Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Romano-British mound, containing pottery sherds, possibly a kiln. During excavations in 1961-2, twelve cremations with funerary vessels were revealed. They were dated to the late 1st to early 2nd century AD. One inhumation was also found possibly representing a large cemetery destroyed by commercial excavation (see TQ 77 NW 2). Occupation and industrial evidence was found below the burials. The pottery ranged from the Belgic to the 4th century AD.

Monument Types

• CREMATION (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• INHUMATION (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• MOUND (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Associated Finds

• POTTERY ASSEMBLAGE (Late Iron Age to Roman - 100 BC to 409 AD)
• CINERARY VESSEL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Full description

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Consequent to commercial excavation revealing two large industrial and occupation sites' (not enlarged on), in the North Kent marshes near Cliffe, the following were excavated in 1961-2: (i) Twelve cremations with funerary vessels, late 1st to early 2nd cent. A.D. and one inhumation, thought to be a remnant of a large cemetery 'known to have been destroyed by commercial excavation'. (?TQ 77 NW 2). The inhumation and two of the cremations had been cut through a burnt clay floor with post-holes. (ii) Beneath the burials: 'Industrial debris' reminiscent of that of the Essex Red Hills (suggesting that the industry was salt-working) with Belgic pottery associated. (iii) At other points in the area; similar debris associated with occupation layers, indicating continuance into the 4th cent. (iv) At one point: 13th c. pottery associated with a (?) chalk floor. Pottery, (presumably Romano-British) was plentiful, generally, but no wasters were found. (1-5) The whole of this area has been dug for mud by the A.P.G.M. and is now a series of large lagoons separated by narrow baulks. Additional bibliographic reference (6). Site photographs (7-10).

The earthwork remains of several adjacent irregular mounds (described above) thought to be medieval saltern mounds, a number of which have been identified in the area mapped from aerial photographs as part of the English Heritage: Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project. The main group of mounds were of varying size, (described as A above) and were centred at TQ 7316 7796, whilst the remains of a further mound measuring 50m x 33m was seen at TQ 7326 7798 on the eastern side of a water course dividing the two groups. This corresponds to mound B described by the previous authority. Traces of possible associated ditches or drains were noted between the mounds.

Saltern mounds are the result of large-scale salt manufacturing where brine was extracted from salt-rich sands and sediments, concentrated and evaporated using process known as sleeching. The discarded waste material from the process built up around the production area into a sizeable mound, often with a hollow in the centred where a hut stood. These medieval saltern mounds are typically described as `floriate' in form because of their irregular lobed formation of dumped waste. They often occur in clusters around former and surviving tidal water-courses within the marsh. There has been considerable reclamation and subsequent sea wall construction since the medieval period which has isolated these sites from the sea.

Many of these mounds were subsequently utilised as sheepfolds, sheep washes and stock refuges in the post medieval period because of their slightly elevated position in the readily flooded marshes.

These features were mapped from aerial photographs as part of the English Heritage: Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project. (11)

<1> Oral - R.F.Hutchings,Schoolmaster, Courtsole Farm, Cliffe. (OS Card Reference). SKE47896.

<2> Oral: R.F. Hutchings. (OS Card Reference). SKE48087.

<3> F1 ASP 15-AUG-66 (OS Card Reference). SKE42116.

<4> JRS 56 1966 217 (OS Card Reference). SKE45129.

<5> The Pottery Kilns of Ro Brit 1984 395 (VG Swan) (OS Card Reference). SKE50472.

<6> Field report for monument TQ 77 NW 22 - August, 1966 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4243.

<7> 1994, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11040.

<8> 1994, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11039.

<9> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9634.

<10> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9633.

<11> Historic England, 2012, National Mapping Programme survey: Hoo Peninsula (Digital archive). SKE32442.

<12> 1967, Archaeologia Cantiana vol. 81, pp LV (Article in serial). SKE53787.

Sources and further reading