Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Romano-British cemetery discovered at the head of Otterham Creek, a few hundred yards to the east of Lower Rainham, Most of the interments were by cremation. There was a small amount of grave goods; several bronze fibulae, hair-pins and beads, a squared stone and baked clay weights as well as large amounts of domestic pottery found in a ditch. Some of this assemblage appeared to be of imitation Samian paterae as well as urns of local Upchurch ware. Some finds were given to Rochester and Gillingham museums, although Gillingham musuem is now demolished and its contents dispersed. Similar remains found in the area are probably a further part of this cemetery (see TQ 86 NW 24).

Monument Types

• CEMETERY (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• CINERARY URN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Associated Finds

• BEAD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• HAIR PIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• POTTERY ASSEMBLAGE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• WEIGHT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Full description

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[Name at TQ 8228 6750] ROMAN CEMETERY [R] (Site of) [NAT] (1) A Romano-British cemetery has lately been discovered at the head of Otterham Creek, a few hundred yards to the east of Lower Rainham, whilst digging for brick earth. Practically all the interments were by cremation and the numerous urns were found in a strip of ground, c.30 rods long and c. 10-12 rods wide, lying between the road and the marsh. The only grave goods were several bronze fibulae, hair-pins and beads, all of which seem to have undergone the action of fire. Besides the cinerary vessels many bushels of sherds have been collected: they appear to be the refuse of dwellings and seemed to have been thrown into a ditch which runs the length of the fields. Some are from pots in imitation of Samian paterae, with unsuccessful attempts at makers' stamps. A perforated squared stone (? steelyard weight) and some baked clay weights were also found. Further eastwards, some years ago, gravel diggers found similar remains. [Probably TQ 86 NW 24] (2) Additional reference. (3) A number of objects from this Romano-British burial ground, including urns ("Upchurch" ware), Samian paterae, bronze fibulae and beads, were seen in Rochester and Gillingham Museums. (4) A watching brief carried out to the east of the site in 1997 did not observe any related evidence, however the event and archive has been attached to this monument for convenience. Additional reference (5-6) and site photographs (7,8).

<1> OS 6" 1931-8 (OS Card Reference). SKE48330.

<2> Coll Ant 6 1868 197-8 (C Roach-Smith) (OS Card Reference). SKE39108.

<3> VCH Kent 3 1932 164 (OS Card Reference). SKE51088.

<4> F1 AC 06-NOV-51 (OS Card Reference). SKE41769.

<5> Field report for monument TQ 86 NW 7 - November, 1951 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4563.

<6> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1997, An Archaeological Watching Brief at Motney Hill, Rainham (Unpublished document). SWX6710.

<7> 1994, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11223.

<8> 1994, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11224.

Sources and further reading