Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Excavations in advance of the construction of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link in 2001 found limited evidence of iron age activity to the north-west of Northfleet Roman villa. This consisted of a single gully orientated north-west to south-east and three pits accompanied by a small number of late iron age or early Roman pot sherds. During the early/middle Roman period the area was more densely used with a series of small enclosures and a trackway being established. After these features had silted up the area was reorganised. A substantial enclosure with a north-east facing entrance was constructed. In the north-east corner was an over that was later (by c. AD 260) replaced by a rectangular structure. By the late Roman period activity in the area was reduced to several pits and ditches

Monument Types

• GULLY (Late Iron Age to Roman - 100 BC? to 70 AD?)
• PIT (Late Iron Age to Roman - 100 BC? to 409 AD?)
• DITCH (Roman - 50 AD? to 409 AD?)
• ENCLOSURE (Roman - 200 AD? to 260 AD?)
• OVEN (Roman - 200 AD? to 260 AD?)

Associated Finds

• FLUE TILE (Undated)
• POTTERY ASSEMBLAGE (Late Iron Age to Roman - 100 BC? to 409 AD?)
• HEADSTUD BROOCH (Roman - 69 AD to 96 AD)
• BEAKER (Roman - 200 AD? to 260 AD?)
• DISH (Roman - 200 AD? to 260 AD?)

Full description

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Excavations associated with the Channel Tunnel Rail lin from 1997 to 2001 discovered extensive evidence of a Roman villa complex at Northfleet (see TQ 67 SW 38).

Excavations found limited evidence of iron age activity to the north-west of Northfleet Roman villa. This consisted of a single gully orientated north-west to south-east and three pits accompanied by a small number of late iron age or early Roman pot sherds (source 1 p135).

The ephemeral late iron age - early Roman activity was superceded by c. AD 120 by a large 'L' shaped ditch that may have represented part of an enclosure. Two parallel possible boundary ditches ran noth-east to south-west a short distasnce ot the south. These contained Roman pottery including samian ware and Thameside/Upchurch grey ware dating to c. AD 120/30. A group of 4 pits also dated to this period.

By the middle Roman period (AD 200) this area had become more complex with a series of small enclosed spaces and a north-south trackway being established (source 1 p 169).

After these features had silted up the area was reorganised. A substantial enclosure with a north-east facing entrance was constructed. In the north-east corner was an oven that was later (by c. AD 260) replaced by a rectangular structure. The oven contained sherds of pottery and a half-box flue tile. The later enclosure contained pottery including triangular-rimmed dishes, a cooking jar, and poppyhead beakers (source 1 p 180). By the late Roman period activity in the area was reduced to several pits and ditches (source 1 p 188) (1-7)

Location accurate to 1m based on available information.

<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.

<3> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 1997, The Ebbsfleet Valley, Northfleet, Kent: ARC EFT 97: Archaeological Evaluation: Volume 1 Report (Unpublished document). SKE12220.

<4> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 1997, The Ebbsfleet Valley, Northfleet Kent, ARC EFT 97: Archaeological Evalaution: Volume 2 Appendices (Unpublished document). SKE12221.

<5> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 1997, The Ebbsfleet Valley, Northfleet, Kent: ARC EFT 97: Archaeological Evaluation: Volume 3 Figures and Plates (Unpublished document). SKE12222.

<6> Oxford Archaeology, 2003, Ebbsfleet Valley Detailed Mitigation Works, Northfleet, Kent: Interim Statement (Unpublished document). SKE12256.

<7> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 2001, Channel Tunnel Rail Link Ebbsfleet Sports Ground, Northfleet, ARC ESG00, Phase 2 Evaluation Archaeological Works Fieldwork Report Final (Unpublished document). SKE12227.

<8> 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