Monument record TQ 67 SW 348 - Large Roman building (B9) beneath A2 and east of Watling Street, Springhead
Summary
Location
Grid reference | Centred TQ 61731 72568 (42m by 27m) |
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Map sheet | TQ67SW |
County | KENT |
District | DARTFORD, KENT |
Civil Parish | SOUTHFLEET, DARTFORD, KENT |
Map
Type and Period (3)
Full Description
Two walls belonging to what would have been a large Roman building were located during excavations at Springhead. It appeared to front onto the branch road which links Watling Street to the settlement area to the north. Only a small section of the building was exposed but the remainder is likely to be present beneath the present course of the A2. Just over 6m of the south-west wall of the building was exposed and this was c. 0.5m thick. Approximately 0.3m of a second wall was also exposed to the north east of the first, suggesting the presence of a corridor that was c. 3.5m wide. The building may well, therefore, have been quite large. The evidence is that the corridor had a wooden floor as debris had collapsed through it when it rotted away. Underneath was a thick chalk base, a feature which was common in the temple area to the south. In the debris which had once been on top of the floor were found red, pink, white and blue tesserae, indicating much greater richness elsewhere in the structure, wall-plaster, nails, many tiles and much pottery (mostly 1st and 2nd century in date). Thus we have a picture of a well-made house, certainly with a tessellated floor in one part of it and possibly a mosaic floor. The walls were covered with plaster and there was a tiled roof. It was probably Antonine. An entrance appears to have been situated on the south western side (facing the branch road) and a small chalk road links this entrance to the main branch road. (1-2)
<1> WS Penn, 1965, Archaeologia Cantiana, Springhead - map of Discoveries (Article in serial). SKE12613.
<2> W. S. Penn, 1968, Archaeologia Cantiana - The Romano British Settlement at Springhead, Miscellaneous Excavations (Article in serial). SKE53588.
Sources/Archives (2)
Finds (5)
Protected Status/Designation
Related Monuments/Buildings (1)
Related Events/Activities (1)
- Event Boundary: Excavations at Springhead Roman town, Southfleet, Dartford (EKE20042)
Record last edited
Jan 19 2021 4:12PM