Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Romano-British cremation burials were found during excavations near the Minster cemetery in c.1923. A number of burial urns and calcined bone were found including one dating to c.70 AD and another to the early 2nd century. In c.1933 another cremation with Samian ware was found in the north-west corner of the cemetery. A large number of similar artefacts are on exhibition in Minster Church. This assemblage includes 1st century pottery including urns, flagons, beakers and dishes and some Samian, as well as a bronze brooch and beads found in a late 1st century urn. It is not know exactly when these diecoveries were made. A further group of 4 small urns and two Samian paterae have been found with bone fragments when two graves were cut in the north west corner of the cemetery. It is thought that as Roman custom was to locate cemeteries beside roads, this site probably indicates the antiquity of Dunstreete (now the A253 to Canterbury).

Monument Types

• CREMATION (Roman - 67 AD to 132 AD)

Associated Finds

• BEAD (Roman - 70 AD? to 150 AD?)
• BEAKER (Roman - 70 AD to 150 AD)
• BROOCH (Roman - 70 AD? to 150 AD?)
• BURIAL URN (Roman - 70 AD to 150 AD)
• DISH (Roman - 70 AD to 150 AD)
• FLAGON (Roman - 70 AD to 150 AD)
• HUMAN REMAINS (Roman - 70 AD to 150 AD)

Full description

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[TR 30976554] Romano-British Cremations found A.D. 1934 (NAT) (1) A cremation burial dated c.70 AD and another early C2nd were found among others about 1923 in the modern cemetery north of Minster. Another cremation with Samian ware was found in the north-west corner of the cemetery about 1933. (2-5) On exhibition in Minster Church is a quantity of pottery from C1st grave groups including urns, flagons, beakers and dishes and some Samian, also a bronze brooch and beads found in a late C1st urn. All were found at an unspecified date in the new cemetery. One group of 4 small urns and 2 Samian paterae was found with bone fragments when two graves were cut in the N.W. corner of the cemetery. No exact record of these finds has been made by the parish and it is not possible to locate specific finds by date as burials in any given year can occur in various parts of the cemetery. However, the gravedigger, Mr T.E Lock, confirmed that the majority of the finds was made in the vicinity of the OS published siting. (6) TR 309657 Romano British burials discovered here in 1934. Site No. 150. (7) TR 309657. Romano British burials were discovered in 1934. Pottery group found was characteristic of mid-C1st AD. (8) TR 310655. This Romano British cremation burial site was excavated in 1922/23. The finds were classified as follows by Whiting. Group A. Carinated cinerary urn containing fragments of calcined human bones. 8" diameter, 9.5" high; carinated beaker, grey ware 7.25" diameter; one handled flagon of ordinary tile-red clay, 7" high. Group B. Cinerary urn containing calcined human bones, 7" diameter, 10" high; Olla shaped beaker of ordinary Belgic pattern 2.75" diameter, 3" high; bowl of Terra Sigillata ware 6.75" diameter, form 18 Drag, the potter, stamp SECUNDI is known to have been at work before AD 70; tall pear-shaped one handled flagon of tile-red clay, 6.25" diameter, 11" high. The finds compare closely with those from Thorne Farm and shows the sophistication of the local community at this date. Since it was Roman custom to site cemeteries beside roads, the antiquity of Dunstreete now A253 Canterbury Road in indicated. (9)

<1> OS 6" 1961 (OS Card Reference). SKE48369.

<2> VCH Kent 3, 1932, 161 (RF Jessup and MV Taylor) (OS Card Reference). SKE51160.

<3> Antiquaries Journ 4, 1924, 22-5 (W Whiting) (OS Card Reference). SKE33263.

<4> JRS 12, 1922, 275 (OS Card Reference). SKE45040.

<5> JRS 24, 1934, 217 (OS Card Reference). SKE45071.

<6> F1 CFW 01-OCT-1963 (OS Card Reference). SKE42381.

<7> Thanet. The Archaeol Heritage c.1982, 10 (Thanet Dist. Council and Isle of Thanet Archaeol Unit) (OS Card Reference). SKE49917.

<8> Isle of Thanet Archaeol Unit Sites and Mons. Archive 1988, Record No.150 (OS Card Reference). SKE44772.

<9> Isle of Thanet Archaeol Unit Sites and Mons. Archive 1988, Record No.189 (OS Card Reference). SKE44773.

Sources and further reading