Oxford archaeologists uncover the remains. © Oxford Archaeology

A remarkable series of burial sites and other ancient relics of the great and good of Roman Kent have been discovered under the A2 near Gravesend.

The ancient relics dating back 10,000 years were found during routine archaeological surveys before work started on the Highways Agency Pepperhill to Cobham road widening project.

A long history of settlement in the area has been discovered, dating back to hunter-gatherers 10,000 years ago, with a number of exciting and important finds.

The relics were found by Oxford Archaeology, working for Skanska Construction in partnership with the Highways Agency, near to the Roman temples at Springhead, near Gravesend. Archaeologists now think the finds make the area one of the most important sites of Roman Britain.

“We knew from archaeological excavations along the line of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link there was a Roman enclosure on the route, but previous discoveries had simply suggested a rural farmstead,” explained Oxford Archaeologist Tim Allen.

One of the burial pits had had 15 pots, a bronze jug and a flat pan. © Oxford Archaeology

“At first we found very little, but at the bottom of a pit we came across the metal handles of a wooden board, and later a set of 23 glass counters and two bone dice, suggesting that we had found a gaming board.”

Such finds are rare and mostly occur in graves, so the archaeologists carefully took down the other half of the pit and discovered grave offerings including the skeletal remains of half a pig, presumably offered as food for the afterlife. The cremated remains of a body were found nearby.

“The body had been cremated, and had probably been in a bag, as a large safety pin brooch was found next to the remains,” added Tim. “It was clearly the burial of a very important person.”

Two other valuable burial sites have also been uncovered nearby. One had fifteen pots, a bronze jug and a flat pan with a ram’s head handle, as well as another folding board, more pig bones and another cremation with a brooch.

A reconstruction of the burial pit. © Oxford Archaeology

“One addition was a box of bronze make-up tools and a comb, said Tim. “The third grave contained only five pots, but the cremation was buried in a wooden box with a polished bronze mirror, several copper rings, a glass oil bottle and bronze tool, and a shallow bronze bowl. Enough of the skull survived for us to be confident that the person was a woman.”

The find is of huge archaeological importance as the only other similar burial sites in Britain are found close to the largest and most important early Roman cities, such as at Colchester in Essex and St Albans in Hertfordshire.

The A2 lies over the Roman Road of Watling Street and the discovery of the relics now make the area, known as the Roman town of Springhead, one of the most important sites in the country.