Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

During extensive rescue excavations undertaken across Dover's Town centre by Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit, Substantial remains of the Classis Britannica fort were uncovered and recorded. Sections of the ditch which fronted the fort wall were located in four areas, lying on the south, west and north sides of the walls of the fort. Part of the ditch and berm on the western side of the fort was discovered during a small excavation at Durham Hill. (location accurate to the nearest 2m based on available information)

Monument Types

• BERM (Metalled berm, Roman - 125 AD to 210 AD)
• DITCH (Roman - 125 AD to 210 AD)

Full description

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(Summarised from publication)

During extensive rescue excavations undertaken across Dover’s Town centre by Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit, substantial remains of the Classis Britannica fort were uncovered and recorded. Sections of the ditch which fronted the fort wall were located in four locations, lying on the south, west and north sides of the walls of the fort. Part of the ditch and berm on the western side of the fort was discovered during a small excavation at Durham Hill.

The berm was 1.7m wide and metalled with a layer of medium sized pebbles about 6cm deep. This metalling capped a layer of soil dumps which abutted the western face of the fort wall. Due to the limited nature of the excavation in this area, only a small section of the ditch was excavated; 45cm of its total width. Its fill consisted of loam containing some second century potsherds. (1)

<1> Philp, B. J., 1981, The Excavation of the Roman Forts of the Classis Britannica at Dover 1970-1977 (Monograph). SKE7863.

Sources and further reading

Related records