Romano-British Salt Panning Hearths at Cliffe

INVESTIGATIONS AND EXCAVATIONS DURING THE YEAR ROMANO-BRITISH SALT-PANNING HEARTHS AT CLIFFE DURING the autumn of 1964, the Archreology Division of the Ordnance Survey reported to Maidstone Museum the exposure of RomanoBritish hearths16 by river erosion on the foreshore at Cliffe Creek (N.G.R. TQ70827718). I examined the site in January, 1965, and again in March of the same year when opportunity was taken of the low neap tide to excavate these structures, and it was possible, working under rather difficult conditions, to obtain a plan and sections of the hearths. These were carefully constructed oval hollows in the alluvial clay, probably lined with puddled clay, the larger hearth 2½ ft. x4 ft. and the other 2 ft. x 3 ft. The floor of the hearth sloped gently upwards, probably to facilitate the removal of ash; a darkened arc of debris was noted at this end. At the first visit one hearth was still partly stratified in the clay cliff of the saltings with saltern debris and no evidence could be found for any superstructure. A section through the hearth showed a succession of colour changes through the wall ranging from dull buff on the outside through orange red and purple, to white with salt glaze on the inside, showing that it had withstood considerable heat. Another layer of white fired clay was noted at a higher level, presumably due to the relining of the hearth at a later date. Above this were the typical saltpanning wedges, saltern debris and green slag stratified with charcoal. Displaced portions of baked clay lining suggested that some reconstruction had taken place. All evidence would point to the hearths16 being used in the extraction of salt from sea-water.17 Their construction is typical of many found in association with saltern debris,18 and a close parallel can be found at 1􀂪 Aroh. Cant., boor, 278. 16 The absence of potsherds and the presence of saltem debris rules out the likelihood of these structures being the remains of pottery kilns. 17 For a summary of the process, see Karl Riehm, 'Prehistoric Salt Boiling in Antiquity', in Antiquity, xxxv, 181-91. 16 For a description of saltem debris, see F. W. Reader, 'Report of the Redhills ExJ;lloration Committee, 1906-1907', P.S.A., xxii, 164-207; Ibid., 1908-1909, xxili, 66-96; R. A. Smith, 'The Essex Redhills as Saltworks', P.S.A., xxx (1918), 36-53; S. J. Hallam, 'Romano-British Salt Industry in South Lincolnshire', LiTIC8, Arohit. and Arch. Soc., vii, new series (1959-1960), 35-75. 272 INVESTIGATIONS AND EXCAVATIONS DURING THE YEAR Ingoldmells19 where an important salt industry had been established since Early Iron Age A times with continuance into the first century A.D. The dating of this site is rather difficult owing to the absence of stratified pottery. The wedges, crudely ma.de of fire clay and vegetable matter, are of a type found in first-century contexts such as Redhill III, Langenhoe.20 In conclusion I wish to thank Mr. D. B. Kelly, B.A., for his assistance and advice, along with Mr. T. Ithell at the excavation. A. Mn.Es 18 F. T. Baker, Lines. Archit. and Arch. Soc., vii, new series (1959-1960) 2 , 26-34. ° F. W. Reader, P.S.A., x:icii, 191-93, fig. 18, 7. 273