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Monument details

HER Number:	TR 36 NW 1156
Type of record:	Monument
Name:	Small Roman cemetery discovered during the East Kent Access Route excavations (2009-2011)

Summary

During the East Kent Access Route excavations (2009-2011) in zone 20, a small Roman cemetery was discovered close to five sunken-feature buildings. The cemetery consisted of three inhumations, all in coffins, and three cremations.

Grid Reference:	TR 6326 1655
Map Sheet:	TR61NW
Parish:	MINSTER, THANET, KENT

Monument Types

CEMETERY (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
CREMATION (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
INHUMATION (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Associated Finds

BRACELET (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
COFFIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
NAIL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
VESSEL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Protected Status:	Selected Heritage Inventory for Natural England: Roman fields, enclosures, chalk pits, and cremation burials, Minster

Full description

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A small Roman cemetery was discovered within an area of Roman activity (possible settlement) during excavations associated with the construction of the East Kent Access route in Thanet. The cemetery comprised three inhumations, all in coffins, and three cremations. The three inhumations were all laid in an extended, supine position, in graves of varied orientations. All six burials were accompanied by pottery vessels which date the use of this cemetery to the middle Roman period. remains of a further urned cremation burial were excavated to the north within a narrow pipe trench (zone 29). There were also a few other graves within some of the other enclosures of this settlement, normally located close to the corners. One inhumation lay to the south east of the settlement enclosures, this grave contained a series of iron fittings indicating the presence of a coffin. A cremation burial was also located in the south west corner of another enclosed space. (information summarised from source) (1-2)

<1> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2011, East Kent Access (Phase II), Thanet, Kent: Post-Excavation Assessment Volume 1 (Unpublished document). SKE29279.

<2> Andrews et al, 2015, Digging The Gateway: Archaeological Landscapes of South Thanet. The Archaeology of East Kent Access (Phase III) Vol 1: The sites (Monograph). SKE55517.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref.	Source description
<1>XY	Unpublished document: Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture. 2011. East Kent Access (Phase II), Thanet, Kent: Post-Excavation Assessment Volume 1. [Mapped feature: #115828 roman cemetery, ]
<2>	Monograph: Andrews et al. 2015. Digging The Gateway: Archaeological Landscapes of South Thanet. The Archaeology of East Kent Access (Phase III) Vol 1: The sites.