SPRINGHEAD: TEMPLE VI/GATEWAY
(WlTH A NOTE ON THE COIN HOARD)
By W. S. PENN, B.Sc.
lliTRODUOTION
CONTINUED exploration within the temenos at Springhead revealed
some stone steps fronting the robber trench of what had once clearly
been a substantial wan. Excavation of this feature exposed a building,
with robbed walls, which had certain temple features but also others
which have caused it to be named the Temple VI/Gateway. The
reasons are explained in this report.
The location of the building is given as Building B.19 on the
Springhead Map.1 It is on the east side of the temenos and the steps,
on the west, face the other temples to leave a courtyard in between.
In view of the discovery of a building on the east side of the temenos,
the existence of which had been unsuspected, it is possible that other
buildings :flank the Temple VI/Gateway as there is plenty of room for
them. Unfortunately the south-east corner is under the railway
embankment, but the north-east corner is now being excavated
(1967) and there are, in fa.et, buildings. It is, however, too early to
say what they are, but certain religious aspects are even now apparent
and there may thus be another temple.
The coin hoard, some details of which are reported here, has no
connection with the temple area. It is convenient to report it at this
time, but it was found outside Building B.12,1 and is the valuable
hoard of 447 silver and gold coins discovered by road-workers digging
a drainage trench, and subsequently partially excavated by the
Gravesend Historical Society.
SUMMARY
The building (see plan, Fig. 1) was erected over a number of
earlier roads, predecessors of the Temenos Road East. It was 22 ft.
square externally ,vith stone steps on the west side and a possible
entrance from the road on the east.
There were two phases of its existence, both of which had
substantial metalled floors. In the first phase there was a curious
chalk-lined pit just to the north of the steps cut into the inner wall.
1 W. S. Penn, Springbead-Map of Discoveries, Arch. Oant., 1= (1965), 107.
105
PLASTER
FALL
STEPS
Fro. 1. Plan-Temple VI/Gateway.
RAILWAY
EM BAN KMENT
P0SITI OH Of
SECTION
FIGURE 2
6ASE
OF
PI ER
- - - -
- - - -
1 2 3 ♦ 5 4' 7 8
FE ET
SPRINGHEAD: TEMPLE VI/GATEWAY
In the second phase, the centre of the floor was given a tiled altar or
statue base, in front of which was a votive pit. Pilaster capitals indicated
some embellishment and thick walls a substantial structure.
No individual dating of strata is given in the text but is summarized
in Table I. Appropriate sections are given in Figs. 2 and 3. Tables
2, 3 and 4 give details of the coins, pottery and miscellaneous finds
respectively, whilst Fig. 4 illustrates the small finds.
AOKNOWLEDGMENTS
A change of tenancy of the land means that we are now excavating
by courtesy of the farmer, Mr. J. Banks. Permission to excavate this
scheduled. site has been given by the Ministry of Public Building and
Works.
Mr. R. A. G. Carson, M.A., continues to deal with the coins for us,
a task which becomes more formidable year by year. He has particularly
studied and reported separately on the coin hoard.2
My colleagues have continued. to give their generous support.
Mr. E. W. Tilley gives considerable assistance as 'site secretary' and
in cleaning, classifying and describing all small finds except the pottery.
He also makes the essential preliminary examination of the coins.
Mr. S. Harker gave invaluable help with supervision on the site and
has also taken over the arduous task of dealing with the pottery.
Mr. P. Connolly continues to take the excellent photographs and
Mr. W. Gee draws all the small finds.
Of the excavators, I should particularly like to thank Messrs.
E. W. Tilley, S. Harker, V. T. C. Smith, E. Ellett, F. L. Furner,
P. Connolly, M. Groombridge, P. Bethell, A. Gwynne Ridgers and
Dr. P. Mitchell.
Finally, I should like to thank the Council and members of the
Gravesend Historical Society, under whose auspices we excavate,
for their continued. support.
THE Ro.A.Ds
Unlike Temple I, the present building did not have a continuous
history from the first century. It WM preceded by a number of roads
or at least their edges (see Fig. 2).
The line of a main road (Rl) has been well established and has a
continuous history from Claudian times until the end of the Roman
era. The Temenos Road East (R3) branches more or less at right angles
to this and is one of the flan.king roads of the temenos. Its ultimate
destination has not yet been determined.
a R. A. G. Oa.rson, Numismatic Ohronicle, Seventh Series, v (1966), 177.
107
....
0
_r:,:,
FLOOR 2
RAf/
DARK SOIL
FLOOR I
EAST SIDE OF SECTION
TOP SOIL
SOUTH SIDE OF SECTION
(GRAVEI./RJIIT)l)<;-:k;· v,U
ROAD 5
(GRAVEL)
ROAD4
(GRAVEL)
ROAD 3
(GRA'ftl./OfAIX)
CHALK
ROAD 2
(GRAVa/f,IIAI.K)
ROAD I
(CHALK)
BELGIC
Flo. 2. Section-Stratification, Temple VI.
!;d
z
FOUNDATION m OF WALL
BUILT OVER ROADS
SOIL
RAMMED &J
CHALK
BLOCK s;
CHALK
!
SPRINGHE.AD: TEMPLE VJ./GATEWAY
However, the interesting fact is that there have been roads, more
or less in this direction, from the Claudian period. A main road at
this time would be expected but a branch road built simultaneously
is perhaps surprising and when the reason for this is eventually
established it may reveal an important feature or circumstance. It
may, for example, be an indication that a temenos existed almost
from the beginning which would be a most important discovery as
this might well mean that any buildings inside it, even from the
earliest period, could be of a. religious nature . .An early temenos is to
be expected, even if only a ditch and palisade. 8
Road 1 of the Temenos Road East complex is certainly very early,
probably Claudian. It sealed a Belgic coin and Claudian pottery
(see Sections, Figs. 2 and 3).
Whether or not the Belgic coin suggests a near-by settlement or
was dropped by a. worker impressed into roadbuilding is impossible to
say. It is interesting to note a pair of shears of native type close by, and
at the early levels (Table 4, Find 12). Under the coin was a thick chalk
floor, including a shallow post-hole, but this could easily have been
associated with the roadbuilding. At the same time it is the first
stratified Belgic coin to ha.ve been. found at Springhead, although
eight unstratified ones have been discovered during the past century.
It is possible therefore that a Belgic settlement existed in the vicinity.
This road. must have been used extensively. A fresh surface (gravel}
was laid about 30 years after the first one (Road. 2) and it was provided
with a ditch. Road 3, gravel on chalk, was also provided with a ditch,
or at least a gully in the chalk and about 6 ft. from the edge. It
contained two broken, but almost complete pots as well as other
pottery and bones. The dating evidence, although including much of
first-century date, is determined by two coins of Hadria.n.
Road 4, with a gravel surface, was rather later (Marcus Aurelius)
and Road 5 a resurfacing of Road. 4 a few years later.
No further roads were built up at this point since the first phase of
the temple was now constructed. However, outside the precincts of the
temple, the Temenos Road East, was resurfaced in the early third
century and in this sequence .would be Road. 6.
STRUOTUR.AL FlilATlIBlllS OF. :Bun.DING
The building is 16 ft. square internally with the north, west and
south walls 3 ft. thick. Only the foundations of these walls survived,
but they were substantially constructed of chalk (Plate II). The
upper courses had. been flint and mortar as fragments of flint and
eonsideta.ble mortar survived in the tobber trenches.
8 M. J. T. Lewis, Temples in Roman Britain, Cambridge (1966), 131.
109
l2A
FOR STRATIFICATION ABOVE THIS LEVEL SEE SECTION, FIGURE 2.
Fro. 3. Section - Lower Strata, Temple VI.
SPRINGHEAD: TEMPLE VI/GATEWAY
These three walls were erected against the east temenos wall
which thus became the fourth wall of the building.
Externally it may have been necessary to strengthen the building
in the south-west corner as the base of a pier or buttress was built
there against the wall. It was only built up to the wall and was not an
integral pa-rt of it. The pier was concrete, faced vertically with tegulae.
It is also possible that the feature was the base of a statue. A buttress
would have been more effectively built into the wall but in any case
there was a mortice hole (Plate ill).
Two steps, 5 ft. wide and a total of 3 ft. deep, projected from the
centre of the west side of the building (Plate I). These were made of
flint and mortar, each step reinforced at the front by tiles. They led
from the floor of the building to the level of the temple area courtyard.
The building was thus on a podium 3 ft. high.
The latest floor of the building was substantial, consisting of flints
and chalk blocks and, in the surviving parts, surfaced with gravel.
So many red pebbles were incorporated that an impression of tessellation
was given.
Precisely in the centre of the building was a tiled base (2 ft. square)
which was presumably for a cult statue or altar. There was no
foundation and the base, of which there had been at least two courses,
was erected directly on the gravel floor (Plate I).
One fragment of a Corinthian capital was found in the votive pit
filling in front of the base and another by the side of the steps. Yet
another partly finished specimen was found a few yards away from the
building, together with a number of carved stone fragments. It looks
very likely, therefore, that the capitals were carved on the site. These
were capitals to pilasters and it is possible that they flanked the doorways
of the structure.
Painted plaster was found at various points in the building. Fragmentary
plaster was mixed with rubble under Floor No. 2, indicating
that the Phase A building was decorated. Considerable plaster from
the Phase B building was found outside the structure with the usual
horizontal bands of colour. The longest sequence of colours which
could be identified included l¾ in. orange, 7 in. cream,¾ in. red, l¼ in.
cream and ¼ in. black.
THE SPEOI.AL FEATURES
The special features to be considered are the votive pit and the
chalk filling (Plates I and II).
The presumed votive pit was situated just west of the cult statue
base. It was roughly out out of the flint floor and was quite irregular
in shape.
111
SPRINGHEAD: TEMPLE VI/GATEWAY
As found, the top of the pit was covered with rubble from the building,
mainly roofing tiles but also part qf a Corinthian capital. The
pit had been filled with soil and had a total depth of about 25 in.
At a depth of about 14 in. near the base and on the south side was
an unidentified bird burial associated with a l½ in. diameter bronze
ring. This may well have been a foundation deposit. Also near the
base but on the north side and at the same depth was an iron finger
ring and a mussel shell.
Apart from these probable foundation deposits, the only contents
of the pit were coins. There were 21 of these at various depths. If the
pit had been in use for some time it might have been expected to find
early coins at the bottom and later coins higher up. This was not the
case. The point was carefully examined and the coins at different
depths represented all periods with, however, the latest date anywhere
between 270 and 280 (see Table I).
The date of the coins suggests that the pit went out of use quite
soon after the Phase B period of construction. This again suggests
that the building did not remain in use after the early fourth century,
even if that long.
The other feature is much more curious. It was originally recognized
as a large 'swelling' of the west wall on one side only (Plate II). This,
on excavation, appeared to be a rammed chalk filling of a pit dug
by the side of the inner wall of the building and lined with a ohalk wall.
The feature is distinctive enough, but extremely difficult to interpret.
It was definitely not a well as it was built on to the chalk road beneath.
It might have supported some structure at the entrance to the building,
but with just one hole this seems unlikely. A possible explanation is
that it was a votive pit for Phase A of the building, which was filled
in to prevent subsidence when the Phase B changes or additions were
made.
DATING THE Bun.DING
The construction of the building may be divided into two welldefined
phases. The chalk foundations were just laid over Road 5
at its edge and cutting through Road 4 further out with the foundations
on the west resting on Road 3.
The dating of this first building is thus fairly secure and is probably
late second or early third century. Thus it was erected in a wave of
building which took place within a few years and included the temenos
wall itself, Temple II and the }Vings and curtain wall of Temple I.
The floor of Phase A of the building (Floor 1) was flint surfaced
with gravel. Steps would presumably have been required at this stage
but they were not built into the wall which might suggest a later addi·
tion. At the same time, the pottery found under the steps is not later
112
PtAl'E I
General view of steps showing (from foreground), steps, robber trench, base of
floor 2, votive pit and altar or statue base.
(/""8 p. 112
Pf,A'l'E J[
f'hulk wall foundation and chulk level pit,.
Pr.AT>: IJJ
Concrete pie,· l'eveUed with teguloc. :Note rnol'tiec hole.
T ,-
2
SPRINGHEAD: TEMPLE VI/GATEWAY
, ..... .. _ ,,,,,
,,..\\ / ,' \ \
// \ \
// \ \
.\. \. I// \.\ .' I!.)\ .\. .\ , ' ' .
I \ \
)-
3
10
t- - J 4 5 6
) 15
F"i
12
14
FJa, 4. Small Finds. (All ¼)
113
II
16
"-
9
' . .. ' '
,-,•! •I'
(',.
ll I. ' . ' . ' ' I\ I'
\ \\I
\ ..
\\
\' I
'\
-
E,
SPRINGl:rEAD: TEMPLE VI/GATEWAY
than second century. There is plenty of third- and fourth-century
pottery elsewhere on the site and this, coupled with the absence of
third-century coins (see difference in Phase B) suggests that the steps
must have been an original feature of the building.
Floor 2, built on top of the first, was made from flint, chalk and
gravel. It sealed a. number of coins, the latest of which may be dated
to between A.D. 270 and 280. Thus, Phase B may be dated late third
century and was probably built at the same time a s Temple V and at
the time when repairs were made to Temple I.
As far as the latest date of use of the building is concerned, the
evidence is difficult to interpret. There were no coins over the floors
but a number sealed under rubble from the building had a latest date
of 270-280. In Temples I, II and V there were fourth-century coins
and pottery in the rubble but none at all with this building. This
suggests, therefore, that the structure did not remain long in use after
it was repaired. More substance is given to this argument by the dating
of the coins from the votive pit.
The 'pier' or base outside the building produced no dating evidence.
If it was, in fact, a reinforcing buttress, it may have been a feature of
Phase B.
INTERPRETATION
The building appears on first examination to have all the characteristics
of a temple. It is a building on a low podium, inside the temenos,
it has a cult statue or altar base, at least one votive pit and parts of
an incense cup (found between Floors land 2).
The factor which appears to complicate the situation is that the
building was erected against the temenos wall and its floor was at the
same level as the surface of the Temenos Road East. This suggests
the possibility of an entrance, particularly since no other has been
found in the massive temenos wall and there clearly had t o be one.
Moreover, it is perhaps more than coincidence that the building was
erected midway between Temples I and II (the two principal temples)
so that the devotee, on entering through the building, would see an
impressive-looking structure immediately in front of him, since this
new building was first erected at the same time as the curtain wall
joining Temples I and II.
On the other hand, there was a path4 leading from the Temenos
Road East to the entrance of Temple I and it was sit11ated north of the
present 'gateway'. However, it was earlier and in use before the temenos
wall was built and presumably it was replaced by its southern successor.
No gate was associated with it.
' Arch. Oant., lxxii (1958). See Plan facing p. 77.
114
SPRINGHEAD: TEMPLE VI/GATEWAY
Unfortunately there is no direct evidence of such a gateway. The
walls were much robbed at the vital point and therefore evidence
can only be circumstantial. Two different-sized pilaster capitals were
found and one size would have well :flanked the street gate and the
other the steps leading into the courtyard. The solid foundations
suggest high walls and, in fact, with the pilasters, the appearance of a
single-arched triumphal arch is obtained.
One functional aspect of the structure which is against the gateway
theory is the relative narrowness of the steps. These were only 5 ft.
compared with 11 ft. for the Temple II gradus. A much wider entrance
might well have been expected.
A further point is that the steps face west, not the normaldirection
for a temple entrance. All other temples at Springhead, except the
small shrine (Temple IV) faced east, which is general with RomanoCeltic
temples but there are exceptions. This suggests that the building
was just not a simple temple, but if there was an entrance on the road
(east) side, then that would in fact, be facing east which is slight
evidence for another entrance.
Obviously any temenos wall had to have a gate through it and there
are a number of examples at other sites. Usually they are substantial
but simple, with fianlring piers, and are usually on the east. At Woodeaton,
5 the gateway was 2 · 6 m. broad, between rectangular piers,
l · 6 m. by I· 2 m. Thus this gateway, as at Springhead, was quite
narrow and presumably was closed by a door. A narrow entrance is
therefore not unique and, in fact, necessary if it was to be secured
with a door. On the other hand the gateway at Verulamium6 was
monumental, 24 ft. wide and flanked by piers each 2 ft. 3 in. diameter.
Finally, out of many examples may be mentioned the monumental
entrance of Colohester7 which had an engaged column on the inside.
Another entrance, with massive piers possessed engaged columns
back and front.
Thus there is no gateway quite like the possible example at Spring.
head, although this is not surprising in view of the fact that all the
structures within the temenos were different. Nevertheless, the
examples do indicate that monumental and ornamental gateways
were used.
A compromise solution may be reasonable. A devotee, entering
by the gate would have made an offering at the cult statue or altar
into the votive pit, before entering the temple area. Thus the structure
could well have had both temple and gateway characteristics and hence
the name Temple VI/Gateway.
s R. Goodchild and J. R. Kirk, Oxoniensia, xix (1954), 15.
4 Verulamium, 7 p. 131. Journal of Roman Studies, ix (1919), 160.
115
SPRINGHEAD: TEMPLE VI/GATEWAY
THE Com HOARD
A coin hoard was found at Springhead by workmen digging a
drainage trench on 22nd October, 1964. Although many of the coins
were immediately removed by persons unknown, 447 coins were eventually
recovered, largely as a result of strenuous efforts by members of
the Gravesend Historical Society. There is clearly no way of knowing
how many coins existed originally, but various reports indicate that
there were many more.
Although the spoil left by workmen was systematically examined
and many coins recovered, it was not possible to conduct a detailed
examination of the area in view of the insistence of the road contractors
in continuing their work. Nevertheless, the exact position of the coin
hoard was determined and found to be outside building B.12. It was
buried below the latest Roman level by the side of the foundations
of the south-west corner. It was also possible to examine the south-east
corner but nothing was found there.
The building had rammed chalk foundations, and supported
sturdily-built mortared flint footings. No floor survived. As far as
could be determined, the building was approximately 22 ft. X 15 ft.
externally with walls 2 ft. thick. There was nothing to indicate its
original purpose, but stratified standard pottery types (Springhead8
Nos. 6, 11, 12 and 22) indicated an Antonina date.
It is almost certain that the coins had been in a container of some
type, presumably a pot. The coins were bright and in mint condition,
except for a few which were tarnished and had presumably been in
the top of the pot. An intensive search was made for the container,
but of all the surface pottery found, none came from a complete pot.
Of the 447 coins, 3 were gold solidi, 12 miliarensia and 432 silver
siliquae. A full report on the content of these coins has been given by
R. A. G. Carson, M.A.aa
A treasure trove inquest was held at Northfleet Town Hall on
12th January, 1965 It was quite clear from the evidence of the
excavators that the coins were buried for safety and were meant
to be recovered and they were thus declared treasure trove.
The latest coins were those of Magnus Maximus dated A.D. 388.
Thus the coins were probably buried during the period of the troubles
under Maxim.us when troops were :moved to the Continent.
The final point for consideration is who deposited the coins. It is,
of course, possible that an inhabitant of the town buried them for
safety since a few may have been rich enough, although this is
doubtful, in view of the fact that the temples were not in use at the
time and the ancient opulence had thus probably disappeared.
s Arch. Oant., lxxii (1958), 86.
&> Op. cit.
116
SPRINGHEAD: TEMPLE VI/GATEWAY
It is more likely that the coins were hidden by a company (cohort?)
treasurer with the ultimate intention of recovering them. They were
buried by the side of the substantial Roman Watling Street, nea.r a
builcling with solid flint footings, just the place which troops in transit
would choose. Some confirmation of this is given by the cliscovery of
another hoard at Springhead9 in 1885 (exact position unknown)
which was probably deposited in the time of Tetricus (A..D. 270-273)
when he took troops to the Continent to fight Aurelian .
.Again, the Cobham Park hoard10 found in 1883 is not far from
Springhead and was found by the Watling Street. It was probably
deposited at the time of Magnentius (350-353) and associated with his
efforts on the Continent.
Since many, if not most of the troops going to the Continent
went along the Watling Street and therefore via Springhead, it seems
reasonable that a number of hoards would have been buried alongside
the road. Such a feature would give one dimension for location, but
another would also be required and what better than a building in a
town such as Springhead?
Stratum
Road 1
TABLE l
DATING OF STRATA
Object
Coin 45
Sherd 1
Belgic.
Claudian.
General date of Stratwm: Ola,ud,,i,am.
Date
Road 2 Coin 44 Nero.
General date of Stratum: third quarter, first century.
Road 3/0lwy Layer Coin 30 Doroitian.
Coin 31 Hadrian.
Road4
Coin 32 Hadrian.
Sherds 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
9, 10, 11, 12, 13
. (mainly first century,
latest date A,D. 80-
120)
General date of Stratum: o. A.D. 120-UO.
Coin 34 Antonmus Pius.
Coin 35 Marous Aurelius.
Coin 36 Marcus Aurelius.
Sherd 14 Antonme.
GeMt·aZ date of Stratum: Late second <;entury.
9 Arch. Oant., xvii, 209.
18 Aroh. Oant., xv, 321.
117
13
SPRINGHEAD/ TEMPLE VI/GATEWAY
TABLE l (continued)
Strat1ulm
Road 5 Coin 25
Coin 26
Coin 27
Coin 37
Coin 38
Object Date
Faustina Senior.
Hadrian.
Faustina Junior.
Hadrian.
Domitian.
General date of Stratum: Must be later than Road 4. Late aec
Previous
Previous
The Len Water-mills
Next
Next