Monument record TR 36 SW 531 - Roman mixed rite cemetery and mortuary enclosure discovered during pipeline trenching near Richborough Way

During excavations associated with the installation of a pipeline between Margate and Broadstairs, in excavation area 15, a dual-rite cemetery with eleven inhumation burials in ten graves and eight cremation graves was recorded within the SW–NE oriented mortuary enclosure. Both the inhumation and cremation burials were located in an area of approximately 210m². The cremation graves were clearly cut through the colluvial deposits in this area, while the majority of the inhumations graves only became evident after the removal of this deposit. However, this was due to conditions of visibility and contrast since at least one grave was definitely cut through the colluvium. At present it appears that both burial rites were carried out concurrently, as the date range for the pottery vessels and other grave goods contained within the graves and forming the cremation urns overlaps and/or is broadly contemporary. However, the situation of grave 6169, which was cut into ditch 6042, suggests that the north-eastern boundary of the enclosure was no longer in use by the time this grave was dug. The dates for the cremations range from the first to third centuries AD, with some more specifically dated. The inhumation burials appear to cover the entire Romano-British period. Four inhumation graves were orientated north-east/south-west, four north west/south-east, and two were aligned north-north-east/south-south-west. The graves were of different sizes and depths. The largest (6214) was 2.36m long and 1.12m deep and the smallest (6176) 1.05m long and 0.10m deep. The human bone was poorly preserved in each grave; however, preservation was better from deeper graves. A number of grave goods were associated with the inhumations, including whole pottery vessels and a copper alloy buckle. A number of graves also contained iron coffin nails. All the bodies were deposited in an extended, supine position. One grave (6214) contained an adult inhumation, followed by a child inhumation, both with the head to the south-west. The adult was clearly buried in a coffin of which stains and nails survived. Neatly packed in around the coffin were the disarticulated remains of at least one other individual. Eight cremation graves were also located within the enclosed area. The cremated bone was mostly contained within amphorae. Most of the cremation burials were within a single vessel, although a couple of secondary pots were placed in some of the graves. Some graves may contain the remains of more than one individual, e.g. cremation grave 6012. One cremation burial was found in pit 6025 to the east of the enclosure and immediately south-west of ditch 6042. Compared to the other urned burials this grave contained only a small number of sherds, which may represent either plough damage or an unurned burial with ancillary vessel. Grave 6025 was the only grave outside the internal division (6420 and 6050), along with a number of possible votive pits, distinguished by their lack of cremated bone and inclusion of hobnails in one. The rest of the pits were devoid of finds. Possible cremation grave 6027, located in the cemetery enclosure, contained late 2nd/early 3rd-century pottery and the remains of what may have been a wooden box but no human bone was recovered. The environmental evidence was very similar to that from Area 9. Certain richer deposits indicated that onion couch and hawthorn may have been used for tinder. A grave, a pit and postholes contained material suggestive of settlement in the vicinity, or perhaps midden material was used to backfill. Charcoal was generally infrequent in the cremation burials, suggesting that much of the pyre material was removed prior to burial. An exception was grave 6009, which was somewhat richer in wood charcoal. (1-3)

<1> Wessex Archaeology, 2005, Margate to Weatherlees Hill Wastewater Treatment Works Twin Pipeline: Interim Statement (Unpublished document). SKE13017.

<2> Wessex Archaeology, 2008, Thanet's Longest Excavation: Archaeological Investigations Along the Route of the Weatherless - Margate - Broadstairs Wastewater Pipeline (Monograph). SKE53449.

<3> Wessex Archaeology, 2006, Margate and Broadstairs Urban Wastewater Treatment Scheme (Unpublished document). SKE29263.