Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Numerous finds of human remains of a Roman date have been uncovered within the vicinity of Adrian Street, Dover. (location accurate to the nearest 50m based on available information)

Monument Types

• CEMETERY (CEMETERY, Roman - 100 AD? to 299 AD?)

Full description

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The site of a possible Roman cemetery Adrian Street, Dover. Numerous finds of human remains dating to the Roman period have been uncovered in the vicinity of Adrian Street, Dover; the first remains recorded were discovered in 1797 during the clearance of a garden ahead of building, several urns were discovered some of which contained Roman coins, these were illegible but are of a probable 2nd century date. Further discoveries were also made in 1804. (1-2) During work associated with the construction of a new road at the western end of Adrian Street in 1938 a possible Roman burial shaft was uncovered with sherds of Roman pottery. (3) Alongside this excavations undertaken in 1983-85 by Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit revealed a Roman child inhumation burial and a number of cremation burials. (4)

It seems likely that this cliff-edge site was the military cemetery serving the Classis Britannica fort. If so, then it lay about 80m south of the south gate of the fort, just beyond a wide metalled area (possibly the parade-ground) and not far from a masonry building on the adjacent slope. Most of the cemeteries at Dover in common with those of other Roman towns were situated on the fringe of the main settlement. None has been properly excavated, recorded or published. (5)

<1> John Lyon, 1813, The History of the Town and Port of Dover, and of Dover Castle; with a short account of the Cinque Ports. Vol. 1, Hist of Docer 1813 20 (J Lyon) (Monograph). SKE32112.

<2> Page, W. (ed), 1932, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Kent Volume III (Monograph). SKE7810.

<3> Mr E. G. J. Amos, 1938, Archaeologia Cantiana: Reports: Archaeology in Kent, 1938. Vol. 50 (Article in serial). SKE31821.

<4> Brian Philp, 2014, Discoveries and Excavations Across Kent, 1970-2014 (Monograph). SKE32015.

<5> Philp, B. J., 1981, The Excavation of the Roman Forts of the Classis Britannica at Dover 1970-1977, Em. of the Roman Forts of the Classis Britanica at Dover 1970-1977 (B Philp) (Monograph). SKE7863.

Sources and further reading

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