
TR 37306695. Romano British coin hoard. The hoard consisted of coins of the periods shown against the: Hadrian (117-138 A.D.) 2: Sabina (117-137) 1: Antonius Pius (138-167) 5: Faustina the Elder (c.141) 1: Marcus Aurelius (161-180) 6: Lucilla (164-169) 1: Commodus (180-192) 8: Crispina (180-192) 1: Severus Alexander (222-235) 1: Postumus (259-267) 1. The hoard contains a large proportion of badly worn 2nd century coins.The presence of the Postumus coin suggests that the hoard was deposited in the 3rd century. If the two coins of Severus Alexander and Postumus were not recovered, the worn condition of the coins alone would have neen the only reason for suspecting that the hoard was deposited later than 200 A.D. Merrifield comments that it is very difficult to accout for the presence of so many 2nd century Sestertii in late 3rd century hoard. He suggests that the hoard could have been someone's bullion-type investment hastily buried during a Saxon raid in the troubled times of the 3rd century. (7)
Proposed developments at Rose Farm, Haine [8]. Thanet Reach Business park Development: Archaeological Implications. Desk Based Assessment [9].

<1> KAR 21 1970 2 (R Merrifield) (OS Card Reference). SKE45262.

<2> Num Chron 1971 199-201 (R Merrifield) (OS Card Reference). SKE47722.

<3> Britannia 1 1970 304 (DR Wilson and RP Wright) (OS Card Reference). SKE38359.

<4> KAR 71 1983 2-8 illus (P Cullen) (OS Card Reference). SKE45415.

<5> KAR 19 1970 23 (P Cullen) (OS Card Reference). SKE45248.

<6> Trust for Thanet Archaeology, 1987, Isle of Thanet Archaeological Unit Sites and Monuments Archive, Isle of Thanet Arch Unit Sites and Mons Archive 1988 Rec No 192 (Collection). SKE11846.

<7> Trust for Thanet Archaeology, 1987, Isle of Thanet Archaeological Unit Sites and Monuments Archive, Isle of Thanet Arch Unit Sites and Mons Archive 1988 Rec no 193 (Collection). SKE11846.

<8> Trust For Thanet Archaeology, 1997, Proposed Developments at Rose Farm, Haine, Isle of Thanet: The Archaeological Implications (Unpublished document). SWX7103.

<9> Trust For Thanet Archaeology, 1995, Thanet Reach Business Park Development: Archaeological Implications. A Desk Based Study (Unpublished document). SWX7097.

Sources and further reading