The main Roman enclosure on site D was previously known from both cropmark evidence and from excavation on the line of the CTRL, where excavations on the southern third of it revealed a series of ditches, pits and a collapsed oven as well as two Roman roads. These remains were seen as representing a largely domestic enclosure of relatively low status, but the discovery of the high status burials have altered our perception of the site, and have shown that it is without parallel in Kent and one of the very few such groups in Roman Britain. As such the site is of regional, if not national, importance.

The primary early Roman burial on site D represents one of the most startling discoverys from the entire A2 scheme. It is made all the more remarkable by its association with two further high-status burials of much the same period in the north-west cemetery attached to the same enclosure. The burial group represents the fusion of late Iron Age and Roman traditions, with an increased importance/occurrence of Roman goods after the Roman conquest. This is clearly the case with all three flagons from Gallia Belgica and bronze vessels probably from central Italy (given their stylistic influences), all indicating the level to which collaboration with Roman authorities gave access to a wealth of high status material possessions. Yet a strong British influence also remains, as prespresented by the focus on drinking as an important element within the votive offerings, the inclusion of brooches, and the joint of pig is common to both late Iron Age and Roman burials, The stool in the priniciple grave, if that is what it was, represents a symbol of authority that harks back to Late Iron Age princely graves such as the Lexden tunulus at Colchester (Foster, 1986).

In relation to the development of the religious centre at nearby Springhead, the discoveries on Site D have provided evidence for a highly influential family in the immediately post-conquest period. This enclosure also marks a shift from curvilinear and oval/circular enclosures towards a more rigid rectilinear pattern. Clearly the individual buried here enjoyed a level of prominance in early Roman Britain far above that which they have previously enjoyed (even allowing for the two wealthy Iron Age Burials on site B.) This enclosure was not simply a large rural farmstead or similar lower status community, but was either a seat of local power or favoured by local aristocrates as a burial location.

The overall character of the site at this time is still uncertain, as the presence of possible shafts in addition to the several burials could suggest a largely ritual and funerary site. The evidence of the post-pits at the south edge of the site, however, suggests that a residence is equally, if not more, plausible. This building is significant in itself as one of only six of this type identified so far, all of them in Kent. It is however unlikely to represent the principal residence on the site, which presumably lies further south.

Small cememteries attached to settlement enclosures are relatively common in Roman Britain, but this must represent one of the very earliest to be established. On present evidence, the ordered lay out of the primary rich burials persisted for nearly 200 years, despite the fact that very few burials were interred during this time. This suggests that the grave rows must have been quite carefully delineated. This also raises interesting issues about who the cemetery was for, and where the other inhabitants of the site were buried. Several additional small cremations with urns were identified, and although these could have been deposited in the cemetery area over a long period, the fact that two appear to overlie one of the high status burials may indicate that they were sunk into the soil at ground level to allow for continued libations at the graveside.

The shift in burial rite from cremation to inhumation in the cemetery suggests changes in attitudes to burial practices over time, and may also reflect a change in the status of the settlement defined by the main enclosure. Cemeteries containing both inhumations and cremations are however common in Kent, but this cemetery will certainly provide useful information about the status of different burial rites over time.

The low status assigned to the Roman enclosure at Tollgate from work carried out during the CTRL was false. Clearly the burials discovered imply a family of note and may indicate that a wealthy private residence was situated here.

The further works carried out on site D have shown that Roman burials occurred within or close to the main settlement enclosure. The relative date of the principal burial within the main enclosure, and the other high status graves in the north-west cememtery, has not yet been established, although the close similarlity of the bronze vessels in one at least suggests that the internments were close in date. The high status burials are at least as early as any at the Perpperhill Roman cememtery . Later, urned cremations and inhumation graves of lower status were allowed within the north-west burial enxlosure at Tollgate, perhaps relecting a drop in wealth of the family or a change in biurial pattern allowing servants or minor fmaily members to be buried here.

The finds from the burial groups (particularly pottery) discovered indicate a mixture of very wealthy imported goods and local industries generating copies of more wealthy forms.

The linear layout of graves within the north-west cemetery, and the apparent lack of intercutting graves, stongly suggests that the graves were marked above ground, whether by mounds or by other means. (1)

Oxford Archaeological Unit, 2008, A2 Pepperhill to Cobham Widening Scheme - Further Archaeological Works Report: Offline Route Chainage 6080 to 6400 (D) (Unpublished document). Ske13636.

Oxford Archaeology, 2009, A2 Pepperhill to Cobham Widening Scheme: Archaeological Post-excavation Assessment Report and Update Project Design: Volumes 1-3 (Unpublished document). SKE17942.

<1> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 2008, A2 Pepperhill to Cobham Widening Scheme - Further Archaeological Works Report: Offline Route Chainage 6080 to 6400 (D) (Unpublished document). SKE13636.