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A NEW ROMAN SITE DISCOVERED AT ROCHESTER

BRIAN PHILP

This site (TQ 7452 6218) lies behind shops and properties which flank the angle formed by Victoria Street and Eastgate (Fig. 1). In 1990 this was derelict land awaiting a possible development known as the Havisham Centre. The planning consent required an evaluation excavation and this was carried out in March 1990. As this produced important new evidence, an area excavation was also undertaken by KARU in the following month.

Significantly, the site lies well outside the Roman town of Duro-brivae, about 300m south of its East Gate. It probably lies close to the junction of two Roman roads leaving Rochester, one (Margary Route IB) to Dover and the other (Route 13) towards Maidstone and the Weald. The underlying soil is mostly an orange brickearth and the ground level elevation is 5-6m OD.

THE EXCAVATION

The initial evaluation consisted of a 47m long trench (A/B) down the main SW-NE axis of the site. A 6m spur trench (C) was cut on its south side (Fig. 1). Few features were found in the south-west half of Trench A, but concentrated features were found in the north-east half. It was here that the original trench was quadrupled in width to occupy most of the available space (Fig. 2). A total of about 200sq.m were thus excavated, to a depth of l-2m. The work identified 147 individual contexts, 103 features and a total of 7,739 finds. The features include four Victorian pits and brick tanks, 12 post-medieval pits and 87 Roman features, the latter including post-holes, gullies and pits. (The basic data on all of these is shown in Appendix 1). The site was backfilled on completion as the develop-ment failed to go ahead.

203

BRIAN PHILP

V

London

<k

Canterbury

Dover

The Site o Brighton

20 30 40

B& tun*

If w n

^ *° tf\V •.

Om 10 50 I ' ' . • \ ' ' Oft 100

Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit

Brick footings

Main Area Pit F10

PWFZ91 TankF3

\ r ?.«*. 50 U m i t o f ^ ^ - 1 , Pit F 13 > ****** UW"

\c-sr

<r 10 20 Om

Fig. 1 Site Location and plan of excavated area.

The Roman Features

Of the 87 features which can reasonably be regarded as Roman, nine relate to a probable East Post-line, of which four posts can be ident-ified [F39, F 31, F30 and F 24]. Four more features seem to relate to the West Post-line, of which two posts can be identified [F83 and F91] and two others may have been removed by later pits [F61 and

204

Notexc Rochester. Havisham Centre 1990 Plan of features in Main Area Limit of Roman cobbles and chalk dumps

F101 COflOO

F38.A

Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit

<£F9S

=iSect 1

iSecL3 «!«5.70mOD 3.63m OD j

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F66^ m \ & ! F92 | !•"• F70-"

Sect 14 i F65

Sect. 6 Sect 13--..•.::) Zone of Roman cobbles and chalk dumps

. \ \ Sect.9 Sgct ,F27 / ^ T f ^ T A /"AF96 Sect 11

Z\«*-F21

•j:-'-: : ^ \ m Sects Sect 19

imF7° Sect

Sect 16 •Sect Sect 7

Of us O F44 F42 O O F 8

Limit of excavation

>F54

Limit of excavation . \ 4 * \ NOT CXC Sect. 15

— Limit of Roman cobbles and chalk dumps

&

Fig. 2 Plan of Features in Main Area.

BRIAN PHILP

F70]. These two lines of post-holes contained over 100 potsherds, mostly of late first- or second-century date. They appear to be late in the Roman sequence on the site (Catalogue No. 1).

Nine Roman features appear as shallow, linear gullies and cross the centre of the site. Of these, F76 and F32 seem to join at a right angle. So, too, may F80 and F25; the others are randomly arranged [F6, F21, F36, F47 and F48]. As regards dating, about 60 potsherds were recov-ered from the four associated gullies and the latest are dated to the second half of the second century (Nos 2-3). One gully [F32] was cut through by two of the post-holes of the East line. The random gullies produced another 160 potsherds (Nos 4-8) and mostly seem to date from the end of the first century.

Thirty of the Roman features have been identified as post-holes and these are mostly 18-45cm in diameter and 10-26cm in depth. Several of the larger ones could in fact be small pits. Most of the post-holes seem randomly placed though it is possible to suggest short patterns. Seven fall on the line of two parallel gullies and may relate to a rect-angular structure. Four of these [F64, F89, F90 and F85] are pos-itioned along the south gully [F76]; three more [F86, F87 and F88] fall along the north gully [F80]. These help reinforce the view that the gullies outline a timber-framed structure.

Another 34 Roman features are regarded as pits and these range in size from about 0.40-3.00m. Six have a length less than 60cm, 13 are up to 1.00m, nine up to 2.00m and six have a length greater than 2.00m. Of these 18 are 0.40-1.75m in depth (Nos 9-11, 43-44, 46-47, 51).

In terms of distribution a large cluster of 13 pits occupy the south-west corner of the site. Others are generally scattered about, though two large ones [F49 and F98] occupy the south-east corner and two more large pits [F92 and F93] occupy the north end. These are immediately adjacent to each other and one [F92] contained over 300 potsherds, including samian, mostly dating to the second half of the second cent-ury. The other [F93] contained over 50 potsherds, dating to the middle of the second century. The fill of each had contracted and the overlying layers had slumped into them, including Chalk Deposit G. It is clear that some pits cut earlier pits, but their precise relationship across the whole site is difficult to determine due to the limited extent of some of the horizontal stratification. Even so, some of the pits occur at differ-ent levels and a wide date-range within the Roman period is indicated.

The Roman Horizontal Features and Related Stratigraphy (Figs 3-8; Sections 1-16)

A large part of the centre of the site was found to be covered by a sequence of laid formations and dumped soils. Nowhere did these

206

North-East

to O ^1

soutn-west

3.95m OD 1 ©

Sect. 1

Cobbles (B) Chalk (G)

POSt Hole F28 * North-West ?3n

Cobbles (B) - * * South-East

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' Cobbles (D)

Gully F25

Sect. 2 Mortar

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> Z

JO O

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Fig. 3 Sections 1 and 2.

BRIAN PHILP

TABLE 1. ROMAN HORIZONTAL STRATIGRAPHY (* MIN. DIMENSION)

Dep.

A

B C

D

E

F

G/H

I

J

K L

M

Compos.

Flint cobbles

Ditto Dumped

soils Flint

cobbles Rammed

Chalk Dumped

soils

Rammed chalk

Dumped soils Flint

cobbles Ditto

Rammed chalk Soils

Length (m)

1.50*

5.00* -

7.40*

3.20*

13.00*

-

10.50*

3.70 3.50*

-

Width (m)

2.00*

5.60* -

4.80

1.70

5.00

-

3.50

1.70 3.10*

-

Depth (cm)

30

30 -

25

1-5

5-15

-

3-10

5-17 3-7

-

Context Number

-

-126,140-

4 51

-

8,29,36, 38,43,44,

49, 60, 109,118, 135,146

34,98

128,129

123, 131

49,145 138

5,13,40

dust. No.

-

-45

-

-

12-25 41-2, 48-50

-

-

-

--

26-29 39,52

Sect-ions

1

1,3 -

2, 10-12

-

2,4, 9,14

-

8, 13-14 9,16

-

-

form a complete vertical sequence and the inter-relationships were mostly localised. Even so, it is possible to identify a largely complete sequence (Table 1).

Near the north end of the site the natural orange brickearth was replaced by a dense layer of flint cobbles [Deposit A], mostly 30cm deep. This was sealed by another layer of flint cobbles [Deposit B], again about 30cm deep which sealed a small pit [F54]. Both cobble layers were partially sealed by successive layers of dumped soils [Deposit C] containing about 150 potsherds dating to c. AD 70-120. These soils were in turn partially sealed by another layer of flint cobbles [Deposit D], about 25cm deep and containing a few sherds of late first-century pottery.

208

A NEW ROMAN SITE DISCOVERED AT ROCHESTER

. . , . , . North-Ea«t South-West

7

7.

12 A

\ T s PltF5 OoN4 N J i ^J> N

7,

© 3.25m OD Sect. 3 Cobbles (B)

f 2

Fig. 4 Section 3.

These cobbles were sealed by a thin layer of chalk [Deposit E], in turn sealed by 20 layers of dumped soils [Deposit F] containing c. 1,400 potsherds. Whilst some of these are of late first-century date, the majority can be dated to AD 100-180. About this time, the two large pits at the north end were dug and these contained pottery dated to the later second century. All the deposits in this area were then sealed by an extensive layer of chalk [Deposits G and H], mostly 5-15cm deep and upon which a small hearth was laid [F96] and at least one post-hole cut [F28]. More dumped soils [Deposit I] were found on top of the chalk and these contained another 160 potsherds, mostly of second-century date. These were in turn sealed by yet an-other layer of flint cobbles [Deposit J], 3-10cm deep and containing 90 potsherds of second-century date. Finally, more cobbles [Deposit K] and more chalk [Deposit L] were deposited, the latter cut by the

209

west Chalk (G) North-West Gully F48 South-East

o

Gully F32 East

Sect 4

Post Hole F86 South l North

3.00m OD Gully F80 Sect 7 3.70m OD

Sect 5 Not exc.

South-west

$ 4.15m OD Sect 6

South North

North-East

Gully F80 (15) y&r, 84m OD Cobbles (J) Gully F76

Sect 8 P Gully F21

Fig. 5 Sections 4-8.

N>

South-East

Post Pipe F39 Cobbles (K) North-West Post Pit F56 4.04m OD £

Chalk (G)

Gully F 25

Sect 9 North-West South-East

Post Hole F24 Post Pit F22

North-East Cobbles South-West

® 3.49mOD

Sect 11 Post Pipe F31 Cobbles (D)

Sect 10 Post Pipe F30

South 3.47m OD East Post Line Post Pit F23 North

Cobbles (D) (51

Sect 12 3.47m OD

Fig. 6 Sections 9-12.

BRIAN PHILP

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212

A NEW ROMAN SITE DISCOVERED AT ROCHESTER

post-holes in the East and West post-lines. The whole area was then sealed by more soils [Deposit M] containing about 400 Roman potsherds, mainly of late second or early third-century date.

This important and complex sequence of deposits and features seems to represent progressive development of the site during the period AD 70-230. The precise functions of all the deposits is difficult to identify, but the extensive layers of flint cobbles and chalk spreads probably represent metalled surfaces, adjacent to nearby structures. The extensive layers of dumped soils, containing large amounts of domestic rubbish, support this view (see discussion below).

Roman Structures and Pits

In spite of the complex stratigraphy and the many Roman features and deposits, no direct evidence of Roman masonry structures was found on the site. The outlines of two possible wooden structures were, how-ever, located and these could either represent a building or part of a large fenced enclosure. These appear on the plan as two large L-shaped features, defined by gullies [F32 and F76 and also F25 and F80]. These gullies (Sections 4-8), which contain at least seven post-holes, appear to be parallel and 2 and 4m apart. They could represent narrow passages on the south and east sides of a large timber-framed structure. This interpretation could not be confirmed on site due, in part, to the remov-al of large areas by later pits and tanks. If a building is represented it would be at least 8 x 1 lm in minimum extent.

In addition, the two lines of large post-holes (East and West post-lines) seem to produce another rectangular structure consisting of at least six posts (Sections 9-14). At least two others may have been removed by post-medieval pits [F61 and F70]. The posts define a rectangle, about 6 x 4m, with posts roughly 2m apart. This structure occurs later in the Roman sequence of deposits. The south end of the Roman deposits were partly sealed by a layer of orange clay containing many fragments of wall-plaster painted red and white. This is likely to have been dumped here from an adjacent building. The Roman pits were of a wide range of sizes and depths and whilst some clearly cut the main features and dumped soils, others were isolated. The general Roman soil deposits also contained substantial quantities of domestic debris and pottery (Nos 30-34,40,52), but very little tile or other building material.

Post Medieval Pits

A total of 12 pits was found concentrated at the north-east end of the site. These were either oval [F38 and F52], circular [F95 and F101] or rectangular [F16, F37, F53, F61, F70, F71, and F94]. Most had steep

213

BRIAN PHILP

North-West

C-';\\M "•'••<•''!•:'-«-.V; Concrete surface >c ,•:*"•' '•'.•••'••':•::.,'

Mixed hardcore

Brick rubble

9 4.98m OD

Brick Foundations

South-East Chalk rubble

Victorian Pit

Gully F6

Sect 19 © 2.28m OD

Fig. 8 Section 19.

or vertical sides and were generally 1 or 2m in width. Depths varied from 50cm-2m. The mixed soil fills also contained domestic rubbish including 687 potsherds, the great majority being of seventeenth and eighteenth-century date, but including a significant amount of Roman pottery derived from the Roman deposits through which they had been cut (Nos 35-38).

214

A NEW ROMAN SITE DISCOVERED AT ROCHESTER

Victorian Features

These consist of two large pits [F2 and F72] and two large brick-lined tanks [F3 and F4]. Most had vertical sides, were between 1.70-3.63m in length and 1.10-2.20m in width. All were deeper than lm and contained mixed soils and domestic rubbish totalling 178 potsherds. All appear to have been dug in the latter half of the nineteenth century, when they cut into the underlying Roman deposits.

THE EXCAVATED ARTEFACTS (FigS 9-12)

A total of 7,739 objects was recovered from the excavations:

Coarse Pottery 5,626 Samian Ware 146 Animal Bone 637 Iron 115 Clay Pipe fragments 523

Tile Glass Shell Flint Misc. items

270 94

169 50

109

Over 5,600 were potsherds of mostly coarse wares, of which over one thousand were of post-medieval, or later, date. The great bulk of the rest is Roman, of which 43 vessels are illustrated (Nos 1-38 and 48-52). It has been examined and dated, but detailed fabric analysis has not been undertaken due to time and cost constraints. It seems clear that the main date-range is from the late first century, right through the second and marginally into the early third century. Later third and fourth-century material seems absent.

The 146 sherds of samian ware broadly produce the same dating pattern as the coarse wares, with the majority being of second-century date. Some six to ten sherds may date from the late first century. Fragments of fine decorated bowls (Form 37) are illustrated (Nos 39-44) and also two stamps (Nos 45-46), interestingly both by Vitalis (AD 65-90). Of the plain wares about five vessels are Form 27, at least 25 are Form 18 or 18/31, at least 10 are Form 33 and about 20 are Form 37. Few other forms seem to be represented. Joanna Bird has kindly commented on the illustrated sherds.

The bone does not occur in statistically significant groups, but several common animals are represented. The shells, tile, clay tob-acco pipes, struck flint and miscellaneous objects are of limited interest. The flint mostly consists of primary flakes and fire-cracked stones, but one piece can be identified as a well-worked scraper.

The small-finds include eight coins (see Table 2) and fragments of

215

BRIAN PHILP

TABLE 2. COINS FROM THE SITE

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Emperor

Domitian Trajan Faustina I -----

Date (AD)

81-96 98-117 140-180 lst-2ndC Roman? Roman? 18th C? 18th C?

Notes

As R.I.C. 323a, but an as Dupondius, very worn R.I.C. (ANT PIUS) 1154 Completely illegible Corroded/illeg. Corroded/illeg. Worn and corroded British? Worn smooth

HCRC -90-

31 96 89 10 10 10 10 1

KF No.

8 16 12 3

11 4 2 1

four brooches. The best brooch (No. 47) is a Colchester BB type of late first-century date.

CATALOGUE OF ILLUSTRATED COARSE POTTERY

East Post-line [F31 and F32]

No. 1 Dish with beaded rim of sandy ware. Grey-black paste and black surface. Burnished all over. (HCRC-90-64) Late second to early third-century.

Gullies [F36 and F32]

No. 2 Beaker with angular out-turned rim of hard, fine ware. Black paste and grey surface. (HCRC-90-68) Late first to early second-century.

No. 3 Mortarium bowl with down-turned flanged rim of sandy ware. Cream paste and cream surface. Slight trace of internal grit. (HCRC- 90-68)

No. 4 Small cooking pot with beaded rim of shell-tempered ware. Orange-brown paste and pale orange surface. (HCRC-90-61) Late first-century.

No. 5 Small jar with everted rim of shell-tempered ware. Grey-black paste and buff-brown burnished surface. (HCRC-90-61) Late first-century.

No. 6 Carinated beaker with outcurved/upright rim of hard, fine ware. Grey-black paste with grey burnished surface. Inside rim also bur-nished. (HCRC-90-61) Late first-century.

No. 7 Bowl with outcurved rim of hard, fine ware. Brown-black paste and grey-black burnished surface. Interior also burnished. (HCRC-90-61) Late first-century.

No. 8 Cooking-pot with beaded rim of shell-tempered ware. Pale brown paste and buff- orange exterior with pale brown interior surface. Similar to No. 20. (HCRC-90-61) Late first-century.

216

A NEW ROMAN SDTE DISCOVERED AT ROCHESTER

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D sslPiPPPls

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4 •.''.'•. .'••'.'.•/•'•••ti..

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8 • "i "• v ' -"i*i

11 /^•vV:^-.^ fr'Vs §' t)'1"̂ J

V 10

13 X 14 IE

16 ~7 ^

/ *

D t̂ R ^ ^ ^ ^ 50 W0W)it>^$\

17 Fig. 9 Coarse Roman Pottery, Nos 1-17.

217

BRIAN PHILP

Roman Pits [F20 and F15]

No. 9 Beaker with everted rim of hard, fine ware. Black paste and grey-black surface with cordon on neck. Burnished all over. Similar to No. 36. (HCRC-90-45) Antonine.

No. 10 Dish with beaded rim of sandy ware. Light grey paste and black burnished surface with faint lattice pattern. (HCRC-90-47) Mid second-century.

No. 11 Storage jar with thickened oucurved rim of shell-tempered ware. Light brown paste and cream-brown surface with stick stabbing in wide band running round shoulder. Similar to No. 17. (HCRC-90-47) Late first to mid second-century.

Dumped Soils [Deposit F]

No. 12 Jar with beaded rim of sandy ware. Orange-red paste and brown surface decorated with light horizontal combing on exterior in-cluding rim. (HCRC-90-8) Late first-century.

No. 13 Jar with everted rim of sandy ware. Light grey paste and pale grey surface. Slight trace of possible slip. (HCRC-90-35) Second-century.

No. 14 Dish with beaded rim of sandy, black burnished ware. Grey paste and black surface decorated with acute lattice pattern. (HCRC-90-43) Mid second-century.

No. 15 Bowl with flattened rim of sandy ware. Pale grey paste and orange-brown surface. (HCRC-90-43) Second-century.

No. 16 Bowl with down-turned rim of sandy ware. Buff-orange paste and buff-orange surface. (HCRC-90-43) Second-century?

No. 17 Storage jar with thickened outcurved rim of shell-tempered ware. Black paste and black-pink surface with stick stabbing in narrow band below rim. (HCRC-90-43) Late first to mid second-century.

No. 18 Jar of sandy ware with recessed beaded rim for lid. Black paste and black surface with light horizontal combing. (HCRC-90-43) Late first-century.

No. 19 Dish with beaded rim of sandy ware. Black paste and light brown surface with acute lattice pattern and burnished rim. (HCRC-90-44) Mid second-century.

No. 20 Large storage jar with thickened outcurved rim of shell-tempered ware. Brown paste and pink-brown surface with one groove running round neck. (HCRC-90-44). Late first-century (survival?).

No. 21 Cooking-pot with beaded rim of sandy ware. Grey-black paste and grey-black surface. (HCRC-90-49) Early second-century.

No. 22 Dish with upright rim of hard, fine ware. Black paste and black surface. Burnished all over. (HCRC-90-49) Late first-century.

No. 23 Dish with beaded rim of sandy ware. Pale grey paste and grey-black surface. (HCRC-90-60) Late second to early third-century.

No. 24 Jar with everted rim of hard, fine ware. Pale grey paste and grey-black burnished surface. Inside of rim also burnished. (HCRC-90-60) Early third-century.

218

A NEW ROMAN SITE DISCOVERED AT ROCHESTER

20

21

V 22 7

> 24 F ^

V 26 W

\ 30 r

\ 33

v 19 3

^ZL

231

.""•a".":.- '•-: ;*- •:»r*r-v—̂-.T*-' 25

27

Y 29

31

T 34

Y 37

> 36 7 / /.( V 38

Fig. 10 Coarse Roman Pottery, Nos 18-38.

219

BRIAN PHILP

No. 25 Dish with beaded rim of sandy ware. Grey-black paste and grey-black surface. (HCRC-90-60) Late second-century.

Roman Dump [Deposit M]

No. 26 Dish with beaded rim of sandy ware. Light grey paste and grey surface. (HCRC-90-5) Late second-century.

No. 27 Jar with outcurved rim of sandy ware. Light grey paste and grey-black burnished surface. (HCRC-90-5) Early third-century.

No. 28 Dish with beaded rim of sandy ware. Grey-brown paste and grey-cream surface. (HCRC-90-40) Late second-century.

No. 29 Dish with beaded rim of sandy ware. Light grey paste and grey-brown surface. (HCRC-90-13) Late second to early third-century.

General Layers

No. 30 Wall sherd of soft soapy ware. Black paste and orange-brown surface decorated with horizontal and vertical combing. (HCRC-90-33) Probably mid first-century.

No. 31 Cooking-pot with beaded rim of sandy ware. Grey-black paste and black-brown burnished surface. (HCRC-90-46) Early second-century.

No. 32 Dish with reeded, beaded rim of hard, fine ware. Grey-black paste and black-burnished surface. Also burnished on rim. (HCRC-90-46) Early second-century.

No. 33 Beaker with everted rim of hard, fine ware. Grey paste and grey burnished surface with groove running under rim. (HCRC-90-32) Antonine.

No. 34 Jar with outcurved rim of fine ware. Grey paste and orange surface with traces of cream slip. (HCRC-90-32).

Post-Medieval Pit [F.35]

No. 35 Jar with everted rim of sandy ware. Grey-brown paste and grey surface. (HCRC-90-28). Second-century.

No. 36 Beaker with everted rim of hard, fine ware. Grey paste and grey burnished surface with cordon on neck. (HCRC-90-28) Antonine.

No. 37 Dish with beaded rim of sandy ware. Black-grey paste with black burnished surface decorated with burnished diagonal lines. (HCRC-90-28) Late second-century.

No. 38 Dish with upright rim of sandy ware. Grey paste and black surface. Burnished all over. (HCRC-90-28) Late second to early third-century.

CATALOGUE OF ILLUSTRATED SAMIAN WARE (by Joanna Bird FSA)

No. 39 Dr 37, probably Argonne. The stag is a smaller version of Oswald 1936-7, nos 1822B and 1822HH, both Lavoye types. (HCRC-90-13) Antonine. Deposit M.

220

A NEW ROMAN SITE DISCOVERED AT ROCHESTER

No. 40 Dr 37, South Gaul. Four-pronged ovolo and fine wavy-line border, above a shallow frieze with a hound. (HCRC-90-33) AD 75-90. General layer.

No. 41 Dr 30, Central Gaul. The ovolo, Rogers 1974, B206, was used by several potters, including Paternus II who used it with what is probably the same lion (Stanfield & Simpson 1958, pi. 106,20). Mid to late Antonine. (HCRC-90-38) Deposit F.

No. 42 Dr 37, La Madeleine, by one of the anonymous potters who used Ricken's ovolos K3 and L. The circle motif, sprig and square beads are on Miiller 1968, Taf. 13, nos 313 and 314, the figure on Taf. 13, 316. Hadrianic - early Antonine; worn footring. (HCRC-90-60). Deposit F.

No. 43 Dr 37, Central Gaul, probably by one of the Sacer-Attianus-Criciro group. The ovolo is close to Rogers 1974, B101, recorded for Cri-ciro; all three potters used the bear and similar leaf-tips in the field, and the leopard was used by Sacer and Criciro (Stanfield & Simpson 1958, pis 82, 2 and 5, 85,3, 117, 1 and 118, 13). The other animal is probably a large lion. Hadrianic - early Antonine; worn interior. (HCRC-90-102)PitF69.

No. 44 (KF-14) Small Dr 37 in the style of Secundus I of Lezoux; his work is close to that of Pugnus, and is shown with it on the plates in Stanfield & Simpson 1958. The ovolo and guideline and the festoon with wreath medallion and ring are shown with the large trifid leaf and single gadroon on pi. 154, 14, and with the hound on pi. 154,16, both very similar bowls. The narrower panel with the gadroon, presumably dictated by the spacing, is on pi. 154, 15. The lion and the leaf (probably Rogers 1974, H101) in the medallion were used i by the associated potter Cinnamus (pis 159, 23 and 162, 61). The ornament below the medallion is composed of two trifid leaves, Rogers G29 (recorded for Pugnus) and G24 or G25. AD 155-175; worn foot. The writer is grateful to Brenda Dickinson for her com-ments on this bowl. (HCRC-90-119) Pit F92 (upper).

SAMIAN POTTERS' STAMPS (by Brenda Dickinson)

No. 45 HCRC-90-126 (KF-15) OFVITA on form 29: Vitalis ii of La Graufesenque, Die 8b (Dickinson 1993, fig. 30, 18), c. AD 70-85. Deposit C.

No. 46 HCRC-90-30 (KF-7) OF.VITA[A]: Vitalis ii of La Graufesenque, Die 8h or 8h' (Polak 2001, pi. 25, V69*), c. AD 65-90. Pit F14.

BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR SAMIAN

Dickinson, B. M., 1993 (with contributions by P. V. Webster), 'The samian ware', in J. D. Zienkiewicz, 'Excavations in the Scamnum Tribunorum at Caerleon: the Legionary Museum Site, 1983-5', Britannia, 24, 87-98.

221

39 40 4 1

KU

1 B H

43

W§M m

44 45 46 47 Fig. 11 Roman Samian Ware, potters' stamps, and bronze brooch, Nos 39-47. (Scale 1:000)

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A NEW ROMAN SITE DISCOVERED AT ROCHESTER

Midler, G., 1968, Das Lagerdorf des Kastells Butzbach. Die reliefverzierte Terra Sigillata, Limesforschungen, 5 (Berlin).

Oswald, F., 1936-37, Index of figure-types on terra sigillata ('samian ware'), Annals Archaeol. Anthropol., 23.1-4, 24.1-4 (Liverpool).

Polak, M., 2000, South Gaulish Terra Sigillata with potters' stamps from Vechten, Rei Cretaria Romanae FautorumActa, Supplementum 9, Nijmegen.

Rogers, G. B., 1974, Poteries sigillees de la Gaule Centrale, 1 - les motifs non figures, Gallia Supplement, 28 (Paris).

Stanfield, J. A. & Simpson, G., 1958, Central Gaulish Potters (London).

CATALOGUE OF OTHER ILLUSTRATED OBJECTS

Copper alloy brooch with coiled spring. Colchester BB type. A common late first-century type (HCRC-90-42). Pit F29. Rim of flanged mortarium bowl in grey-cream fabric and cream surface. Rim stamped with bold chevron pattern. (HCRC-90-43: KF-10) Deposit F. Part of the handle of an amphora of pink-brown fabric and pink/ cream surface. Rectangular stamp, about 52 x 20mm, with letters VIRII. (HCRC-90-109: KF-13) Deposit F. Sherd of large vessel of cream/buff fabric and buff surface. Eye and eyebrow from incomplete face-mask. (HCRC-90-49) Deposit F. Rim and spout of flanged mortarium bowl in grey-cream fabric and cream surface. Rim stamped with possible foliate design. (HCRC-90-12: KF-6)PitF5. Fragment of a large vessel in cream/buff fabric and buff surface. Pronounced nose, eyes and nostrils of incomplete face-mask. (HCRC-90-5) General layer.

DISCUSSION

The excavation here, ahead of proposed but never started develop-ment, proved highly successful. Unexpectedly, it discovered a totally unknown Roman site, some 300m south-east of the Roman town of Durobrivae. Intensive use of the north-east half of the site spanned 150 years, from the late first century through to the beginning of the third century. This took the form of a succession of laid flint or chalk deposits, several running across the excavation and extending to the north, south and east sides. These were mostly interlaced with layers of domestic rubbish containing pottery. Pits of varying sizes, post-holes and gullies were also located.

Two sets of gullies, meeting at right angles, may mark the south-east corner of a substantial building or enclosure at least 8 x 1 lm in extent. The gullies were shallow, contained small post-holes at inter-

223

BRIAN PHILP

^ HZ2)

49 50

«T /

52

Fig. 12 Special Roman Finds, Nos 48-52.

vals and seemed to roughly frame the areas of laid flints and chalk. They appear late in the Roman history of the site.

Two lines of large post-holes also appear to define a rectangular area of about 6 x 4m and this could represent the outline of a struct-ure, with posts roughly 2m apart. This occurs late in the history of the site and cuts one of the gullies.

The function of the laid flint and chalk layers is not fully clear. Most appear to have had good surfaces, but successive deposits do

224

A NEW ROMAN SITE DISCOVERED AT ROCHESTER

not replicate the plan of those beneath. It seems more of a patchwork rather than the organized and even replacement, such as a road or major courtyard site might receive. On its merits, it looks like a local-ized area in constant use, perhaps by vehicles, if the good surfaces and thicknesses are a guide. This must have been at the edge of a busy settlement area, to judge by the large amount of domestic rubbish, which clearly did not extend across the southern half of the site. Apart from a single context containing fragments of red and white painted wall-plaster, no Roman building rubble other than fragments of roof-tile, were found on the site. If masonry buildings did exist here-abouts, then these have not yet been found.

The function of this complex is also difficult to gauge. Its focus is likely to be on the main Roman arterial road (Margary Route IB) perhaps 10-20m to the north, which led from the main East Gate of the town and probably up Star Hill, en route for Dover. It could thus have formed part of a continuous ribbon development of which no other trace has so far been found along the road from the East Gate.

It is also possible that the Roman arterial road, running from the Rochester area towards Blue Bell Hill and Maidstone (Route 13), branched from the Dover road close to this site. Indeed this seems to be the preferred location favoured by many scholars. If so, the site would have been close to the junction of the two roads and was perhaps a localized settlement in its own right.

Another factor that requires consideration is the proximity of the right bank of the River Medway to the newly discovered site. Today this lies only about 250m from the site and there is clear evidence of massive silting. It seems very likely that the bank was either nearer, or further away, in Roman times. If the former then silting, perhaps considerable, has taken place. If the latter, then erosion must have taken place. Either way, it is possible that the adjacent river bank formed a quayside, of unknown extent, close to the Roman roads. If so, a more extensive settlement here from the later first century to the early third century is a possibility. This needs careful consideration as it constitutes a major element in the development of the Roman settlement. Whatever the extent, this appears to have ceased at a time when the threat to the town, evidenced by the construction of a massive defensive wall in the early third century was identified. Clearly, any large-scale development in this riverside area should be subjected to a prior evaluation.

Quite apart from the Roman aspects of the site, the 50 struck flints suggest very limited use of the southern part of the site in late Neolithic times, nominally 3000-2000 BC. Corresponding settlement,

225

BRIAN PHILP

perhaps on the riverside, could be indicated. Significantly, nothing of late Roman, Saxon or medieval date was recovered and this suggests that this site was not occupied from about AD 230-1500. Post-medieval pits, mostly of seventeenth/eighteenth-century date, occup-ied most of the northern end and were probably dug behind houses spreading along the line of the Roman road. Large pits and tanks of Victorian date followed and represent the further expansion of this suburb of the ancient city. The stratified Roman deposits sub-sequently became buried by 1.00-1.50m of soil and some rubble.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Unit gratefully acknowledges Mr G. Glover, the prospective dev-eloper, for arranging access to the site and for funding the excavation. The work was supervised by the writer and Peter Keller, assisted by Derek Garrod. Core members of the Unit included Maurice Chenery, Colin Martin, Les Murrell and Tom Tasker.

Further assistance was provided by members of the Bromley Arch-aeological Group of whom Peter Grant, Maurice Godfrey, Len Johnson and Alan Morley deserve special mention. In addition, the Lower Medway Group greatly assisted the work, of whom Peter Dawson, Mike Freeman and Miss Pat Norris also deserve special mention.

The post-excavation work was initially funded by KARU and the subsequent work leading to publication was financed through the generosity of Mr Paul Oldham. The coins have kindly been reported on by Dr R. Reece and the samian ware by Joanna Bird. The plans and sections have been drawn by Maurice Chenery and the pottery and small finds drawn by John Payne, Eric Jones and Sarah Hathaway.

226

APPENDIX 1. DETAILS OF THE EXCAVATED FEATURES (* = MIN; MAX)

No.

22 23/ 18 24a 24b 30 31 39

S 56 -a

83a 83b 91a 91b

6

21 25

32

36

Type

P-pit P-pit

P-hole P-pipe P-hole P-hole P-hole P-pit

P-pit P-pipe P-pit P-pipe

Gully

Gully Gully

Gully

Gully

Shape

Circ Circ

Oval Circ Circ Circ Circ Oval

Oval Circ Oval Circ

Lin.

Lin. Lin.

Lin.

Lin.

L'gth

0.60 0.60

0.70 0.23 0.30 0.32 0.34 0.82

0.90 0.17 0.80 0.21

3.00*

1.15* 1.70*

1.32

1.15*

Width

0.60 0.60

0.64 0.23 0.30 0.32 0.42 0.56

0.65 0.17 0.72 0.21

0.70-75 0.29* 0.35

0.22

0.40

Depth Side Base

East Post Line 0.32 0.40

0.33* 0.40 0.34 0.32 0.42 0.44

St St

St St St SI St St

Cup Cup

Unobs Fl Fl Cup Cup Cup

West Post Line 0.39 0.39 0.36 0.36

( 0.40

0.38 0.22-25 0.25

0.25*

SI St St St

Gullies SI

St St

SI

St

Fl Flat Cup Cup

Cup

Cup Cup

Cup

Cup

Fill

Lt br loam+specks Mixed

Lt br clay+lmps+ frags Ditto Dk br loam+specks Ditto Dk gr-br loam Br loam+or patches

Mixed Ditto Ditto Ditto

Mixed

Ditto Ditto

Dk br loam+occ flint grits

Dk br loam+specks

Dep. No.

/ 37

50 122 63 64 75 87

114 114 77 77

21

55 52

65/68

61

Notes

Related to F31 Related to F30

CutsL29,43 + 51 Ditto Cuts F23 Cuts F22 Cuts F26 Cuts F20; cut by F39

Cuts F84 Cuts F84 Cut by F3 8 Ditto

Cuts F8/cut by Vict, pit Sealed by L41 Cuts F26/sealed byL36

Cut by F53

Pot/ Sam

-/-28/1

18/3 13/-91-8/-1/-71-

20/2 -/-20/--/-

4/1

1/-25/-

8/-

123/3

No.

47 48 76

80

11

12 26 27 28

to £ 40

41 42

43 44 45 46 51 64 65 73 74 75 78

Type

Gully Gully Gully

Gully

P-hole

P-hole P-hole P-hole P-hole

P-hole P-hole P-hole

P-hole P-hole P-hole P-hole P-hole P-hole P-hole P-hole P-hole P-hole P-hole

Shape

Lin. Lin. Lin.

Lin.

Oval

Circ Sb-Rec Circ Circ

Circ Circ Circ

Circ Oval Oval Circ? Circ Oval Circ Circ Oval Circ Circ

L'gth

3.00 7.02* 6.30*

3.60*

0.45

0.34 0.63 0.32 0.20

0.30 0.20 0.40

0.22 0.23 0.26 0.45* 0.40 0.40 0.25 0.48 0.32 0.29 0.28

Width

0.25 0.42 0.30-33 0.39

0.34

0,34 0.70 0.32 0.20

0.30 0.20 0.40

0.22 0.18 0.18 0.56 0.40 0.35 0.25 0.48 0.25 0.29 0.28

Depth

0.12 0.18 0.10

0.40**

Side

SI SI SI

SI Post-Holes

0.23

0.20 0.85 Unobs 0.26

0.08 0.13 0.09

0.05 0.05 0.06 0.08 0.59 0.19 0.20 0.45* 0.17 0.13 0.08

St

St St ? Vert

SI SI SI

SI SI SI SI St St St St St SI SI

Base

Cup Fl Cup

Fl

Cup

Cup Cup Unobs Cup

Cup Cup Cup

Cup Cup Cup Flat Pt Cup Cup Unobs Cup Cup Cup

Fill

Or-br loam +specks Br clay loam Mott or-br clay+specks

Or-br clay+flint Imps

Mott br cr clay

Dk br loam Mixed Br clay loam+chalk lumps Dk br clay loam

Br clay loam Dk br clay loam Dk br clay loam+ occ chalk + grit Or-br clay+specks Ditto Ditto Or br clay Mixed Dk br clay loam Dk br clay loam+specks Ditto+frags Dk gr-br clay loam Dk br clay loam+spks Or-br clay+chalk Imps

Dep. No. 70 71 106

105

/

/ 53 unex /

81 / /

/ / / / / 101 / 103 104 / /

Notes

CutbyF48 CutsF47+F49 CutbyF48

CutbyF68+F69

Cuts or. brick-earth+L15+F9 CutsL15+F9 CutbyF25 Sealed by L35 CutsL34, 35+F26 CutsL62 CutsL62 CutsL62

Cuts or. clay+L5 Ditto Ditto Ditto CutsL62 Cuts L76 CutsL15 Not fully exc. Ditto Ditto Ditto

Pot/ Sam 18/-26/-13/1

-/-

-/-

-/-7/1 -/--/-

61--/--/-

-/--/--/--/--/-3/--/-3/-21--/--/-

No. Type Shape L'gth Width Depth Side Base Fill Dep. No.

Notes

1

5

7 8

9

Pit

Pit

Pit Pit

Flint Pack'd Pit

Rect

Lin.

Oval Oval

Oval

1.60

0.70*

0.84 1.50*

1.20

0.94

0.90

0.70 1.60

1.00

Roman Pits 1.32 Vert

0.69

0.57 0.89

0.46

SI

SI Uc

St

Flat

Cup

Cup Cup

Cup

Mixed

Ditto

Ditto Ditto

Mott grn-br clay loam+lmps

12/14

20 22

17

Pot/ Sam

79 81

84

85 86

87 88 89

to S 90

97 100

P-hole P-hole

P-hole

P-hole P-h'le? P-hole P-hole P-h'le? P-hole P-hole P-hole

Oval Circ

Circ

Circ Oval

Oval Oval Oval

Oval Circ Circ

0.28 0.20

0.37

0.24 0.24

0.28 0.22 0.22

0.26 0.16 0.18

0.24 0.20

0.37

0.24 0.28

0.26 0.20 0.15

0.20 0.16 0.18

0.06 0.10

0.20

0.10 0.10

0.12 0.13 0.10

0.06 0.14 0.12

SI St

St

St St

St St SI

SI St Vert

Cup Cup

Cup

Cup Cup

Cup Cup Cup

Cup Cup Not seen

Mott or-br clay+spks / Dk gr-br clay / loam+specks Mixed gr-br-or+specks

Or-br clay+chalk Imps / Dk gr-br clay loam+flint / Imps Ditto / Ditto / Ditto /

Ditto / Ditto Soft gr clay /

115

137

Ditto CutsL15;nrF82

Cut by F83; not fully exc. Cuts or-br clay Cuts F80

Ditto Ditto Cuts F76

Ditto Cuts F96 Cut or-br clay; not fully exc.

-/--/-

11-

-I--/-

-/--/--/-

-/--/--/-

Cuts nat; s'led by 11/1 L7 Sealed by L13; 35/-cuts L8+L9 CutbyF8 5/-CutsF7;cutby 11/-Vict pit CutsL16,F80+ 12/1 nat; sealed by L15

No. Type Shape L'gth Width Depth Side Base

10 Pit Sb-rect 0.65

13 Pit Circ 0.60 14 Pit Circ 0.80*

15 Pit/Dit Lin. 1.70* 17 Pit Oval 1.55 19 Pit Oval? 0.97

20 Pit Oval 1.10

29 Pit Not 2.00* seen

33 Pit Circ 0.38 34 Pit Oval? 0.80

35 Pit Oval 0.72

49 Pit Oval 2.06

50 Pit Circ 0.40

54 Pit Oval 0.48

57 Pit Rect 2.00

58 Pit Oval 1.45

0.51 0.16 St Flat

0.60 0.18 St Flat 0.70* 0.20* SI Cup

0.75 0.25 SI Cup 1.08 0.45 SI Cup 0.70 0.70 SI Cup

0.80 0.41 St Cup

SI Flat

0.38 0.20 SI Cup

0.40 0.42 St Cup

0.40* 0.37 St Cup

2.10 0.86 St /

0.40 0.14 SI Cup

0.86 0.30 St Flat

1.02- 1.20* Vert Not 0.97 seen 0.96 0.62 St Flat

Fill

Mott or-br clay+lmps

Mixed or-gr-br loam+spks Dk br clay loam +lumps+frags Mixed Br clay loam + frags Mott gr-br-grn clay+spks

Mixed

Mott or-br clay loam+lmps Mixed It br-or clay Mott or-br clay+specks

Mott br-cr clay lm+frags+grits Br clay lm+lmps Cr-br clay+lmps

Mixed

Ditto

Ditto

Dep. No. 24

/ 30

31 23 48

45/ 47

42

67 66

/

74 80

72/73

85/88

84

Notes

Cuts nat

Cuts or brickearth CutbyF15

CutbyF14 Cuts nat or b/e Cut by V. tnk +F9 Cut by V. tnk + F56; cuts nat +L41+L46 Cut by F6; cuts or b/e Cut by F52 Cut by F35; cuts L60 Cuts F34 + L60

CutbyF48+F98 Cuts nat; cut by F52

Cuts natural

Cut by F58; cuts nat

Cuts F60

Pot/ Sam 4/-

-/-29/3

35/-8/-58/2

36/2

16/-

1/-1/1

-/-

74/4 21-

4/-

33/2

44/3

No.

59 60 62 63 66 67 68 69

77

to 82 £ 92

93

98 96

Type

Pit Pit Pit Pit Pit Pit Pit Pit

Pit

Pit Pit

Pit

Pit Rom'n

Shape

Sb-circ ?? Oval Circ Oval Oval Circ Circ

Oval

Oval Circ?

Circ?

Sb-rect Oval

L'gth

1.28 0.95* 0.60 0.50 0.88 0.76 1.20 0.81

0.59

0.43 3.00

2.07*

2.30* 1.12

Width

1.28 0.55* 0.44 -0.62 0.56 0.55* 0.49

0.39

0.32 2.10*

0.70*

1.65* 0.60

Depth

0.60 0.45 0.06 0.07 0.13 0.18 0.16 0.31

0.10

0.10 1.75*

0.83

1.20* 0.07

Side

St ?? SI St St SI SI St

SI

St St

SI

Uc SI

Base

Cup Cup Cup Cup Cup Cup Cup Flat

Cup

Cup Not seen

Cup

Unobs Cup

Fill

Ditto Ditto Mixed gr-br-or clay loam Or-br clay loam+specks Mixed Mixed Or-br clay loam+specks Mixed gr-br clay lm

Mott or-br clay+spks+lmps Or-br clay Mixed

Ditto

Ditto Or-red burnt tile+ clay

Dep. No. 83 86 94 93 91 90 92 89/ 102 107

/ 117/ 120/ 124 /125 100/ 108 / 136

Notes

Ditto Cut by F58+F59 Cuts F58+F60 NearF58 Cut by F67 Cuts F66 Not fully exc Ditto

Ditto

NearF81 CutbyF71+F72

Cuts nat gravel

Cuts F49 Cut by F97

Pot/ Sam 3/-11/1 14/-14/-5/5 21-12/-12/-

1/-

-/-365/ 18

63/1

-/-12/-

Hearth +some gr-br clay loam Post Medieval Pits

16 Pit Rect 1.50 1.86 1.00* Vert Flat Mixed 26/27 Cuts all deps 21/-below mod dist

37 Pit Rect 0.91 1.08 1.10* St Unobs Ditto 76 Cuts all Roman 39/-Fs

No. Type Shape L'gth Width Depth Side Base Fill

2 3 4

72

Pit Tank Tank

Pit

Dep. No.

Notes Pot/ Sam

38 52

53

55

61

70

K> 7 1

S 94

95

101

Pit Pit

Pit

Pit

Pit

Pit

Pit Pit

Pit

Pit

Oval Oval

Rect

-

Rect

Rect

Rect Rect

Circ

Circ

1.50 2.43

1.80

1.42

1.52

1.58

1.10 1.35

0.40*

0.70

1.40 2.00

1.00*

0.48

1.13

1.25

0.90 0.20*

0.40*

0.70

1.05* 0.75

0.75

1.00*

0.45*

1.30*

0.60 1.98

1.33

0.50

SI St

St

St

Vert

Vert

St St

St

SI

Flat Flat

Not seen Flat

Not seen Not seen Cup Flat

Cup

??

Ditto Dk br loam+frags

Ditto

Lt br Lm+frags

Gr-brloam+lmps

Mixed dk gr-br lm+specks

Br clay loam+lmps Bl loam+specks

Br clay lm+lmps

Dk gr clay lm+specks

78 58

/

59

/

82

95 113

57

/

Cuts F101 Cuts F35/F36/ F50+F53 Cut by F52; cuts F32+F36 Cut by Trench B+ NEarea Cuts all deps into natural Cuts Roman deps into natural Cut by F72 Cuts Roman deps top of nat Cuts Rom. deps; not fully exc Cuts Roman deps; cut by F3 8

108/-217/ 2 -/-

21/-

-/-

154/-

9/1 4/-

111/-

-/-

Sb-rect ?? Circ? 1.70 Sq/ rect Rect

3.63

3.10*

Victorian Pits and Brick Tanks 2.20 2.40* St Unobs Mixed gr-bl loam+frags 10 1.40 1.00* Vert Unobs Ditto 3 1.80 1.70* Vert Unobs Gr-br clay loam+frags 11

1.10 0.85* Vert Flat Dk gr-br loam+frags 96

Cuts L8+L9 Cuts natural Cuts all immed deps CutsF71

72/--/--/-

106/-