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A Romano-British Pottery Manufacturing Site at Oakleigh Farm, Higham, Kent

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 November 2011

P. D. Catherall
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Abstract

In the spring of 1978, the construction of a gas pipeline from the eastern outskirts of Gravesend to the Isle of Grain, revealed the existence of a previously unknown Romano- British site at Oakleigh Farm (TQ 729 741) in the parish of Higham, Kent (FIG. I). The site was first noticed by Messrs Patrick Thornhill and Percy Payne, both members of the Kent Archaeological Society. The Engineer in charge of the construction of the pipeline was immediately informed of the discovery and arrangements were put in hand for the examination of the site by the author (Archaeological Adviser, British Gas Corporation). The excavation and recording of the site took place during the time the pipeline was being constructed. The remains of four kilns used for the manufacture of Black-burnished ware, category 2 (BB2) were examined. The scale of the investigations was subject to a number of constraints, such as the speed of the construction programme, the size of the site, the available manpower and by the need to maintain a presence on other parts of the pipeline route, where other sites were being discovered. Despite these restrictions, all four kilns were at least partially excavated and a number of other features were recorded, mainly in the sections of the pipetrench, when this was cut.

Type
Articles
Information
Britannia , Volume 14 , November 1983 , pp. 103 - 141
Copyright
Copyright © P. D. Catherall 1983. Exclusive Licence to Publish: The Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies

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