Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

During the late iron age and early Roman period a number of springs fed a pool at Springhead. The springs and pool became a focus for ritual activity during the late iron age (probably) and Roman periods. (location accurate to the nearest 2m based on available information)

Monument Types

• SPRING (Late Iron Age to Roman - 100 BC to 409 AD)

Associated Finds

• AUCISSA BROOCH (Late Iron Age to Roman - 100 BC? to 409 AD?)
• AUCISSA BROOCH (Late Iron Age to Roman - 100 BC? to 409 AD?)
• AUCISSA BROOCH (Late Iron Age to Roman - 100 BC? to 409 AD?)
• HOD HILL BROOCH (Late Iron Age to Roman - 100 BC? to 409 AD?)
• HOD HILL BROOCH (Late Iron Age to Roman - 100 BC? to 409 AD?)
• HOD HILL BROOCH (Late Iron Age to Roman - 100 BC? to 409 AD?)
• NAUHEIM DERIVATE BROOCH (Late Iron Age to Roman - 1 AD? to 100 AD?)
• NAUHEIM DERIVATE BROOCH (Late Iron Age to Roman - 1 AD? to 100 AD?)
• LANGTON DOWN BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD? to 409 AD?)
• TWO-PIECE COLCHESTER BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD? to 409 AD?)

Full description

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During the late iron age and early Roman period a number of springs fed a pool at Springhead. The springs and pool became a focus for ritual activity during the late iron age (probably) and Roman periods.

The springs have been dry since the 1930s when quarrying led to a localised lowering of the water table. During the Roman period the springs fed a wide, shallow pool c. 20-25m wide (where there is a group of Roman sanctuary structures, and increasing to c. 50-60m wide at a distance of 100m downstream. the water is likely to have been shallow but moderately fast-flowing. The area appears to have been a foci of ritual activity beginning perhaps with the middle Bronze Age barrows adjacent to the springs. There is also some possible Palaeolithic activity associated with the head of the springs. A significant concentration of struck flint in fresh condition was found around the head of the Ebbsfleet in the vicinity of the now dried-up springs. Some of the material comprises long blades characteristic of a late Upper Palaeolithic industry and it seems likely that the concentration of struck flint represents a relatively undisturbed – though not in situ – knapping area. By the Iron Age a prcessional way leads to a view of the springs and by the Roman period an entire ritual complex appears to be associated with the Spring head. (1-3)

At least four copper alloy 'colchester derivative' brooches, two nauheim derivate brooches, two Aucissa brooches, three Hod Hill brooches and a Langton Down brooch were found in the spring. (4)

<1> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2010, Settling the Ebbsfleet Valley. CTRL Excavations at Springhead and Northfleet, Kent. The Late Iron Age, Roman, Saxon, and Medieval Landscape (Unpublished document). SKE31245.

<2> Wessex Archaeology, 2008, Archaeological Investigations at Springhead Quarter (Phase II), Northfleet, Kent: Archaeological Assessment Report and Updated Project design (Unpublished document). SKE17943.

<3> Wessex Archaeology, 2004, Springhead Quarter Ebbsfleet, Kent: Archaeological Evaluation Report (Unpublished document). SKE12271.

<4> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2011, Settling the Ebbsfleet Valley. CTRL Excavations at Springhead and Northfleet, Kent. Volume 2: Late Iron Age to Roman Finds Reports (Monograph). SKE32435.

Sources and further reading

Related records