Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Excavations in 1983-5 at Snargate/Adrian Street by Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit revealed a number of cremation burials and a single inhumation; these were interpreted as being part of a larger cemetery situated outside of the main area of Roman occupation in Dover. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information).

Monument Types

• CREMATION BURIAL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Associated Finds

• FLASK (Roman - 150 AD? to 250 AD?)
• DISH (Roman - 180 AD to 250 AD)
• POT (Roman - 180 AD? to 250 AD?)
• BOWL (Roman - 250 AD? to 300 AD?)

Full description

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Excavations in 1983-5 at Snargate/Adrian Street by Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit revealed a number of cremation burials and a single inhumation; these were interpreted as being part of a larger cemetery situated outside of the main area of Roman occupation in Dover. The first cremation burial was placed in an oval pit partially cut into the fill of the child inhumation burial (TR 34 SW 1187). This burial pit was about 45cm by 37cm and 13cm deep. It contained a single pottery vessel. This was a small cooking pot with a cavetto type rim. The second cremation burial at this site was placed in an oval pit, 1.15m by 60cm, and at least 25cm in depth, it cut the upper fill of the first cremation burial. It contained two pottery vessels with cremated bone. One was a larger cooking pot with a shallow dish upturned on top to act as a cover. Fragments of corroded iron objects, some joining, were found touching the pottery vessel. A worn second century coin was recovered from the general fill of this burial. The third cremation burial was placed in a circular pit about 40cm by 50cm, at least 35cm deep and cut into the fill of the Roman terrace. It contained three pottery vessels with cremated bone. These were another small cavetto rim cooking pots, a large flanged bowl and an unusual small flask. The final cremation burial was place in an oval pit about 60cm by 55cm and at least 30cm deep. It cut a small ditch, itself cut into the fill of the Roman terrace. It contained two more pottery vessels. (1-2) (taken from source)

A Roman burial ground with several urns, some containing coins, was found in 1797 in clearing a garden on the edge of the cliff near Adrian's Gate at Dover. [TR 31864122] Several more were found in 1804. (3) It is likely that all of these discoveries belong to the same Roman cemetery.

<1> Brian Philp, 1980, List of sites excavated by KARU in the 1980's (Unpublished document). SKE31839.

<2> Brian Philp, 2014, Discoveries and Excavations Across Kent, 1970-2014 (Monograph). SKE32015.

<3> 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 (Monograph). SKE32112.

Sources and further reading

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