Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Excavation in 2000-2002 carried out as part of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link found two early Roman features overlooking the springs at the head of the Ebbsfleet. Both were terraced into the slope and were interpreted as viewing platforms associated with the ritual activity at the spring. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)

Monument Types

• CEREMONIAL PLATFORM (Roman - 70 AD? to 150 AD?)
• GULLY (Roman - 70 AD? to 150 AD?)
• PIT (Roman - 70 AD? to 150 AD?)
• POST HOLE (Roman - 70 AD? to 150 AD?)

Associated Finds

• HUMAN REMAINS (Roman - 70 AD? to 150 AD?)
• POTTERY ASSEMBLAGE (Roman - 70 AD? to 150 AD?)

Full description

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Excavation in 2000-2002 carried out as part of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link found two early Roman features overlooking the springs at the head of the Ebbsfleet. Both were terraced into the slope and were interpreted as viewing platforms associated with the ritual activity at the spring. The northern part of this southern platform had been eroded by a modern trackway but it was larger and more complex than the northern platform and may have been almost 35 m in length. Towards the southern end were 5 neonatal burials, a number of post holes, pits and gullies. Although some features may have originated in the late iron age pottery finds suggest that most seem to have had their origins in the late first century and continued in use into the early or mid-second century.

The back edge of 400045 was 0.50 m high, stepped, with a slot/gully complex along part of the bottom, though it is unclear whether this had a structural purpose. The base was flat, in places exposing the top of the natural chalk, and sloped gently to the south-west, at an average height of c 12.50 m aOD. No surfaces were identified in the base of the platform. Towards the southern end was a complex of early features, most of probable mid- to late 1st century date, the majority of which could have been contemporaneous and were within an area measuring 8 m by 8 m defined by three gullies. Whether these gullies had some structural purpose is unclear and if, for example, they held fences then there is no evidence for associated stake- or post-holes. Approximately 20 features have been identified as possible post-holes within the area enclosed by the gullies, though these varied in shape and size and most were quite shallow. No patterns could be discerned and partly for this reason their interpretation as post-holes remains uncertain. (1)

<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.

Sources and further reading

Related records