The burial was enclosed in a tile cist of the Roman period, which in its original form must have consisted of five slabs of reddish tile on each side and probably one at each end. The slabs were each roughly 40cm by 33cm and vary from 4cm to 7cm in thickness. The grave was first discovered by workman, Mr G Pope in a hedge bank at the side of a chalk pit belonging to the associated Portland Cement Company in October/November 1955. He saw the corner of an end slab projecting from the bank, on uncovering some bones and slabs of red tile he took to Northfleet Police Station, who, in turn, notified the British Museum. The slabs were set at an angle in the bank, one end slab remained at the foot of the cist when it was uncovered, together with four and a half side slabs. The grave backed onto the Southfleet road, and the top slabs lay roughly 60cm below the ground surface. The grave was partially exposed during mechanical excavation of the chalk pit but its significance was not realised until Mr Popes discovery of the skeleton. The head was orientated north and the presence of some iron nails near the bones indicate that the skeleton may have originally been located in a wooden coffin. There were no other associated finds. The burial lay in a layer of clayey soil overlying the natural chalk bedrock. The skeletal remains were deposited at the British Museum and appear to be from a female, they included 3 pieces of skull, 2 femurs, 2 pieces of pelvis, 1 carpal and 1 possible tibia. (1-5)

<1> Letter (Miss P.A.O. Williams, B.M. 17.11.55) (OS Card Reference). SKE46064.

<2> Pauline Williams, 1956, Archaeologia Cantiana Vol 70 - Researches and Discoveries in Kent (Article in serial). SKE37036.

<3> P. Gorman, Dep. Manager, A.P.C.M. (Bevins), Northfleet. (OS Card Reference). SKE48451.

<4> F1 CFW 17-JUL-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42609.

<5> Field report for monument TQ 67 SW 56 - July, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3683.