Evidence for activity dating from the Roman period at 27 St Dunstan's Terrace, Canterbury was identified during an excavation in 2001-2002. This phase of activity was represented by pits, post-holes, stake-holes, a linear feature, and a feature of unknown function. The majority of features at the site comprised late Iron Age/Roman cremations and inhumations (TR 15 NW 2065), therefore features from this period have been interpreted as representing a phase of activity unrelated to the cemetery and representing a break in mortuary activity at the site.

The dimensions of pits at the site ranged from 0.5-2.5m in length, 0.2-1.5m in width, and 0.08-0.75m in depth. Some of these features were filled with burnt material, suggested to be indicative of industrial activity taking place.

A series of post-holes and stake-holes were identified, some of these appearing to form a line, suggesting that a fence or screen may have been present at the site. A cruciform arrangement of stake-holes was also identified in associated with a later cremation burial, however, it is not thought that these features are related in terms of function. The dimensions of the post-holes ranged from 0.22-0.37m in length, 0.2-0.5m in width, and 0.06-0.6m in depth, whilst the stake-holes measured around 0.06-0.1m in length, 0.03-0.08m in width, and 0.05-0.12m in depth.

Other features at the site comprised two features of unknown function which were represented by cuts measuring 0.14-0.74x0.1-0.54x0.04-0.32m, and a linear feature (0.4x0.3x0.4m).

Finds associated with these features include an inverted pot (thought to be intrusive from a nearby cremation burial), and pottery fragments. (1)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2003, St Dunstan’s Terrace, Canterbury Stratigraphic Report (Unpublished document). SKE54987.