Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Excavation in trench 1 during an evaluation undertaken by Oxford Archaeological Unit in Dover town centre in 1988-91 revealed a metalled surface of water worn pebbles (location accurate to the nearest 5m based on available information).

Monument Types

• METALLED SURFACE (Roman - 117 AD? to 270 AD?)

Associated Finds

• WALL PLASTER (Roman - 117 AD? to 270 AD?)

Full description

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Excavation in trench 1 revealed a metalled surface formed of water worn pebbles, covering part of the footing of an extra mural building associated with the Classis Britannica fort, this in turn covered by a layer of silt which had formed against the south side of the wall and a layer of rubble, probably wall collapse. Both of the latter two deposits contained many small fragments of painted plaster. The few larger fragments preserved showed a background of reddish-pink onto which was imposed some small areas of dark reddish black and some of dark red. This pattern suggests that at least some of the plaster was painted as imitation marble, a technique used commonly for both the dado and the middle zone of Roman painted walls.

The surface cannot be independently dated but it recalls metalled surfaces to that used for roads and other external areas within the fort. More compellingly, the surface almost certainly precedes the construction of the Saxon Shore fort and the accumulating silts with fragments of plaster suggest at least considerable dilapidation, if not abandonment, well before this date. On balance then, while no construction date can be established, the building or surface should have been in use during the final phase of the Cl. Br. Fort and for at least part of the intervening period, prior to the construction of the shore fort. (1)

Wilkinson, D. R. P., 1995, Archaeologia Cantiana, Excavations on the White Cliffs Experience site, Dover, 1988-91. Vol. 114 (Article in serial). SKE31729.

Sources and further reading

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