Monument record TQ 67 SW 1757 - Drainage ditch associated with Watling Street, Springhead

A east west aligned ditch was discovered along the northern side of the temple complex, between temple three and Watling Street and would have acted as a drainage ditch to the road. The fills of the ditch contained a number of interesting small finds associated with the use of the temples. These included fragments of clay statuettes, a number of potsherds with graffiti, several bone pins, eight semi-circular jet beads, much pottery, iron-ware (including knives and a hammer head) brooches, bronze bracelets, a bronze casting of an arm and other bronze ware, including coins. Many of these objects found in the ditch are likely to have been votive offerings. The earliest phase of the roadside ditch is contemporary with the earliest phase of activity at Springhead may be dated to the first century, possibly quite early. After this early period, an occupation layer builds up within and surrounding the ditch which is surfaced with chalk in several locations. Between c. A.D. 140-150 Watling Street was revetted with flint and provided with a more substantial ditch, this appears to have become full with debris and a second was excavated on a similar scale. This was also subsequently filled with rubbish dating to the end of the fourth century, probably when the site fell out of use. (1-2)

<1> WS Penn, 1965, Archaeologia Cantiana, Springhead - map of Discoveries (Article in serial). SKE12613.

<2> W. S. Penn, 1964, Archaeologia Cantiana - The Romano British Settlement at Springhead, The temple ditch site (Article in serial). SKE53586.