Late Iron Age and Roman cremation cemetery on land between Arthur Baker Playing Field and Ashford Road, Charing, Kent. This site was excavated in advance of a planning application by the Swale & Thames Survey Company in 2018 and 2019. The wider site (TQ 94 NE 290) demonstrates "multiphased evidence for agrarian, industrial and domestic activity ranging from the Early Bronze Age through to the post-Medieval period".

The Late Iron Age cremation burial comprised an cremation without an urn. The grave cut was 0.94 x 0.89 x 0.13m. The burial assemblage included a single ceramic vessel and a damaged copper alloy brooch in two fragments.

The Roman cremations without human remains included 8 and 5 miniature vessels (43-100 AD) respectively. These vessels surrounded discarded sherds from other ceramic forms - 45 sherds (from 6 other ceramic forms, dating to 43-150 AD) and 30 sherds (dating to 25 BC-50 AD) respectively. The first of the 'cremations' included a possible food offering in the form of a cut of pig or sheep.

Burials situated within the mortuary enclosure included:

Cremation 10 (150-200 AD) was aligned northwest-southeast, measuring 1.35 x 1.21m. It comprised an un-urned cremation, four ceramic vessels and an iron oil lamp with a suspension hanger, six iron nails and a food offering, possibly in the form of a cut of pig or sheep, and a serving of oysters.

Cremation 9 (70-110 AD) was cut into cremation 10, had a northwest-southeast alignment, measured 0.90 x 0.81 x 0.30m. The burial assemblage included two ceramic vessels, a complete iron nail, and a large glass bottle, within which the cremated remains of the deceased were interred.

Cremation 11 (150-200 AD) was a timber lined grave aligned northwest-southeast and measured 1.26 x 1.09 x 0.39m. The burial assemblage included seven ceramic vessels, two glass vessels (one of which contained the cremated remains, nine iron nails, and a food offering of a cut of pig/sheep.

Cremation 13 (170-200 AD) was a 'box-burial' in a large undecorated wooden chest with a hinged lid, aligned northeast-southwest and measured 1.20 x 0.93 x 0.34m. The burial assemblage included an urned cremation, seven ceramic vessels, three glass vessels, and an assortment of copper alloy artefacts (possibly associated with a disintegrated object such as small decorated wooden lock-box), and a food offering, possibly in the form of a cut of pig or sheep. The probable wooden lock-box or cosmetic container (25x15x8-10cm) was associated with a copper alloy bolt lock iron key containing a glass cup and possible penannular brooch, recovered from Roman cremation burial 13. The box is formed of a dovetail construct with no nails, it is associated with copper alloy binding fixtures and a copper alloy bolt lock with iron casing. The box also has 6 copper alloy finials, these "take the form of a pear-shaped body with a rounded knop at the top and a bulbus central area. At the base of each is a pronounced rounded collar with a single radial groove. The remains of iron shanks, which are rectangular in section, are visible underneath."

Cremation 12 was aligned northeast-southwest, measuring 0.80 x 0.77 x 0.26m. The burial assemblage included an intact single glass vessel within which the cremated remains of the deceased were held, with fragments of molten glass interred within the vessel, suggesting the presence of a glass vessel on the pyre. "The burial assemblage also included a badly damaged copper alloy fixture comprising a thin copper alloy sheet between two oval-shaped and domed studs, and a copper alloy cosmetic implement, an ear-scoop."

Burials situated outside the mortuary enclosure included:

Cremation 5 (60-110 AD) was aligned northeast-southwest, measured 0.92 x 0.63 x 0.06m. "The burial assemblage comprised an un-urned cremation and two ceramic vessels" as well as a food offering, possibly in the form of a cut of pig/sheep.

Cremation 7 (50-150 AD) was aligned northwest-southeast, measured 0.54 x 0.45 x 0.09m. "The burial assemblage comprised an un-urned cremation burial with a single sherd of coarse Canterbury ware with an oxidised orange fabric."

Cremation 1 (70-130 AD)was aligned northwest-southeast alignment, measured 0.41 x 0.35 x 0.02m. "The burial assemblage comprised an un-urned cremation two ceramic vessels, 13 iron hobnails... and a food offering, possibly in the form of a cut of pig or sheep."

Cremation 2 (70-110 AD) measured 0.80m in diameter and 0.01m deep. "The burial assemblage comprised an un-urned cremation, two ceramic vessels and three iron nails."

Cremation 3 (70-110 AD) was aligned northwest-southeast, measuring 0.68 x 0.56 x 0.11m. The burial assemblage included an "un-urned cremation, a single ceramic vessel and a single, incomplete iron nail."

Cremation 4 (60-110 AD) "had a diameter of 0.78m and a depth of 0.01." The burial assemblage included an "un-urned cremation, a single ceramic vessel and five iron nails."

Cremation 14 (85-100 AD) was aligned northwest-southeast, measured 1 x 0.50 x 0.20m. The burial assemblage included "three ceramic vessels and the remnants of a decorative wooden casket, within
which the cremated remains of the deceased had been placed. Attached to the box were a
number of copper alloy fittings: comprising four rings and four lion-head mounts. The assemblage also contained a composite copper and iron object. " (1)

<1> Swale & Thames Archaeological Survey Company, 2022, Archaeological Excavations on land between Arthur Baker Playing Field and Ashford Road, Charing, Kent. Post-Excavation Assessment (Unpublished document). SKE55558.