Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

During an archaeological excavation which was undertaken at the site of 7 Cowgate Hill, Dover, ahead of the development of the site into flats, two pits, four walls and a probable floor, all of a likely roman date were uncovered. The site is situated within the footprint of the Roman Fort of the Classis Britannica, and these features are likely to relate to this fort. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)

Monument Types

• FLOOR (Roman - 125 AD? to 210 AD?)
• PIT (Roman - 125 AD? to 210 AD?)
• WALL (Roman - 125 AD? to 210 AD?)

Associated Finds

• CERAMIC (Roman - 125 AD? to 210 AD?)
• SHERD (Roman - 150 AD? to 250 AD?)

Full description

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During an archaeological excavation which was undertaken at the site of 7 Cowgate Hill, Dover, ahead of the development of the site into flats, two pits, four walls and a probable floor, all of a likely roman date were uncovered. As the lies within the boundary of the Classis Britannica Roman fort, it seems reasonable to suggest that the chalk structures observed are associated with the fort, likely as internal buildings, possibly barrack block foundations or similar. Both of the pits remain unexcavated though fragments of brick and tile of probable Roman date were recovered from the surface of pit one and 170 fragments of undated copper alloy were exposed by the stripping within the fill of pit two. All of the walls exposed on site were constructed of roughly squared chalk and a clayey mortar mix was observed as a bonding agent in all walls. Two of these walls formed the corner of a structure, while another, which was observed as a curving half circle, is a possible well. A spread layer was also observed comprising mottled orange, brown, grey clayey silt with chalky inclusions. The spread was located in close proximity to the southern end of the walls which form the corner of a possible structure and is therefore considered to be a floor surface. Numerous finds were found in association with these features, though they were all retrieved from the surface rather than incorporated within the fabric of the walls or fill of the pits and therefore are more likely to date to their destruction than their formation. (summarised from report). (1)

<1> Thames Valley Archaeological Services, 2014, 1-7 Cowgate Hill, Dover, Kent An Archaeological Recording Action for the Municipal Charities of Dover. (Unpublished document). SKE32382.

Sources and further reading

Related records