Springhead: Miscellaneous Excavations
Written By Jacob Scott
SPRINGHEAD: MISCELLANEOUS EXCAVATIONS
By the late W. S. PENN, B.Sc., A.I.R.I.
lNTRODUOTION
IT had been known for some time that the single carriageway of the A2
(built 1921-22) was to be extended by the addition of a second
carriageway south of it and this eventually took place between 1964
a.ad 1966. Thus, most of the work which took place between 1960 and
1966 wa-s of an emergency nature and in many cases full archroological
evidence could not be obtained. However, many buildings along the
proposed line of the road were rescued from oblivion and in nearly all
cases it is possible to offer some useful evidence.
The excavations described in this report took place between 1960
and 1964, apparently sufficiently in advance of the road works not to be
considered in the light of a possible emergency. However, the road had
been planned much earlier and it was thanks to the inevitable delays
which seem to bedevil public works that gave us more time than we had
anticipated.
The following are the features and buildings described in this
report:1
Feature F.7 - a cremation burial.
,, F.8 - a chalk platform.
,, F.9 - a thick red burnt clay area..
,, F.25 - an oven.
,, F.26 - a kiln.
Building B.9 - two walls of a building.
,, B.8 - contained a. hypocaust.
,, B.IO - an agricultural building.
Road R.6
,, R.7
,, R.8
,, R.11
These are not all of the discoveries made during these years and
others will form the subject of future reports.
AOKNOWLlDDGMlDNTS
First, I must thank various authorities for assisting with the finds.
Mr. M. R. Hull, M.A., F.S.A., examined the fibulae; the coins were
1 W. S. Penn, Springhead-Map of Discoveries, Arch. Oant., Ixxx (1965), 107.
This gives the locations of all the features mentioned in the report.
163
SPRINGHEAD: MISCELLANEOUS EXCAVATIONS
examined in the field by Mr. E.W. Tilley and finally by Mr. R. A. G.
Carson, M.A., F.S.A.; Dr. I. W. Cornwall examined soil samples; Mr.
G. A. Matthews reported on the seeds; Mr. D. Kelly, B.A., gave a
reference on the duck brooches, and Mr. K. S. Painter, F.S.A.,
commented on the pewter pot.
My own colleagues were generous with their assistance as usual.
Mr. E.W. Tilley dealt with the small finds, acted as site secretary and
helped in the preparation of the manuscript; Mr. W. Gee was responsible
for all the artwork; Mr. S. Harker dealt with the pottery, and
Mr. P. Connolly with the photography.
I must also thank the excavators for their support, and in particular
would mention Messrs. E. W. Tilley, S. Harker, E. Ellett, F. Turner,
M. Groombridge, G. Burles, P. Connolly, V. T. C. Smith, Dr. P.
Mitchell and Miss C. Akers.
There was a change of tenant farmer during the period of these
excavations and we now excavate through the courtesy of Mr. J. Banks.
Finally, the site is excavated by the Springhead Excavations
Committee for the Gravesend Historical Society and we are grateful to.
the Society for its continued support.
Bun.DING B. 10
INTRODUCTION
This building is by the side of the Watling Street (R.l) so much so
that its south wall provides a revetment for the road. During the
excavations it was named 'The Watling Street Building' for converuence.
On the Map of Springhead, 13 its walls are shown in the last
phase since the earlier building, which possessed an additional room on
the north-east (Room C, Fig. 1) had been robbed prior to conversion.
The various phases of the life of the building may be represented as
follows:
Phase I
(Claudian)
Phase II
(Flavian)
Pha.selll
(Early second century)
Phase IV
(Late-second/early
third century)
A composite courtyard, or perhaps road.
(Stratum IA, B, C.)
A thick silt layer (Stratum 2) on which a chalk
road was built.
A thick layer of dark soil accumulated
(Stratum 3) or was deposited on Stratum 2
and obliterated the road. A rectangular
building was erected with Rooms A, B -and
C. Its foundations were out through
Stratum 2.
Room C was destroyed and the wall bounding
Room A was strengthened. A corn-drying·
kiln was inserted in Room A.
1& Op. cit., note 1, page 163.
164
II I
I
II I
II II I :x:
I ..
,:::
SPRINGHEAD: MISCELLANEOUS EXCAVATIONS
PI/AS£ jJ ROAD
FIG, 1. Building B.10.
165
---7
I
I
I
I
BURIAL j
(4) l
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
SPRINGHEAD: MISCELLANEOUS EXCAVATIONS
Phase V
(Late third century)
Phase VI
(Late.fourth century)
Phase VII
(Fourth century)
A most substantial loading platform was built
(see Section Fig. 2) in the area previously
occupied by Room C, presumably to service
a blacksmith who erected a shelter in the
now derelict Rooms A and B.
Road R.9 (perhaps replacing the earlier road)
to the harbour (F5) was constructed up to
the Watling Street partly covering Room A
and the kiln.
The north-west side of Room B was used as
an infant burial area.
DATING OF STRATA AND PHASES
Details of the dating of strata and the phases in which they occur
are given in Table 1. This indicates that the building, in one form or
another, had a very long life.
There was some form of occupation on the site before the building
was erected which probably was in the Hadrianic period. The building
was probably used for agricultural purposes but became derelict by the
end of the third century. However, it was taken over in this state by a
blacksmith and it was used for iron-working for a long time.
This area produced one of the most significant coins so far found at
Springhead. It is the latest stratified coin found, namely Coin No. 1,
Table 2, of Valentinian 1, nearly 100 years later than the latest structure
previously found.
It seems, therefore, that Road R.9 was laid down towards the end of
the fourth century, a fact of the utmost significance. The temples had
been destroyed by this time but here there is positive evidence of
continuation of life in the town. Something of importance must have
been going on at the time for a new road to have been built.
In the same connection, it is interesting to note that the burial area
was for infants only. No adult burials have been found in the town
which suggests that rules and the boundaries of the town were still
being observed at a late date.
Phase I (Claudian)
This phase consisted of a thick layer of oyster shells (Stratum 1 A)
presumably employed as a base on the natural grey silt of the valley.
Over it is a further thin layer of silt (Stratum 1 B) and over this a thick
layer of yellow gravel (Stratum 1 C).
This composite structure may have served as a courtyard or early
road but insufficient was excavated to be sure.
166
N loadiRg l'fattorm Area
KEY •TOP
. SOIL
CHAIX
s
I :, :a I:: I :::.
iiSC
iiAiii lEiiiiii!!!!!!!!!!!!Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiil
FEET
Flo. 2. Section through rooms A and C of Building B.10.
t1
CII
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txJ
M 0
SPRINGHEAD: MISCELLANEOUS EXCAVATIONS
Phase II (Flavian)
The valley was subject to extensive flooding from the tidal waters
which may thus be responsible for the thick layer (Stratum 2) of ooze
or silt. Presumably this necessitated the construction of a thick chalk
road (with considerable camber) down to the harbour (F5).
This road only used chalk as a constructional material and,
curiously, terminated some 20 ft. from the Watling Street.
Phase III (Early to mid-second century)
A thick layer of dark soil {Stratum 3) accumulated over the silt or,
more likely, was deposited there. The reason for this belief is the
occurrence of painted wall plaster (usual plain colours) mixed in the
top of the soil. This plaster probably came from the building now
erected on the site, the foundations for which were cut through the soil.
These foundations must have been most insecure although, clearly,
they were only the mortared flint footings for a light wall.
The building was rectangular, 53 ft. by 36 ft., divided into three
rooms, A, B and C. All were floored with clay (Stratum 4).
There is no indication as to what the original building was used for.
Since it later had considerable agricultural connections, this may well
have been its original purpose.
Phase IV (Late second/early third century)
Extensive changes took place during this phase, both for utilitarian
reasons and perhaps because the foundations of the building had
subsided.
First. Room C wa.a eliminated and what had been the wall dividing
Rooms A and C was strengthened. Second, the clay floor of Room B
was overlaid with chalk in the southern half and gravel in the northern
half. The clay floor of Room A was covered over with chalk
(Stratum 5),
A small corn-drying kiln was now inserted in Room A (Plate IA).
It was a fairly normal 'L' -shaped type, its walls being constructed of
chalk blocks and (subsequently) baked clay. The stoke-hole was on the
west side and much charcoal indicated its use. There were a number of
tiles at the end of the cross-channel which suggests there may have
been a sliding tile to control the draught. An example of the latter
feature and the method of operating the kilns has been given by
Goodchild.2
: R. G. Goodchild, Wilt8. Archaeological Mag., xlix, 93.
168
A. L-shaped Corn-drying Kiln. Building B. 10.
H. Mousoleu,n. Building B. TO.
PLATB T
f fare p. rn..;
PLATE II
111'T' Ill'"' I
"" I' 111 111111 '"'I" "I' 11111111,., 11,11111111 •1
I 2 4 5 6 1
A. Brooch l, Tuble 3. Building B.10.
111 I •
1
1 I 11111111
11111111 , , I I I ' I ' ' ' ' I ' ' ' ' I ' ' '
I 2 4
B. Brooch 2, Table 3. Building B. lO.
PLATE lll
View of Hypocaust Building and Pilae.
Duildiog B.$.
l'l.\n: n·
View of Arch from Stoke.holn.
Building B.8.
Possible Corn-drying Kiln. Feetut"O F26.
SPRINGHEAD: MISCELLANEOUS. EXCAVATIONS
Although the kiln found in Room A was L-shaped, there are many
other shapes of which the most common is the T-shapedS, 4, 5, 6. It used
to be thought that kilns were usually inserted in derelict buildings as at
Springhead and Verulamium,7 but many were not.
A section through this kiln is given in Section, Fig. 2. North of the
kiln was a small 'U' -shaped hearth.
Pliase V (Begins late third century)
Phase V began in the late-third century and may well have continued
until the end of the fourth. First a very substantial loading
platform was built over what had been Room C and extending slightly
over the crosswall between Rooms C and A. This must have been for
unloading heavy carts of iron ore or crude iron for use by the bla.cksmith
who now established himself.
As the building was derelict it was necessary to erect a light structure
or lean-to. The chalk floors of Rooms A and B formed the base of
the hut but soon became covered with a layer of varying thickness of
baked clay. This was probably from a number of destroyed furnaces.
The whole structure was provided with a number of post-holes which
presumably formed a shelter over the working area. In the middle of
the shelter were the crude dry footings of two walls at right angles, but
it is difficult to decide whether this formed part of the hut or the furnace,
possibly the latter.·
Evidence for the blacksmith is three-fold. First, there were a
number of partly-worked pieces of iron, mostly unrecognizable, but
clearly part of a blacksmith's stock. Recognizable finds included a
plough-share tip, knife, lynch pin, candle-holder and bolt from a lock.
There were possibly fragments of sickles (see Table 5).
Second, as already stated, the area was extensively covered with
baked clay and fragment-a of a crucible were discovered. Finally, a
sample of soil from what appeared to be the remains of a furnace were
analysed and appeared to contain 'blacksmith's scales' (soil Sample 1,
Appendix 1).
Two samples of a silty material were also analysed (Samples 2 and 3,
Appendix 1) and appear to be natural sediment. This tends to reinforce
the 'flooding' suggestion mentioned earlier. Various seeds were also
discovered and analysed (Appendix 2).
Phase VI (Late fourth century)
A chalk Road R.9 was built over the east side of the building which
3 Silchester, Hants., Archaeologia, lix, 336.
' Caerwent, Archaeologia, lix, 308.
5 Thundersbarrow Hill, Antiquaries Journal, xiii, 121-25.
8 Highdown Hill, Smse:c Archaeological Oollecti-ons, lx....:xix, I.
7 J.R.S., l, 227. · ·
169
SPRINGHEAD: MISCELLANEOUS EXCAVATIONS
led from the Watling Street to the harbour. It completely covered the
kiln and partly covered Room A. Its late date may well be significa.nt.
Phase VII (Fourth century)
It is probable that much of the building was completely derelict
during this phase, although a blacksmith was still probably working.
The reason for saying this is that the burial area is mainly confined to
the inside of the north-west wall, away from the blacksmith's area.
As will be seen from Fig. 1, the main features of the burial area are a
small flint mausoleum (Plate lB) with a chalk floor and a longish tiled
feature. The latter may have been a platform for conducting cremations
as the tiles had been extensively cracked by heat. Some r:,upport is given
to this theory by the discovery of a cremation burial (No. 2) just north
of the mausoleum. The burial was contained in a pot with an upstanding
tile on either side. There had almost certainly been one on
top also but it had been removed by the plough. Several bone pins were
found nearby. The cremation platform was partly built over the wall
of the building.
There was a young child inhumation inside the mausoleum (No. 3),
although there were no grave goods. However, four small pots were
found around the building and one was perhaps buried with each child.
Pots apparently unconnected with burials were found inside the south
wall of Room B, by the kiln in Room A and on the north robbed wall
outside Room C. The latter had probably been associated with child
burial (1), but here, as elsewhere, the plough had caused considerable
disruption.
A final child burial (4) was found between t,he mausoleum and
platform. It was crudely surrounded by stonei, and pebbles and may
have been covered by a tile. Mussel shells accompanied the burials and
may have possessed some religious significance.s
Two small pots were found south of the platform but no burials
were associated with them. Part of a large hone covered them.
THE SMALL FINDS
There were a reasonable number of small finds, some of which
should be noted.
1. Two fine second-century brooches were found (Plate II A
and B).
2. The significant coin of Valentinian I has already been discussed
(Coin 1, Table 2).
8 W. S. Penn, .Arch. Can$., lxxiv (1960), 121.
l70
SPRINGHEAD: :MISCELLANEOUS EXCAVATIONS
3. The mussel shells with the burials may have had religious
significance. The same applies to the number of bone pins found in the
burial area (Table 6, Finds Nos. 3-9).
4. Another unstratified Belgic coin was found (Coin 9, Table 2),
adding to the evidence of a Belgic occupation nearby.
5. A piece of glass with a swastika motif on it (Table 5, Find No. 2).
Bun,DING B.8
lNTRODUOTION
This is an isolated building having no connection with another,
although it may have been intended that it should belong to Building
B.9 to which it is quite close. However, there is no path connecting the
two and both are connected separately by Roads R.6 (B.9 Building) and
R.7 (B.8 Building) to the main branch road R.2.
An even more puzzling feature is that the building was never used.
It was erected during the flourishing Antonine era which makes the
circumstances even more difficult to understand.
TuE BmLDING, PHASE I
The building is shown in Fig. 5 and was quite well preserved. The
walls, on average, survived to a height of 27 in., although this is mainly
because the hypocaust was below Roman ground level.
The walls were well made in flint and reinforced with brick (not
re-used roofing tiles). Whenever walls end there is additional reinforcement.
The floor was well made in concrete. Thus the building was
exceptionally well made.
The pil,ae were square and consisted of alternate layers of flint and
brick (Plate III). Part of a well-made arch (Plate IV) led into the
hypocaust from where the stoke-hole would normally have been.
The superstructure must have been made on a grand scale. First,
substantial chunks of mortar were found which were part of the floor
and similar to the morta.r found in Building B.9 described later. About
1-in. square tesserae were also discovered which suggests a tessellated
floor very much like the one in Bu
i
lding B.9. It may well be, therefore,
that the two buildings were erected at about the same time. Plain
coloured wall-plaster was also found in the debris.
The most curious feature about this building is that the hypocaust
was never used. There was no stoke-hole and, in fact, a chalk path leads
a.way from the building and is located just outside the arch.
It is certain, however, that the building was in use for a time even
without heatiug. There are several reasons for thinking this. First, the
building itself seems to have been completed and would almost certainly
have been used; secondly, a path {R.7) leads from it to Road R.2;
171
SPRINGHEAD: MISCELLANEOUS EXCAVATIONS
third, two cess-pits were found immediately outside the building;
fourth, Room 3 was not part of the original building but was added
later, which could hardly have occurred if the building had never been
used. Thus, the building was inhabited but the hypocaust was not
brought into use, a fact which may possibly be explained on the
grounds of economy.
The cess-pits contained little of interest. One, 3 ft. outside the
north-east wall and positioned between Rooms 1 and 2, was 4 ft. in
diameter, was mainly unlined and sterile. The other, 4 ft. outside the
south-east corner, was 4 ft. square, unlined and sterile.
THE BUILDING, PHASE II
The building was derelict during Phase II. A number of infant
burials were inserted in the debris (Nos. l, 2 and 3), three inside the
building and one outside (No. 4).
Only one burial possessed grave goods, namely No. 1 in Room 2.
which was accompanied by a pewter pot. The latter (Fig. 3, 10) may
be dated to the third century.
A number of the usual small finds were found among the debris (see
tables), including bronze and bone pins, coins and various pottery,
including Rhenish ware.
Pru.sE III
A thin chalk floor was inserted over the debris of the building in
Rooms 2, 3 and 4. It was just below the extant level of the walls.
Thus it may well be that the walls of the building survived to a
reasonable height and that the building was re-occupied for a period
during the fourth century. It must have been a. relatively crude
structure.
DATING PR.A.SES
The three phases may be dated in the following manner from the
scarce evidence available.
Phase I. This is the original building, dated from finds under concrete
floor.
Three sherds of pottery indicate that the building was erected in the
Hadrianic-Antonine period (Sherds Nos. 17, 18, 19, Table 4).
Phase II. The derelict period dated from finds in the debris, namely,
Rhenish ware, the pewter pot and two coins (Nos. 1 and 2, Table 7)
indicating a late third-century date.
Phase III. Thin chalk floor dated from finds under .it. One coin
(No. 3, Table 7) and two flanged sherds ·of pottery (Sherds 4.14 and
172
SPRINGBEAD: MISCELLANEOUS EXCAVATIONS
5
II
G. 3. ee.1 we.re. {¼)
173
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13
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, I
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14
10
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SPRINGHEAD: MISCELLANEOUS EXCAVATIONS
9
18
17
IS
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8
FlG. 4. Pottery, Glass and Bone. (t)
174
13
12
16
scale
SPRINGHEAD: MISCELLANEOUS EXCAVATIONS
©
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BURIAL
3
l!IKfOWJl6
BRICK
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feet
1
CONCR!TE
FLOOR
z
CHALK PATK
Fro. 5. Plan of Hypocaust. Building B.8.
175
SPRINGHEAD: MISCELLANEOUS EXCAVATIONS
4.15, Table 4} indicate a fourth-century date. This is confirmed by two
coins (Nos. 4 and 5, Table 7) above the chalk floor and path as well as
much fourth-century pottery debris.
The two coins immediately above the chalk floor do not necessarily
give a date to the floor as they can hardly claim to be stratified.
However, the general context of the situation indicates a fourthcentury
date for the floor, probably late.
The living conditions during the last phase must have been fairly
dismal.
SMALL FINDS
The small finds require little comment. The pewter pot with the
intrusive burial has already been mentioned.
Two finds north of the building possess the most interest. These
were found in the modern roadside ditch of the A2 (the 1921-22
carriageway as a new carriageway has now been added and the ditch
obliterated) and thus their dates cannot be certain.
The :first was a, socketed iron. lance or spea.r head (Fig. 3.7) which
does not appear to be a Roman type. A very similar one is illustrated
in the London J.Wuseum Medieval Oamlogue, 1954 (see Table 5.17).
Since Springhead was not occupied after the Roman period, this may
represent a loss by a traveller who was following the line of the old
Roman road.
The second find was an iron arrowhead, probably Roman, which
was pushed into the ditch during ploughing (Find No. 5.16 and Fig. 3.6).
FEATURE F.26
THE STRUCTURE .AND ITS Pu:&POSE
This feature has been called a corn-drying kiln, but its identification
is by no means certain. It was a structure of maximum dimensions just
over 14 ft. by 8 ft. divided into three corridors, none of them as much
as 2 ft. wide (Fig. 6). The walls were made from chalk, simply lying on
a chalk raft or platform (Fig. 7). They survived to a height of only 6 in.,
and this was probably their original height as there was a flint surround
all the way round up to the level of the walls (see Plate V).
It seems reasonable to make certain deductions from these facts.
First, the walls were so short and so unsubstantial that they could not
have supported a building of any height. Second, the 'rooms' were so
small as to be useless for any functional purposes. It may be added that
the feature was quite isolated and was not, therefore, part of another
structure.
The best possible suggestion, therefore, is that the walls were part
of a corn-drying kiln of unusual shape. The procedure would have been
176
OVEN f25
SCAI.E Fffi
EXHN!IVE CRALK
PlAHORM
KILN F26
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ONE 1001 OUP CUliE\
IN CUAU PlUfOR
AZ ROAD DHC
2 - 6Ullll
CUII
fOOTIM6l
Fm. 6. Oven (F25); Kiln (F26).
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OARKSOI FllffJ CHALK auIIJ IAUB ClAY!Y SOil
Fro. 7. Kiln (F26).
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SPRINGHEAD: MISCELLANEOUS EXCAVATIONS
to cover the walls with poles, on top of which would have been laid
straw, on top of which would have been laid the corn for drying. Hot
gases from a stoke-hole would have been passed underneath.
This seems to be a reasonable argument, but nevertheless there is
one strong objection. There were no signs of burning and no sign of a
stoke-hole which was essential. The nearest to the latter was an oven
(Feature F.25) which was separated from the kiln by a distance of 12 ft.
and the entrance to which pointed away from the kiln. It could,
therefore, have hardly been the stoke-hole of F.26 in the second phase
of the kiln (see below), although this is not impossible in the first phase.
The use of the second phase structure must therefore remain
doubtful.
Another point worth noting is that a substantial chalk platform
surrounded the structure and almost certainly extended up to the
Roman Watling Street north of it, but which could not be excavated
because it was covered by the modern road. Such a substantial platform
might mean the transportation of raw materials (e.g. corn) to the
feature from the main road.
DATING THE STRUCTURE
There is no direct sealed evidence for the building. A coin of
Claudius was found in Stratum D but is of little help. Two sherds of
pottery (Table 4, 21 and 22) of first-century date were found in Stratum
A and may thus imply a first-century date for the structure.
However, the indirect evidence is much more impressive. There was
an intrusive cremation burial with an iron instrument (Fig. 3.8) and a
large round stone in the south-west end of the south corridor. The
burial pot was a poppy-head beaker (Table 4.20) of late first- or early
second-century date, which means that the building must have been
built before that and was out of use by then. It may also imply that
this part of the settlement was not in use at the time and the structure
may originally have belonged to the 'military ditch' phase as the
structure is quite near to the corner of the ditch (F.28). If the latter
went out of use early, then the kiln may also have no longer been
required.
There seems to have been a second phase to the building. The floor
surround was built later, since it seals a samian spread (latest date of
the samian was first quarter third century) from the destroyed Building
B.18. This means that the second phase ended at least when Building
B.18 was destroyed. Two coins (Table 7, Nos. 6 and 9, latest A.D. 155)
in Stratum A also confirm this later date.
It may well be that the structure had another use during the second
phase, although it is difficult to visualize what. The end of the long
'corridor' gives the impression that it was subsequently sealed (it was
17.9
SPRINGHEAD: MISCELLANEOUS EXCAVATIONS
impossible to distinguish two phases in an entirely broken and rammed
chalk construction) and it may have been here that there was a stokehole
and the long 'corridor' may have been the centraJ flue.
FEATURE F.25
This feature was an oven, the plan of which is shown in Fig. 6 and a
section of which is shown in Fig. 8.
WEST
KEY -mm1111an21w;-H\:)11:.:-11P:1
ClAY DARKSOll SIii ,oulH CHAU WAUlll!TER 6UAlllN6 IAMHAU8
Fm. 8. Oven. Feature F25.
Unfortunately its purpose could not be ascertained. It is certainly
not like a typical bread oven, there were no pottery or tile wasters and
no signs of iron or bronze working. It may therefore only be classified
generally as an 'oven'.
One thing is certain. A considerable amount of wood was burnt in
it which may be determined from the surviving layer of potash. It may
have been connected with Feature F.26, but this is mtlikely as already
explained.
The oven was cut out of an existing bank but lined with a thin layer
of chalk. Pottery was scarce and standard Springhead forms (8.18 and
S.20) indicated a late first- to early-second century feature.
There was a third-century intrusive cremation burial in a pot in the
filling.
180
SPRINGHEAD: MISCELLANEOUS EXCAVATIONS
Road 11 was just west of the oven Feature F.25. It was a simple
chalk road 6 in. thick in the centre and 8 ft. wide. It led from the
Roman Watling Street, R.l, in a south-westerly direction, possibly to
service the oven F.25 with which it was contemporary. It continued on
in the direction of F.27 and its ultimate purpose may eventually be
discovered during future excavations.
FEATURES F.7, 8 AND 9
Feature F.8 is a 4-in. thick chalk base extending as shown in the
Map of Springhead over an area of approximately 40 ft. by 40 ft. The
discovery of a cremation pot (Feature F.7), with lid let into it, inspired
the hope that an urnfield had been discovered. This was not so and the
burial was the only one found. The pot was of first-century date, and,
according to theory, should have been outside the then settlement, and
it probably was.
By the side of the chalk feature with its burial was a very thick clay
base (Feature F.9) which. had been subjected to considerable heat.
There were also remains of burning and the area is presumably where
the cremation was carried out. As the whole thing was an isolated
feature it may have represented the burial of some special person.
Burr.DING B.9
This building was under the verge of the then single carriageway of
the A2. Only <;>ne day was allowed by the authorities for this excavation
and the evidence is thus extremely limited. It was decided to excavate
here because a deep cable trench, dug along the verge at the very edge
of the road had revealed a 12-in. thick section of cement at the top of
whic}i. was part of a well-made tessellated floor (red tesserae approximately
1 in. square).
The position of the building is indicated on the Map. Some 20 ft. of
the south-west wall was exposed and this was 18 in. wide. Just 1 ft. of
an im1er wall was exposed to give a corridor 12 ft. wide. The building
may ·well, therefore, have been quite large.
However, the evidence is that the corridor had a wooden floor as
debris had collapsed through it when it rotted away.-Underneath was a
thick chalk base, a feature so common in the temple area.
In the debris which had once been on top of the floor were found red,
pink, white and. blue te,sserae, indicating much greater richness elsewhere;
wall-plaster, nails, many tiles and much pottery, most of the
latter Antonine (Standard forms S.6, S.1,1, S.21, S.26). The only
utilitarian ol;iject was the iron shoe o a .spade (Fig. 3.9). A small
section jus(outside the building revealed some coloured wall-plaster
and a potter's stamp-(PATERNVS ofLezoux-late-Antonine).
:181
SPRINGHEAD: MISCELLANEOUS EXCAVATIONS
Thus we have a picture of a well-made house, certainly with a
tessella.ted floor in one part of it and possibly a mosaic floor. The walls
were covered with plaster and there was a tiled roof. It was probably
Antonine.
It should be noted for future reference that the building still exists
under the road.
The small chalk road up to it (R.6) connects it to the main branch
road R.2.
TABLE 1
DATING OF STRATA, BUILDING B.10
Stratum Object Reference Date
Stratum 1, Phase I
Early Gravel Courtyard Brooch 3 Table 3.3 Late Claudian.
This courtyard is probably Glaudian or N eronian.
Stratum 2, Phase II Coin 5 Table 2.5 Vespasian.
Silt Deposit and Ohalk Road
This silt depoait and road probably extended over the Flavian period.
Stratum 3
Dark Soil
Stratwm 4
Glay Floor, Room B
Chalk Floor, Room B
Brooch 4 Table 3.4
Late first-century date.
Coin 3
Sherd 11
Sherd 12
Table 2.3
Table 4.11
Table 4.12
Neronian.
Hadrian
A.D, 80-120
Potter's stamp,
c. A.D. 150-190.
Date: Ewrly to mid-second century.
Phase III
First erection of Building.
This phase is associated with Strata 3 and 4 and must therefore be of midsecond-
century date.
Stratwm S, Phase IV
Chalk (second) floor
of building
Coin 2 Table 2.2 Domitian.
Coin 4 Table 2.4 Mark Antony.
Coin 13 Table 2.13 Antoninus Pius.
Brooch 1 Table 3.1 Second century.
Brooch 2 Table 3.2 Late second century.
Date: Late second or early third century.
Stratum 6, Phase V
Glay of blacle8mith's
furnace
Coin 7
Coin 11
Sherd 3
Sherd 4
Sherd 5
Sherd 6
Sherd 9
Table 2.7
Table 2.11
Table 4.3
Table 4.4
Table 4.5
Table 4.6
Table 4.9
Tetricus I.
Tetricus I.
Antonina.
Late second century.
Antonina.
A.D. 160-190.
Third/fourth
centuries.
Date: Late third and'fourth centuries.
182
SPRINGHEAD: MISCELLANEOUS EXCAVATIONS
Sltratum
Stratum7
Soii covering furnace
TABLE 1 ( continued)
Object Ref ere nee
Coin 8 Table 2.8
Date
Cotmnodus.
Date: On basis of Stratum 6, should be fourth century.
Stratwm 8 Coin 1 Table 2.1 Fourth century.
Under Road R.9
Under Road R.9
Sherd 7 Table 4. 7 Valentinian I.
Sherd 10 Table 4.10 Third/fourth
centuries.
Date: Fourth century.
Stratum 10
Phase VI
Top soil containing much fourth-century rubble.
Coin 12 Table 2.12 Constantine II.
Ooin
No.
1.
2.
Of doubtful provenance as intermingled with top
soil.
Date: Fourth century.
TA:BLE 2
COINS FROM BUILDING B.10
Reported on by R. A. G. Carson, Esq., M.A., F.S.A., and
E. W. Tilley, Esq.
Position Description
Under latest road (R.9). Valentinian I. 3 AE. L.R.B.C. Il/1390.
Stratum 8.
Chalk floor, Room B. Domitian. 2 AE. As. Obv.: Illegible.
Stratum 5. Head, r. Rev.: Completely worn off.
3. Clay floor, Room B. Hadrian. 2 AE. As. Obv.: Illegible. Head,
Stratum 4. r. Rev.: Illegible. Standing figure.
4. Under chalk floor, Room B. Republic. Mark Antony. AR. Denarius.
Stratum 5. Sydenham. No. 1230.
5. Just above Phase II Road. Vespasian. 2 AE. As. R.I.C. II. No. 478.
Stratum 2.
6. Over Burial 4.
Stratum 10.
7. Blacksmith's clay.
8.
Stratum 6.
Soil over blacksmith's
clay. Stratum 7.
9. Unstrati:fied.
10. Unstratified.
11. Blacksmith's clay.
Stratum 6.
16
Antoninus Pius. 2 AE. As. R.I.C. III.
No. 678.
Tetricus I. 3 AE. R.I.C. V. No. 56.
Commodus. 2 AE. Dupondius. R.I.C. III.
No. 1585.
Cantii, coin of. Early first century A.D.
Obv.: Bear, r. Rev.: Horse, r. Cf. Mack,
No. 296.
Arcadius/Honorius. 4 AE. Obv.: Inscription
off flan. Bust, diademed and
draped, r. Rev.: SALVS REIPVBLICAE.
Victory to l., trophy on
shoulder, dragging captive. In field 1, .
Tetricus I. Imitation radiate. AE. Obv.:
Inscription off flan. Bust, radiate, r.
Rev.: IBegible. Invictus type. Cf.
R.I.C. V. No. 82.
183
Goin
No.
12.
13.
SPRINGHEAD: MISCELLANEOUS EXCAVATIONS
TABLE 2 (continued)
Position
Mixed with soil around
burials.
Chalk floor, Room B.
Stratum 5.
Description
Constantine II. AE. K. No. 87.
Antoninus Pius. 1 AE. Sestertius. R.I.C.
III. No. 635.
REFERENCES USED IN THE Com LlsTS
R.I.C. Mattingly and Sydenham, 'Roman Imperial Coinage'.
L.R.B.C. Carson, Hill and Kent. 'Late Roman Bronze Coinage.'
(1960.) Parts I and II.
K. Kent. 'The Pattern of Bronze Coinage under Constantine I.'
Numismatic Chronicle, 1957.
Sydenham. Sydenham, E. A. 'The Coinage of the Roman Republic.'
(London, 1952.)
Mack. Ma-0k, R. P. 'The Coinage of Ancient Britain.' (London,
1953.)
TABLE 3
FIBULAE FROM BUILDING B.10
Brooches 1 and 2 reported on by M. R. Hull, Esq., M.A., F.S.A.
Brooches 3 and 4 reported on by E.W. Tilley, Esq.
No. 1. Chalk floor, Room B. Stratum 5. Date: second century. A wellpreserved,
brass, lozenge-shaped, enamelled plate-brooch. The decoration
consisting of two bands of enamel surrounding a central disc of green
enamel. The outer band is made up of alternate sections of blue and green
enamel; the inner, blue with white spots. At ea.eh corner there is a solid
round lug with additional pairs of loops at the hinge and catohplate ends.
Many examples are known but the following are the nearest parallels to the
Springhead one: Icklingham (Ashmolean Museum). Hambleden (Northampton
Museum). Nor'nour. Scilly, Ministry of Works. In this example
the lateral lugs are triple, with three stamped eyes; lozenge subdivided in a
totally different pattern.
Cf. Sellye, Les Bronzes emadlles de la Pannonie romaine, pl. xii, 14, 15,
16, and Exner, in B.R.G.K., :xxix, Taf., xi, 5 (but this has an oval centre).
N or'nour bas produced over 250 brooches, and seems beyond doubt to
have been a factory. The Springhea.d brooch may well have been made
there, although it could, of course, equally well have been ma.de at the
Villa Anthee in Belgium. This type is usually ascribed to the second
century.
No. 2. Under floor, Room B, Stratum 5. Date: late second century. A very
fine, well-preserved, brass brooch moulded in the form of a sitting duck.
The upper surface of the back is divided up into three panels of crescentshaped
segments to represent feathers and filled in with blue and green
enamels. The eyes are in white enamel and the tail is represented by a small
loop, at which end is the hinge of the pin. It is an uncommon type and no
exactly similar examples have been located. The following are the nearest
184
SPRINGHEAD: MISCELLANEOUS EXCAVATIONS
TABLE 3 (continued)
parallels recorded. Chester (Chester Museum). Brettenham (Ashmolean
Museum). Saltersford (Grantham Museum), published in Grantham Museum
Report. Colchester (Colchester Museum), found in a grave of late-secondcentury
date. York (Yorkshire Museum, H.31}, one of a group of six
cremations (Region IV (h) iv) had a pair of similar enamelled plate brooches.
Published, Royal Commission on Historical Monuments, Roman York:
Eburacum, p. 91, pl. 34. Associated pottery was late second century.
No. 3. In early gravel courtyard, Stratum l C. Date: late Claudian. Brass
brooch with weakly curved bow, thin and flat with edges nearly parallel,
and decorated with longitudinal ridges and flutings. Below it a crossmoulding,
below which the plain, flat foot tapers to a terminal moulding.
The pin (now missing) was hinged. Camulodunum Type, XVIII. Cf.
Verulamium Report, fig. 43, no. 10.
No. 4. Under massive loading platform, associated with Stratum 3. Date:
ClaudianfNeronian. Small, much-corroded bronze brooch of the Ca.mulodunum
Type, VII form. A simple one-piece La Tene III brooch distinguished
by a four-turn spring with internal chord, flat tapering bow, and
a solid catchplate (now missing).
We are indebted to Mr. D. Kelly, B.A., of Maidstone :Museum for the
reference to the pair of duck brooches from York.
Sherd Figure
No. No.
l. 4.1
2. 4.2
3.
4.
6.
TABLE 4
POTTERY
Reported on by S. Harker, Esq.
Position
Building B.10.
In clay of furnace.
(Stratum 6.)
Building B.10.
In clay of furnace.
(Stratum 6.)
Building B.10.
In clay of fur.
nace.
(Stratum 6.)
Building B.10.
In clay of fur.
nace.
(Stratum 6.)
Building B.10.
In clay of fur.
nace.
(Stratum 6.)
Description
Jar, hard light brown fabric, slight bead
at base of rim.
Dish, soft brown fabric.
Standard Springhead form S.6. Antonina.
S.10. Late second century (two examples).
s.12. Antonina.
185
SPRINGHEAD: MISCELLANEOUS EXCAVATIONS
TABLE 4 (continued)
Sherd Figure
No. No. Position
6. 4.3 Building B.10.
In clay offurnace.
(Stratum 6.)
7. 4.4 Building B.10.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
Under Road
R.9.
4.5 Building B.10.
In blacksmith's
clay.
4.6 Building B.10.
Under Road
R.9.
4. 7 Building B.10.
Clay floor,
Room B.
Building B.10.
Chalk floor,
Room B.
4.8 Building B.10.
Burial area.
4.9 Building B.10.
Burial area.
4.10 Building B.10.
By kiln, but
from burial
area.
Building B.10.
Top soil.
Building B.8.
Under concrete
floor.
Building B.8.
Under concrete
floor.
Building B.8.
Under concrete
floor.
KilnF.26,
Stratum A.
KilnF.26,
Stratum A.
KilnF.26,
Stratum A.
Description
Poppy-head beaker in hard greyish
fabric fired brown in parts. Cordon at
root of rim. A.D. 160-190. Verulamium,
Fig. 27, No. 12.
Dish, hard grey fabric flanged rim,
Antonina.
S.6. Antonina.
Mortarium in grey fabric, fired orange
externally cream slip inside. Heavily
gritted. Third/fourth centuries.
Mortarium in grey fabric fired orange.
Third/fourth centuries.
Jar in hard grey fabric with coarse black
surface. Bead rim recessed for lid.
Richborough ID, 245, A.D. 80-120.
Form 18/31. Potter's stamp AVITVS,
c. A,D. 150. (See Arch. Gant., lxxi (1957),
p. 92.)
Small jar in hard light brown (external)
fabric. Vestigial rim with a slightly
suggested cordon on the neck.
Small jar in coarse fairly hard grey fabric
with small flat-topped bead rim.
Very hard, cream ware. A similar pot was
found in Coventina's Well on the Wall.
Lion's head spout from Form 45 mortarium.
Late second to early third
century.
Jar in hard grey fabric. Slight offset at
shoulder. See Richborough III, 264,
A.,D, 80-120.
Narrow-necked jar in hard grey fabric
burnished externally. Cordon at root of
rim. Girth groove and wavy decoration
below. A,D. 80-100. Richborough I,
p. 92, No. 2.
Jar in dark grey fabric, calcite gritted,
with flat topped angular rim. Variant
s.20. First century A..D.
Poppy-head beaker in hard grey fabric
with usual barbotine dots in irregular
zones. Early second century.
Standard Springhead Form 19. o. A,D, 100,
Standard Springhea.d Form 20 variant.
First century A.D.
186
Object
No.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
SPRINGHEAD: MISCELLANEOUS EXCAVATIONS
TABLE 5
IRON WARE
Reported on by E. W. Tilley, Esq.
Location
Blacksmith's hoard.
Building B.10.
Blacksmith's hoard.
Building B.10.
Blacksmith's hoard.
Building B.10.
Blacksmith's hoard.
Building B.10.
Blacksmith's hoard.
Building B.10.
Blacksmith's hoard.
Building B.10.
Blacksmith's hoard.
Building B.10.
Blacksmith's hoard.
Building B.10.
Blacksmith's hoard.
Building B.10.
Blacksmith's hoard.
Building B.10.
Blacksmith's hoard.
Building B.10.
Blacksmith's hoard.
Building B.10.
Mausoleum area..
Building B.10.
Mausoleum area.
Building B.10
Fig.
No.
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.7
3.13
187
Object
Candlestick, iron bracket type.
Cf. Ward, 'Roman Era. in
Britain' (1911), fig. 61, E.
Key, iron, with a. ring through
the handle for suspension. Cf.
Wheeler, 'London in Roman
Times', London Musewm Cat.,
No. 3, pl. xxx:i, no. 11. Penn,
Springhead, Site A, Arch. Cant.,
lxxi (1957), fig. 16.3.
Bolt from a. lock. See illustration of
model in 'Antiquities of Roman
Britain', British Museum (1951},
fig. 41. Cf. Verulamium Report,
pl. LXV.A, no. 16.
Iron knife, small and of the usual
common type.
Head of an iron lynch-pin. Cf. a.
similar one in the Chantry
Mu seum, Gr avesend, from
Springhead.
Iron key, similar to No. 2.
Iron tool, staple-shaped, like a
small draw-hoe. The large flat
head is set at right angles to the
shank.
Nails or spikes, square section
shanks, various heads, length
5·9 in. to 6·3 in.
Iron knife, usual common type.
Iron socketed spike, square-sectioned
point, but circular socket
to receive baa. Length 5 in. Cf.
Greenfield, 'The Romano-British
Shrines at Brigstock', Antiq. J.,
xliii (1963), pt. II, fig. 7.9.
Iron object, possibly a bolt from a
small lock.
Part of a ploughshare tip.
Stylus, usual common iron type.
Iron knife, small with undecorated
bone handle.
Object
No.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
Object
No.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
SPRINGHEAD: MISCELLANEOUS EXCAVATIONS
'fABLE 5 (continued)
Location
Building B.8.
Alongside Path R. 7.
In modern road (A2)
ditch, by side of
1921/22 carriageway.
In modern road (A2)
ditch, by side of
1921/22 carriageway.
KilnF.26.
Stratum A.
Building B.9.
Under floor.
Fig.
No. Object
Iron stylus, length 5 • 5 in.
3.6 Iron arrow-head with a leaf-shaped
head and a long tang. Length
4 in.
Socketed iron lance or spearhead,
with a point of triangular section.
Length 6 · 2 in. This does
not appear to be a Roman type.
A very similar one is illustrated
in the London Museum Medieval
Catalogue (1954), pl. XVI, no. 3.
From the Walbrook.
3.8 Curved, single-edged iron blade
with the remains of a tang at one
end. Length 14 · 25 in.
3.9 A fine, well-preserved, iron spadeshoe.
Width a-0ross arms 9 • 25 in.,
length 10 in.
TABLE 6
MISCELLANEOUS FINDS
Reported on by E.W. Tilley, Esq.
Location
Building B.10.
Stratum 4.
Building B.10.
Top soil.
Building B.10.
Mausoleum area.
Building B.10.
Mausoleum area.
Building B.10.
Mausoleum area.
Building B.10.
Mausoleum area.
Building B.10.
Mausoleum area.
Fig.
No.
4.11
4.12
4.13
4.14
188
Object
Gaming counter. A small disc of
blue opaque glass, flat below and
convex above, made by pouring
the molten material on to a flat
surface. Cf. Richborough TI,
pl. XIV, No. I.
Base fragment of square, green
glass bottle bearing in low relief
a swastika with the arms anticlockwise.
Short bone pin with pointed head.
Length 2 · 6 in.
Bone pin with spherical head.
Length 3 · 1 in.
Bone pin with spherical head,
Length 4 • l in.
Fragment of bone pin with spherical
head.
Bone pin with head roughly
shaped into thirteen flat surfaces.
Object
No.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
SPRINGHEAD: MISCELLANEOUS EXCAVATIONS
TABLE 6 (continued)
Fig.
Location
Building B.10.
Mausoleum area.
Building B.10.
Mausoleum area.
Building B.10.
Stratum 3.
Building B.10.
Stratum 4.
Building B.10.
Top soil.
Building B.10.
Top soil.
Building B.8.
Over concrete floor
with intrusive infant
burial.
Building B.8.
In debris over
cement floor.
Building B.8.
In debris over
cement floor.
Building B.8.
In debris over
cement floor.
Building B.8.
By side of Path R. 7.
Building B.8.
In debris over
cement floor.
Building B.8.
In debris over
cement floor.
Building B.8.
In debris over
cement floor.
Kiln F .26. Stratum A.
Kiln F .26. Stratum A.
KilnF.26. Stratum.A.
No.
4.15
4.16
3.10
3.11
3.12
Object
Large bone pin with spherical head.
Length 3 • 9 in.
Long bone needle with a spatulate
end and a long eye. Length
4·6 in.
Bronze nail of square section and
round flat head. Length l · 3 in.
Small circular bronze disc, • 45 in.
diam., with brass piece through
centre.
Bronze hollow domed stud.
Part of a finger-ring, composed of
three silver wires twisted together.
Pewter pot. This pot is unlikely to
be earlier than the third century
because pewter was not in production
before then. This date
would also fit the pot's resemblance
to colour-coated pots of
the same date being manufactured
in the Rhineland, in the
Nene valley and at Colchester.
Bronze nail-cleaner and tweezers
on a split ring.
Small bronze mounting with open•
work ornament. Two studs on
the back were probably for
fastening to leather.
Bronze pin with pointed head.
Heavy bronze pin with rolled-over
and squared off head.
Bone, dome-shaped gaming counter.
Bone pin with spherical head.
4.17 Bone pin with large pointed head
and collar below.
189
Pair of bronze tweezers.
Bronze nail-cleaner.
Bronze needle.
. '
Object
No.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
SPRINGHEAD: MISCELLANEOUS EXCAVATIONS
TABLE 6 (continued)
Fig.
Location
KilnF.26. Unstrati:fied.
KilnF.26. Unstrati:fied.
Kiln F .26. Stratum C.
KilnF.26. Stra.tum E.
Kiln F .26. Stratum A.
Kiln F .26. Stra.tum A.
No. Object
Bronze pin with sharp pointed
head. Length 3 • 5 in.
Bronze nail, aqua.re section, flat
head. Length 1 · 5 in.
Bronze hasp from a casket.
3.14 Small, thin bracelet. Formed of a
band of bronze with snake's
head terminal a.nd a central
raised ridge decorated with
transverse striations.
4.18 Short, thick, bone pin with flat
head. Length 2 · 3 in
4.19 Bone counter decorated with con•
centric circles.
We a.re indebted to K. S. Painter, Esq., F.S.A., Assistant Keeper,
Department of British and Medieval Antiquities, British Museum; for the
information on the pewter pot.
TABLE 7
COINS FROM BUILDING B.8 AND KILN F.26
Reported on by R. A. G. Carson, Esq., M.A., F.S.A. and E. W. Tilley, Esq.
Goin
No.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Position
Building B.8. In rubble
over concrete floor.
Building B.8. In rubble
over concrete floor.
Building B.8. Under top
chalk floor.
Building B.8. Over the
chalk floor.
Building B.8. Over
chalk path.
Description
Tetricus II. (Imitation.) 3 AE. Obv.:
lliegible. Bust, radiate and draped, r.
Rev.: Illegible. Prototype, Spes 1, holding
flower and catching up dress. Of.
R.I.C. V. No. 271.
Tetricus I. 3 AE. Obv.: IMP TETRICVS
P F AVG. Bust, radiate and draped, r.
Rev.: LAETITIA AVGG. Laetitia
stdg., ]., with wreath and anchor.
R.I.C. V. No. 90.
Constantine I. 3 AE. Obv.: CONSTAN•
TINVS A VG. Bust, helmeted and
cuirassed, r. Rev.: BEATA TRAN•
QVILLITAS. Altar inscribed VOTIS
XX. Mint of Trier. K.207.
Valentinian II. 4 AE. Obv.: D N VAL·
ENTINIANVS P F AVG. Bust, draped
and diademed, r. Rev.: VICTORIA
AVGGG. Victory 1., holding wreath and
palm. Of. L.R.B.C. II/389.
Theodora. Obv.: F L MAX THEODORAE
A.VG. Bust, laur. and draped,
r. Rev.: PIETAS ROMANA. Empress
stdg., holding two children. Trier mint.
L.R.B.C. I/105.
190
Coin
No.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
SPRINGHEAD: MISCELLANEOUS EXCAVATIONS
TABLE 7 (continued)
Position
Kiln F .26. Stratum A.
Kiln F .26. Unstratified
over site.
Kiln F.26. Stratum D.
Kiln F.26. Stratum A.
Oven F .25. Intrusive
burial.
Description
Faustina Senior. Sestertius. Obv.: DIVA
FAVSTINA. Bust, r., without veil.
Rev.: AVGVSTA S C. Pietas stdg., 1.,
holding patera and palladium, at her
feet an altar. R.I.C. III. No. 1127.
Imitation. (Hybrid.) AE. c. A.D. 330-335.
Obv.: Type of 'Urbs Roma', bust, hel•
meted, 1. Rev.: Type of 'Constantinopolis'
stdg. on prow, holding spear
and resting on shield.
Claudius I. 2 AE. As. Obv.: TI
OLA VDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR
P IMP P P. Head, bare, I. Rev.: S C.
Minerva advancing r., hurling javelin
and holding shield. R.I.C. I. No. 66.
Antoninus Pius. 2 AE. As. Obv.: ANTONINVS
AVG PIVS P P TR P
XVIII. Head, laureate, r. Rev.: BRITANNIA
COS III! S C. Britannia
seated on rock. R.I.C. III. No. 934.
Claudius II Gothicus. 3 AE. Obv.:
DIVO CLA VDIO. Bust, radiate, r.
Rev.: CONSECRATIO. Eagle facing,
head r. R.I.C. V. No. 266.
APPENDIX I
SOIL SAMPLES (BUILDING B.10)
Reported on by Dr. I. W. Cornwall
No. 1. From the iron furnace area.
Black. Charcoal is present, but not in large amount. There is no
humus. The black colour is due to quantities of small scales of
highly magnetic black material, mineralogically speaking magnetite,
Fe0.Fe208, but, more specifically, 'blacksmith's scales'. This suggests
that the area was a forge or blacksmith's workshop.
No. 2. From a narrow gully in the blacksmith's area.
Grey. This is mainly calcareous, the colour being due to a small
amount of contained humus. There is no iron and few quartzes. It
appears to be a slightly humic, probably water-laid, natural silt, such
as would be expected in a chalk environment.
i91
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SPRINGHEAD: MISCELLANEOUS EXCAVATIONS
No. 3. From the bakeil day, blaolcsmith's area.
Light grey. Contains quartz, no iron, a few pieces of charcoal only,
little humus and, indeed, closely resembles No. 2 in being predominantly
composed of chalk mud. It looks like natural sediment also.
APPENDIX II
SEED Siln>LES (Bun.DING B.10)
Reported on by G. A. MATTHEWS, EsQ.
Two samples of seeds taken from vicinity of corn-drying kiln.
Both specimens
Polygonum convolvulus L. Black Bindweed.
This species is recorded from the site of the Roman City of
Silchester, Hants.
Clement Reid: 'A note on the plant-remains of Roman Silchester,' _
Archaeologia, lviii (1902).
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